It was devastating when, just three years after its new building had opened in 1998, Stockholm’s National Museum of Modern Art had to close because of water and ventilation prolems. “Now, after two years of refurbishment and improvements, the Swedish National Museum of Modern Art is reopening on 14 February, with its building, designed by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, hopefully cured of all its ailments.”
Tag: 02.13.04
Americans For The Arts – How To Spend $80 Million
In 2001 Americans for the Arts learned it was getting a bequest of between $80 million-$120 million. And what will AFA do with the money? “The first installment in January 2003 topped $3 million, and a comparable cheque arrived last month. The board is handling the funds with great caution. Newly established committees for investment and planning decided to put most of the income into an endowment to extend the value of the donation beyond 30 years, with a target of $100 million.”
Love – After The Artists, Scientists Weigh In
Is there a bigger theme in the history of art than love? Poets, playwrights, composers and artists have explored love from all sides. “Romance has seemed as inexplicable as the beauty of a rainbow. But these days scientists are challenging that notion, and they have rather a lot to say about how and why people love each other. Is this useful? The scientists think so.”
Note To The Music Biz: Locking Up Content Is Dumb
At a time when most music and movie industry producers are introducing some kind of copy protection in their products, some observers predict that locking up content won’t last. Instead, at some point producers will “realize that they’ll make more money out of a flat fee model than by trying to force the world – particularly developing countries – to buy expensive content under lock and key.”
In RoadTrip: Tough Day In Vienna
Sam Bergman on tour with the Minnesota Orchestra: After a great reception in New York, the orchestra moves on to Vienna, and Sam finds the orchestra in a funk before a concert in the Musikverein. “Like I said, you’ve got to learn to shake off the hard days, or they’ll eat you alive. Consider me well-shaken.”
Franklin Mint Closes Stores, Museum
“The Franklin Mint, the company known for its eclectic range of pricey collectibles, from Scarlett O’Hara dolls to miniature John Deere tractors, has closed its 30 retail stores and its museum.”
Harlem Boys Choir Dumps Leaders
The Boys Choir of Harlem has decided to fire its executive vice president, Horace Turnbull, and strip its founder, Walter Turnbull, of his chief-executive duties. “It was like a ma-and-pa candy store,” says one board member. “He [Walter Turnbull] viewed the choir as his creation and [acted as if] he deserved full entitlement. There were clearly problems which were addressed by the independent members of the board, but there were obstacles at every single step.”
UK Report On Publicly-Funded Arts Projects Is Grim
A report on cultural spending paints a sour picture. “From the building of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre to the restoration of the Royal National Theatre, the Commons Public Accounts Committee report highlights a series of publicly funded projects that went wrong. The report criticises Arts Council England and urges it to spend less cash in London – even though it is the nation’s artistic and cultural hub.”
Remembering Nicholas Goldschmidt
“When he died last Sunday (at age 95), he left the kind of void all unique personalities do. He was one of a kind, this country’s most remarkable cultural entrepreneur, an adopted Canadian who gave native Canadians the confidence to walk tall on the world’s stage.”
Washington Chamber Group Disbands After 36 Years
The Theater Chamber Players, a “much-admired Washington ensemble that presented a brainy mixture of new and established music” founded by pianist Leon Fleisher and Dina Koston in 1968 is disbanding after 36 years. “The group elected to retire because of differing views on its most appropriate future direction.”