Chicago Art Institute Steps Up To Architecture

The Chicago Art Institute is expanding its commitment to architecture, “appointing a forward-looking curator and expanding and renaming the department to include modern and contemporary design.” Joseph Rosa, 45, will become the curator of Architecture and Design at the Art Institute’s newly christened Department of Architecture and Design. On Monday the museum’s board of trustees approved the appointment of Rosa, who is currently in a similar position at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Art Basel Opens

The Art Basel art fair opens, and as much as $300 million in sales could be made. “Names on collectors’ shopping lists include classic contemporaries, such as Andy Warhol; artists in mid-career who did well at the New York auctions, including Prince and Kippenberger, and younger ones who have waiting lists for new works, such as Kai Althoff and Neo Rauch, say collectors and dealers. It’s hard to see who the promising new artists are because a rush of money into the market has pushed up prices for everyone in recent years.”

Public Theatre Nominates A Chairman

Warren Spector has been nominated to be new chairman of New York’s Public Theatre. “Mr. Spector, a millionaire many times over who has overseen robust profits of late at Bear Stearns, the global banking and brokerage firm, said yesterday that he hoped to preside over an equally rosy period at the Public, which finished last fiscal year in the black and debt-free.”

Hope For German Ballet?

Germany has never had a strong ballet tradition. But “now, as a curious result of Germany’s and Berlin’s arts-subsidy meltdown, a company with such potential may finally be emerging in the German capital. After only its first season, it is far too early to tell how distinguished the new Berlin State Ballet can become. And there might seem to be disadvantages: a star dancer with little managerial or choreographic experience as artistic director, ever dwindling subsidies and no school to help shape a cohesive corps de ballet. Still…”

UK Museums – Show It Or Lose It

UK museums are under pressure in a new report to show off their collections or get rid of the art they can’t display. “Collections are potentially museums’ most precious asset – but what business would allow up to 80% of its assets to go unused, while continuing to consume significant resources?” the report’s authors ask.

JVC Jazz-NY’s Got The Blues (And We Don’t Mean Music)

JVC Jazz-New York is in a down cycle, clearly playing second place to its Newport cousin. “Concert promoters always know better than critics what will break even. But the concerts in the New York festival, for the most part, do not reflect the current excitements of jazz. Filling those theaters is taking the priority over smart programming. Something’s got to change, at least to keep appearances up.”