Birmingham, England – once the butt of European jokes, a “city gripped by a concrete stranglehold” – is undergoing a design renaissance. Many observers credit Conductor Simon Rattle, formerly music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, for boosting civic morale and prompting the arts-led transformation. Rattle introduced the city council to the “idea that bribing key players in the arts to decamp to Birmingham would change its image. And it did.” – The Times (UK)
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WAITING GAME
Australia’s debt-laden performing arts organizations will have to wait longer than expected for details on their nation’s agenda to increase arts funding. A recent study found that 31 of the country’s arts organizations were short on funds and “unable to keep pace with global competition,” but cultural ministers expected to announce their remedy unexpectedly cancelled today’s meeting. – Sydney Morning Herald
DOT COM LURES ANOTHER
Lawrence Wilker, who presided over a period of enormous growth as president of the Kennedy Center, has resigned. The center was $7 million in debt when he began the job in 1991. He succeeded in eliminating the red ink and more than doubling its annual fund-raising from $14 million his first year to $32.8 million in 1999. – Washington Post
PRESIDENT OF WASHINGTON’S KENNEDY CENTER —
— stepping down to join internet firm. – New York Times
BOUND TO HAPPEN SOMETIME
Acquiring music over the internet is about to be a more corporate experience. The giant BMG conglomerate has signed deals with a group of tech firms to help it begin offering secure downloadable versions of current hits and catalog product this summer. The company plans to significantly increase the number of titles available in time for the holiday season. Expect similar announcements from other major music manufacturers in the near future. – Variety
NOTHING LIKE A GOOD CRY
Some of rock ‘n’ roll’s most overplayed anthems still bring listeners to tears. “Rock ‘n’ roll is frequently caricatured in the popular media as both mindless and soulless…But there’s one emotion that rarely gets talked about when we talk about rock: empathy.” – Chronicle of Higher Education
DOT COM LURES ANOTHER
Lawrence Wilker, who presided over a period of enormous growth as president of the Kennedy Center, has resigned. The center was $7 million in debt when he began the job in 1991. He succeeded in eliminating the red ink and more than doubling its annual fund-raising from $14 million his first year to $32.8 million in 1999. – Washington Post
OVERNIGHT SENSATION
Only 24, Zadie Smith has become the first literary sensation of the new millennium. She is “currently enjoying the kind of success that most novelists can barely dream of. As well as widespread publicity for the book, which has already been sold in eight countries, she was asked to write a short story for The New Yorker’s millennial fiction issue, and this month will travel to New York to take part in a literary festival organized by the magazine and to promote the American publication of White Teeth.” – Daily Mail and Telegraph (South Africa)
PRESIDENT of Washington’s Kennedy Center —
— stepping down to join internet firm. – New York Times
MEET YA’ HALF WAY
Cable TV enticed new viewers with dozens of highly specialized channels, whereas the web has recently been drawing audiences to more generalized content on fewer high-profile sites. “As TV becomes more of an active medium and the web becomes more passive, they will eventually meet in the middle.” Convergence already spells success for independent film producers and other artists, but “make no mistake, streaming media is cool but it’s still embryonic.” – The Age (Melbourne) 04/06/00