Category: issues

American Style magazine conducted a reader poll of top US arts cities. “Among big American cities, the winners were New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. In the small city category, the winners were Santa Fe, N.M.; Asheville, N.C.; and Corning, N.Y.”

American visa rules are now so onerous (and expensive) that it’s become more and more difficult to enter the country as an artist. And if you’re part of a large dance troupe or orchestra? Almost impossible…

Many Olympic cities have used the games to showcase culture along with sports. Most assume London will do the same for the 2012 games. But shouldn’t the planning already be underway?

“The Smithsonian’s Office of the Inspector General is looking into the executive compensation and accounting practices of Smithsonian Business Ventures, the division of the institution that operates its retail and publishing enterprises.”

Another spring, another culture minister. “Veterans of the culture wars have seen a bewildering number of ministers come and go, both federally and provincially. Virtually all of them have stood up and proclaimed their deep respect, admiration and concern for the arts. But how many of them have actually delivered on their promises? And in the end, does it really matter who the culture minister is or what the minister says in speeches to the Canadian Club?”

“As humans, we have a constant discussion going on in our brains. On our right sides we have instinct, emotion, intuition; on the left, intellect, language, reason. As an artist, I feel that it is from this dialogue that inspiration comes. If a decision about how to proceed with a work is a toss-up between watertight concept and sensual intuition I tend to give in to intuition because of its track record.”

For 4 1/2 years, not a week, perhaps even a day, has gone by without mention of Sept. 11. Our newspapers and magazines have been filled with stories, often illustrated by graphic photographs of the tragedy. Stacks of books have been written. The war on terrorism has been a central focus of our political lives. So many documentaries and TV movies have been made about 9/11 that reviewers now contrast the new offerings the way film critics compare vintage versus latter-day Scorsese films.” But it’s taken this long for a movie to weigh in…

The Council on Foundations has taken the Getty Trust off probation, citing “significant reforms” in the organization’s operations. “Controversy flared last year over the spending habits of President Barry Munitz. Munitz, who had traveled often, widely and in first class at Getty expense, stepped down in February from the $9-billion nonprofit, which operates the Getty Museum in Brentwood and the Getty Villa near Malibu.”

Some medical schools are now requiring humanities courses for their students. “At least one study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association in 2001, has found that looking at painting and sculpture can improve medical students’ observational abilities. ‘With heightened observational skills physicians can often ask the questions necessary to make correct diagnoses without relying too much on costly blood tests and X-rays’.”

The mix between strong leadership and democracy is a tough balance to strike. “A democratic leader is, at least in part, an oxymoron. A leader is ahead of those being led, but a democratic leader is also supposed to be a follower, obeying the will of the people. Neither position is without dangers.”