No One Can See Or Touch These Objects But Ordained Ethiopian Priests. The British Museum *Might* Take Them Out Of Storage And Loan Them To Ethiopia

The objects are called tabots, they’re plaques meant to respresent the Ark of the Covenant, and their presence is what makes an Ethiopian church a sacred space. The British Museum has 11 of them, most of them looted by soldiers after the 1868 Battle of Maqdala; since no layperson may see them (including museum curators), they’re kept in a locked basement. The government of Ethiopia has requested their return; a spokesperson says “the suggestion of a long-term loan of the tabots may be discussed.” – The Art Newspaper

Spoiler Alert: Does Knowing The Ending Of A Story Ruin Or Enhance Enjoyment?

A 2013 study Offers some answers: “After sneakily revealing the end of short stories when describing them to test subjects, he found that their enjoyment of the fictional narratives actually increased – a conclusion that perhaps isn’t so surprising if you think about how many times you’ve watched your favourite movie or read your favourite book.” – Aeon

Theatre For Deaf Kids And (Especially) Their Hearing Parents

Director Paula Garfield, mother of two deaf children and deaf herself, created Horrible Histories: Dreadful Deaf “just as much for hearing parents as for their deaf children. It’s a chance for parents and children to experience a BSL-led show together, and for parents in particular (who Garfield explains are often ‘terrified’ when they discover their child is deaf) to see deaf actors happily go about their business, utterly at home in the spotlight.” – The Guardian

Staff At Another New York City Arts Mecca Move To Unionize

Following in the footsteps of workers at MoMA and the New Museum, employees of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) have signed a formal petition to join United Auto Workers Local 2110. “While they haven’t yet posed any official demands, several workers [are] alleging worsening working conditions including the reduction of benefits, 401k matching, and healthcare, in addition to transforming full-time jobs to hourly part-time jobs, which render workers ineligible for benefits.” – Hyperallergic