Category: issues

“Every year, USA awards grants of $50,000 each to 50 artists from eight disciplines, from architecture and writing to visual art. Since 2005, 350 artists have been the lucky (OK, meritorious) recipients of this largesse, in part thanks to a nearly threefold increase in the organization’s endowment in nine years, as well as the backing of some serious philanthropists such as the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation.”

“In a letter to the prime minister, … [Maria] Miller said the controversy over her expenses had ‘become a distraction from the vital work this government is doing’.”

“The results can be surprising. The diners’ education levels? No effect on actual ratings. Population of the area? Again, not so much. But reviewers consistently gave worse ratings when it was raining or snowing outside than when it was clear. And reviewers usually liked restaurants better on warm and cool days, rather than very hot or very cold ones.”

“Leaders from more than 5,000 nonprofits nationwide participated in this sixth annual survey. Many reported daunting financial situations, and said they are looking at new ways to secure the future of their organizations for the benefit of the people they serve.”

“Campaigns such as Let Toys Be Toys in the United Kingdom have expressed frustration at the way manufacturers and shops have increasingly restricted the interests of girls to the narrow domain between the twin pink pillars of femininity—being caring and being pretty—while the broader, “different colored” terrain is for boys.”

“To secure the extra funding, the General Assembly authorized state economic developers to dip into a $2.5 million pot of money called the Special Fund for the Preservation of Cultural Arts. It was created in 2009 to support arts organizations.”

Tom Finkelpearl “served under Mayor David Dinkins and Mayor Rudy Giuliani as director of New York City’s Percent for Art program, which supports artwork in city-funded construction projects. Later, as deputy director of the P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in Long Island City, Queens, he helped broker the merger of P.S.1 and the Museum of Modern Art.”

“What does Google Maps do? The service has found itself in many unwelcome geopolitical positions.”

“Uncompensated minions are as central to the movie business as private jets, splashy premieres and $200 lunches. But the Hollywood tradition is under assault.”

“According to the results of a new survey … 63% of residents in the UK want to see their local council budgeting at least 50p per person every week on arts, museums and heritage.” The actual figure, averaged across England’s local councils, is 16p; only three spend more than 50p.