Category: issues

European Union leaders are facing mounting pressure from music campaigners to almost double the term of copyright protection for performers, as they prepare to debate the issue in Brussels.

“Britain has become a world leader in Fame-style schools. The best known is the British Record Industry Trust (Brit) School in south London, attended by Amy Winehouse, Adele, Kate Nash, Katie Melua, Imogen Heap and Leona Lewis. Its rock credentials come from having taught members of the Kooks, the Feeling and Athlete.”

“Once again, the artist’s role to create work that provokes, questions and articulates society’s beliefs and behaviour is being questioned. But the mood of the community has changed. A series of high-profile pedophile and child pornography cases in recent times, including the conviction of former NSW politician Milton Orkopoulos on child sex offences, has heightened people’s anxieties.”

Traditional critics speak about the rising tide of bloggers writing about the arts…

“It appears that consumers no longer feel the need to obtain their opinions from on high: the authority of the critic, derived from their paid position on a newspaper, is diminished. Opinion has been democratised. The old media have, predictably, been outraged. After all, their jobs are on the line.”

Currently, Lincoln Center Inc.’s budget for redevelopment is $878 million, of which it has raised around $600 million so far. But there’s much more…

“Perhaps even more oddly, the swastika mysteriously disappeared from the trends list a few hours later — almost certainly the result of some human decision at Google.”

David H. Koch, recently “called the wealthiest resident of New York City, has agreed to contribute $100 million toward the renovation of the New York State Theater, which is home to the two companies. His gift will be the largest private capital donation in Lincoln Center’s history and a triumph in a period of growing economic uncertainty.”

“The city received a major birthday gift yesterday that includes a 20-foot steel and fiberglass sculpture named “Arch,” a new symphonic work, artist-mentored programs for city teens and a print portfolio designed to appeal to collectors. Together they make up Pittsburgh’s 250th Anniversary Arts Project, which was funded through a $1 million grant from The Heinz Endowments.”

Istanbul will become the official European Capital of Culture in 2010, and plans are well underway to showcase the city’s existing arts, and build new institutions as well. “World-renowned artists, men of letters, screen and stage directors and musicians will be invited to Ä°stanbul in 2010. Books, films and stage shows themed around the concept will be produced.”