Why did Seattle’s Northwest Chamber Orchestra have to close? “A confluence of events forced the 33-year-old musical institution to draw its curtain. Chief among them, a decline in public funding of the arts and increased competition from other musical offerings. But the lion’s share of the blame lies with the orchestra’s history of dysfunctional leadership.”
Tag: 03.21.06
Foster Tabbed To Design Moscow Tower
Moscow’s mayor has endorsed plans to build a 600-meter tower designed by Norman Foster. “City authorities are understood to have wanted a distinctive skyscraper that could become a landmark similar to Lord Foster’s “Gherkin” — the headquarters of Swiss Re — in the City of London. The development includes the 430m high Federation Tower, due to be completed in 2008.”
The Well-Adjusted Goth
A new study reports that Goths are pretty healthy people. “Most youth subcultures encourage people to drop out of school and do illegal things. Most goths are well educated, however. They hardly ever drop out and are often the best pupils. The subculture encourages interest in classical education, especially the arts. I’d say goths are more likely to make careers in web design, computer programming … even journalism.”
Sweeney Todd Breaks Even
“Broadway’s new Sweeney Todd has recouped its initial $3.5 million investment in 19 weeks (as of the week ending March 12). It is rare for a Sondheim show to recoup its investment on Broadway. Among his few financially successful outings is the original mounting of A Little Night Music.”
Rethinking The ‘Burbs
Is it time to rethink our perceptions of urban sprawl? “Does sprawl include exurbia, the outmost band of development, … the very low-density urban penumbra that lies beyond the regularly built-up suburbs and their urban services? Or is it the newly emerging suburban band of conventional subdivisions, golf courses, schools, and strip malls located closer in toward the city? If the latter is sprawl, is it logical to exclude older suburbs? Certainly at one time these older communities, even many of the most densely packed inner neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Manhattan, were themselves relatively low in density and suburban in character compared to what was the core of the city. Why wouldn’t they be considered historic sprawl?”
Arts Council Wales Top Job Unfilled
Artists in Wales are concerned that the government does not seem to be looking for a new director of Arts Council Wales. “As yet, no successor has been appointed to Mr Davies – and the post has not been advertised, even though Mr Davies steps down at the end of March.”
America’s Largest Free Jazz Fest May Have To Charge
San Jose’s summer jazz festival calls itself the “largest free jazz festival in the United States.” But that designation may be about to change. The festival may have to start charging: $5 a person for an all-day pass. “The reason for the charge: rising operational fees coupled with a loss of corporate sponsors Ford, Chevron and Applied Materials. The festival costs almost $1 million and, much to their disappointment, organizers said, only $60,000 comes from a city that has just designated $4 million for a car race.”
“Movin’ Out” Dancer Sues Show For $100 Million
She “says in the lawsuit that she was repeatedly humiliated and intimidated in front of other cast members by the show’s stage manager about an increase in the size of her breasts, which necessitated alterations to her costumes.”
Security Camera Images Of Tunick’s Nudes Show Up For Sale
Pictures of naked people participating in one of Spencer Tunick’s photos of mass nudes have shown up for sale. The pictures are from security surveillance cameras. “We’ve spoken to a number of officers and police staff and as a result two members of police staff are in the process of being suspended.”
Internet – Not Just Mostly Men Anymore
“Once a medium dominated by men, the internet now draws approximately equal proportions of male and female users in the United States. Top search engines and portal sites draw about the same numbers of men and women. A recent Pew Research Center study found that men and women are about equally likely to go online to buy things, make travel arrangements or do their banking. Even so, it’s the differences between the sexes’ behavior online that intrigues marketers.”