Category: issues

When NEA chief Rocco Landesman came to town, no one “mentioned the absence of direct federal support for artists” or “brought up the dissolution of Pennsylvania’s individual artist fellowships.” As one local artist put it later: “It seems that culture and art are important as long as they redevelop neighborhoods or have some quantifiable measure.”

Author Daniel Pink (A Whole New Mind) is making a name for himself with his theories about left-brained and right-brained thinking and the demands of the workplace as we move from the Information Age to what he calls “the Conceptual Age.” And he’s giving speeches to educators and business leaders about how important arts education is in preparing students to cope with the Conceptual Age.

“‘We are assuming that the Bolshoi Theatre’s historic building will be opened on October 2, 2011,’ deputy general director Anton Getman said … ‘”I will not risk naming an earlier date, but we must do all that is in our power to let the public in on October 2, and we will,’ Getman said, adding that the troupe might get access to the historic stage as early as June or July.”

“The nation’s attempt to gamble its way out of the recession has generated a bonanza for ruined castles, weedy public parks and neglected archives. Thanks to an increase in lottery ticket sales, the Heritage Lottery Fund will have an extra £25m a year to distribute in grants from now until 2018.”

The city and state are economically challenged. And its arts groups? Michigan Opera Theatre. The Detroit Symphony”. Detroit Institute of Arts.

Since he announced an Art Works Tour in October, Rocco Landesman has traveled to 13 cities. His message, whether talking to artists or businessmen or donors, he said, is that “art jobs are real jobs that are part of the real economy.”

“Responding to the recession’s blows, many of the regional groups cut their staffs, reduced their seasons, did not import as many traveling shows and trimmed the nonbasic expenses, such as travel to conferences. Gradually, some arts groups are seeing signs of a turnaround.”

“Detroit arts groups have always struggled to make ends meet. But the depth of today’s economic crisis — compounded by real estate debt, labor issues and precipitous declines in state funding — have led to chronic multimillion-dollar shortfalls and brought the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Michigan Opera Theatre and Detroit Institute of Arts to true turning points.”

“Among the most promising ideas: changing current law to tap into a fund of $5 million created by the city’s charging itself a 1% arts fee for every government-funded capital construction project. Rules call for that money to be used to buy artworks for public spaces and to pay for new cultural facilities.”

“In an upcoming election in which every vote will count, the arts vote potentially takes on even greater significance. Given the way they’ve been courting the arts since the start of the year, it’s clear that all three parties are aware of this.” Which is why so many luminaries showed up for the release of a new manifesto called “Cultural Capital.”