The National Endowment for the Arts has started a new program to help struggling mid-size and small orchestras. “The program will award a total of $250,000 to 25 orchestras, including the Augusta Symphony in Georgia, the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra in Biloxi, Miss., the North Carolina Symphony in Raleigh, the Stockton Symphony Association in Stockton, Calif., and the Virginia Symphony in Norfolk. The NEA, the country’s largest supporter of the arts, does not expect the individual grants of $10,000 to solve financial shortfalls in themselves. The idea is to boost programs that might attract other donations.”
Blog
Saving Classical Radio In South Florida
When Miami station WKAT-AM changed formats from Spanish language to classical a year ago, classical fans were ecstatic. “The first three months were a honeymoon with the audience. They were appreciative that classical was back. And they had a high level of tolerance for what we were doing. But a few months later, the hero worship was morphing into anger: Listeners didn’t like that the playlist included non-classical works and that many of the classical pieces the station did play were truncated…” So a makeover was in order…
The Death Of Reading In Egypt?
“These people, this cultured generation, there aren’t any of them left. I remember how, the first day of summer vacation, women would converge at these stalls with their sons and daughters to stock up on summer readings. Now all kids want are their computer games and Game Boys. Today people have no use for a book unless it’s for their Masters or Doctorate degree. No one reads for recreation. Just look around Ezbekeya at these empty stalls, and then go look at any fuul stand and see how many people are there in comparison.”
Small Publishing Is Big Business
Sometimes it seems like big publishers increasingly own everything in the book world. But a new study reports that small publishers are a rapidly growing group. The report estimated total revenues last year for the smallest publishers of $29.4 billion and sales that have grown by 21% a year for the past five years.
Ashcroft: Patriot Act Library Provision Hasn’t Been Used
In response to enormous criticism, US Attorney General John Ashcroft says that the controversial Patriot Act provision giving federal authorities the ability to check on library and book store records has never been used. “Critics have said the FBI’s authority to obtain the records threatens the privacy and First Amendment rights of library and bookstore patrons, as well as other businesses. Law enforcement officials say the power is rarely used, properly supervised by judges and essential to combat terror.”
A Change In WTC Direction
There have been significant changes in architect Daniel Libeskind’s plan for rebuilding the World Trade Center site, which includes the world’s tallest structure. The new plan now calls for slimmer office buildings and the shifting of office and other development. AJ blogger Jan Herman reviews changes…
Of Books And Mortality
It’s easy to see old brittle books and wonder at their fragility. But encountering them later in life one wonders: “What are 20 years to a book that survived the Inquisition? I, meanwhile, am more than twice the age I was when I saw it last. I am married, I have children and I am mourning my father, who died this year. I can’t help thinking that part of the dread I felt seeing those fragile books as a teenager was unconscious anticipation of the moment when I would see them again as an adult and realize that I was the ephemeral one.”
Pittsburgh Symphony’s Uncertain Opening
The Pittsburgh Symphony opens its season this weekend. But a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the opening. The musicians’ contract expired, and it’s clear that compromises will have to be made because the orchestra is struggling financially.
At The NY Phil – The Maazel Question
“As he begins his second season as music director, Lorin Maazel, 73, and the New York Philharmonic’s board are grappling with some urgent issues. Naturally the proposed merger with Carnegie Hall has drawn most of the attention. But the more immediate question concerns Mr. Maazel’s future. If the merger happens as planned, the Philharmonic will relocate in the fall of 2006, by which time Mr. Maazel’s current four-year contract will have run out. Will he be reappointed? Or does the orchestra envision playing its first concert in its new home under a new conductor?”
Stephen King: I’ll Treasure Literary Award
Stephen King is thrilled to be getting an honorary National Book Award for lifetime achievement. “This is probably the most exciting thing to happen to me in my career as a writer since the sale of my first book in 1973. I’ll return the cash award to the National Book Foundation for the support of their many educational and literary outreach programs… . The medal I will keep and treasure for the rest of my life.”