Canada’s National Arts Centre “is expected to collect at least $500,000 from the sale of the estate of James Wilson Gill. He died in December after a long fight with cancer, leaving his Ottawa home and his extensive and valuable art collection to the centre… He was unknown to most NAC patrons, including many of those heavily involved in fundraising for the centre… The precise value of Mr. Gill’s estate will not be known until his house and art collection are sold, a process that could take several months.”
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Sopranos Suspends Production
HBO has suspended production of its global hit The Sopranos as a result of a bitter legal fight between the network and the show’s lead actor, James Gandolfini. The conflict began when Gandolfini claimed that HBO had missed a contract deadline, and thereby voided his agreement. HBO has countersued in an effort to force Gandolfini to work. Conventional wisdom holds that Gandolfini doesn’t actually want to leave the hit show – he’s simply angling for a sizable raise.
Oops! Congress Accidentally Funds The Arts
From the groundbreaking news organization that brought you such exclusive reports as “White House Pretty Sure Uzbekistan Diplomat Stole A Bunch Of Soap” comes stunning news concerning the U.S. Congress. It seems that the nation’s top legislative body has accidentally approved a large amount of money to be spent on the arts. Members of Congress are, quite naturally, horrified by the revelation, with the Senate majority leader quoted as barking, “We approved what?” A House member was aghast at the implications of the funding allocation: “This means some limp-wristed NEA member will decide what qualifies as art rather than Congress or the president. Remind me never to skim a bill again, no matter how long it is.”
No Light At The End Of The Tunnel In Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is making progress in its fundraising efforts, says the organization’s board chairman, but there is still the potential for a serious cash crunch even before the end of this season. The PSO is prohibited by its bylaws from running a cash shortage, but its reserves are depleted an its endowment, like those of most American orchestras, has lost a full third of its value in the decline of the stock market. “It faces the daunting statistic that Pittsburgh ranks next to last for private donations among the 22 largest orchestras in the United States in per capita donations.”
Rowling On The Warpath
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is suing a Russian author and a Dutch distribution company in an effort to stop the global release of a book she says plagiarises her tales of magical teens. The book in question features a character named “Tanya Grotter,” a stunningly familiar-looking cover, and several plot twists mirroring the Potter series. The book’s author claims that his work is parody, and therefore protected under publishing law.
Don’t Tell Him What To Do
When Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty released his proposal last month to deal with a state budget deficit approaching $5 billion, arts advocates breathed a sigh of relief – the proposal cut the arts, but only by 22%. Still, a massive lobbying effort was launched to get the cuts down to what the state arts board sees as a more fair level, such as 14%. Apparently, the governor does not like being questioned: a revised draft of the budget slashes an additional $5 million from the arts board’s budget, bringing the total cuts to 40%.
Venue On The Brink
The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is a prominent jewel in the Twin Cities’ cultural crown. It hosts touring Broadway shows, and is home to the renowned St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. But the Ordway, which has never been on firm financial footing, is now at crisis level, with its endowment depleted and sponsors pulling out of events they have long funded. Further complicating the fiscal situation is the fact that the Ordway receives a portion of its budget from the State Arts Board, which is now targeted for a funding cut of 40%.
Libraries To Stay Open
Bucking the recommendation of its own director, the Minneapolis Library Board has voted not to close four of its branches for the rest of the year. The closings had been proposed as a cost-saving move for the city in the face of a staggering state budget deficit. The Library Board will make a series of one-time cuts in services rather than go through with the closures.
Seattle Public TV Station On The Rocks
Seattle PBS station KCTS has limped along for years and has a small local presence. It’s also having big money problems. The station is behind on its rent, has been contacting funders to try to cut deals for grants, and has been losing staff. A consultant recommended the station’s president step down, but he hasn’t. “The important thing is that the overall state of the station is in decline, and these are just symptoms.”
Infommercial This!
It’s pledge time again, and Steve Wiecking is disgusted by the programming fare KCTS uses to try to lure pledges. “KCTS supposedly has the world of culture at her fingertips—something she brags about all during her pleas for me to give her money—and what is she airing in order to con me into believing her high-toned hooey? Infomercials. She’s helping hucksters sell their wares and then asking me to pay for it.”