“Federal funding to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), created by Congress to offer support and funding for art projects, remains static at $146.2 million a year, with a measly annual budget of $158 million. To put that into context, the government has disbursed over $245 billion bailing out banks and financial institutions.”
Category: issues
Who’s An Artist Now?
“Just as artists in the last century questioned the hierarchy of art above life, we have an opportunity to dismantle hierarchies that can make the arts seem inaccessible and elitist, that segregate the arts by class, race and gender and create a top-down dynamic between organizations and the artists they were created to serve.”
The Debate Around The Discovery And Publication Of Harper Lee’s First Novel
“What should have been a triumphant literary discovery — a find that could significantly add to the legacy of one of the country’s most cherished authors — quickly morphed into a puzzling controversy.”
Artists Are Fleeing The Far Too Expensive London, Says Playwright
Simon Stephens: “The amount of young directors, writers, actors I know who are moving to Cardiff, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester … I think London could become like Manhattan: a very beautiful, empty place.”
Serial, The Longform Podcast, Wins One Of Its Subjects The Right To File An Appeal
“‘In Episode 10 of the podcast, I reported that this appeal was alive by a thread,’ [podcast host an and reporter] Koenig wrote. ‘Now, I’d say it’s more of a … well-made string, maybe. Like the nylon kind. Because it means that the Court of Special Appeals judges think the issues Adnan raised in his brief are worth considering.'”
Peter Sellars: The Crisis At The English National Opera Emerges From A Wider Cultural Disaster In The Making
“Let me just say really simply that cultural meltdown is the order of the day. There’s not one theatre or opera company that can sell out anything anymore. For one thing that’s because the middle class is being destroyed right in front of our eyes.”
That Poor-Dancing Left Shark In Katy Perry’s Superbowl Show? It’s Become A Meme (Ergo The Lawsuits Commence)
“First, there is the question of the costume copyrightability at all. It is not clear that anyone owns a copyright in Left Shark. And if no one owns a copyright in Left Shark, no one can demand that a Left Shark model get taken down from Shapeways.”
Is It Really Lack Of Time That Keeps People From The Arts?
“Either we’re asking people to give up leisure time to attend arts or to designate some leisure time to the arts, depending on whether they see the arts as a leisure activity. Regardless, the onus is on us to communicate why it is worth that time.”
The Hot New Performance Space? Your Living Room
“Living rooms are just the best way to do that. It’s a space where a group of people can comfortably exist on its own terms – they can sit on chairs, if they want, or pig-pile on the carpet, which we prefer. People can clap when they want to, and play the air violin if they’re so inclined. There are no invisible institutional strictures that inhibit the way in which we want to participate.”
Cultural Boycott Of Israel: Here’s Where It Is
“Without taking sides, this document synthesizes information on the recent trend to boycott and includes summaries of notable recent incidents around the world of boycotts of contemporary art projects, some boycotting Israel while others calling attention to other causes.”