Category: issues

“For the LSD era there was something mythic about this initiation. Epic heroes have always descended into the underworld to emerge, however scarred, bearing new forms of wisdom. That was also the LSD archetype: descend into madness and emerge enlightened, seeing the world anew.”

“The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance believes it can help double audience participation at area arts events over the next 12 years. And the Pew Charitable Trusts has put up $5 million to help finance an elaborate marketing effort – called Engage 2020 – to push for that goal, officials intend to announce today.”

“Foreign actors and musicians will not need to obtain a visa when coming to the UK for less than three months, the Home Office has announced. Instead, temporary visitors, including performers, will only need a certificate of sponsorship from a UK-based employer when new visa rules are enforced this autumn.”

“Most Seattle companies contribute a lot of money–a lot of money–to the Seattle arts scene. It’s considered being a good neighbor. It’s not mandatory, but it is, at the very least, polite.” But giant internet retailer Amazon.com, born and based in Seattle, is MIA when it comes to donating to the arts.

The United States “must abandon its exclusive short-range, 9/11-sparked, tactical emphasis on just-in-time, emergency-responsive study of specific languages to meet economic challenges and security crises. In its place, the U.S. needs to establish a longer-range strategic emphasis on the study of cultures, and widespread educational use of languages, to prevent such crises from occurring in the first place.”

“The rush to tear down the hated landmark in the 1990s was understandable, but Berlin’s government has realized that the city may have been overzealous in ridding itself of what remains its biggest tourist attraction. It has launched an information drive to help keep memories of the Wall alive among Germans and to raise awareness of Cold War division among younger generations who have only known a united Germany.”

“When Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center reopens in February after a $159 million, 22-month renovation, it will have a gleaming, three-story glass lobby; custom-made seats; and a mechanized stage extension that will allow musicians to get closer to the audience.”

“Conventional wisdom has it that the Internet can withstand anything. Attempts to censor it are about as futile as trying to nail Jell-O to a wall. Experts have claimed that if blocked, the flow of information will simply reroute to reach its target. Too bad China isn’t listening to the experts.”

“Why not? Tories don’t like the arts? They don’t like the Governor-General? They want to be back in their ridings campaigning, fearing a snap election? They don’t want to pay for their own tickets? It seems that it’s all that, and more.”

“Perhaps when the world is looking in your direction and counting down to economic and civil collapse, the only thing to do is to build a giant stage and start thinking the impossible.”