The Canadian Heritage Minister has announced a shift in the way that the nation subsidizes its periodical industry, and the fallout from the decision will cost large magazines CAN$16.7 million in public funding. The intention is to increase the ministry’s support for small, independent, and aboriginal magazines which have received little public money in the past.
Tag: 07.09.03
Animation Festival Gets A Stay Of Execution
“The Ottawa International Animation Festival has gotten a reprieve from its possible demise after Telefilm Canada decided to reinstate its annual funding for at least for one more year. The $52,000-a-year cheque from Telefilm, which represents a critical 25 per cent of the festival’s budget, will likely mean that the next biannual animation festival scheduled for September, 2004, will go ahead as planned.” Still, the future of the festival, which claims to be North America’s largest animation festival, is still quite uncertain.
Annie Get Your Resume Together
Local productions of classic Broadway shows generally aren’t expected to measure up to the New York originals, even in sophisticated theater towns, but a new version of “Annie Get Your Gun” currently playing in Denver is drawing some uniquely ugly reviews, and more than a few snickers from the audience. “When Annie’s gun sticks but a dead bird falls from the sky anyway, what are we to do but cringe? And when the band resorts to banging on drums to cover misfiring guns, what are we to feel but mawkish empathy?” And the problems don’t end with misfiring rifles.
Boston Wants More Public Art
Boston is an old city, by American standards, and most of its public art seems to be nearly as old as the city itself. “Boston often is criticized for lacking a bold or effective plan to develop new public sculpture. But some long-overdue appointments could change that. In May, artist Sarah Hutt was named director of public art for the city. Hutt now oversees the Boston Art Commission, which recently has been revived with an all-new membership. The four-member commission hasn’t been active since Director Mildred Farrell resigned two years ago. Even before that, the group frequently was criticized for a lack of discrimination and being out of touch.”
Downloading Helps, Not Hurts, Album Sales?
A new survey conducted by a market research company suggests that people who illegally download music online are more likely to buy recorded music later. “The survey’s findings oppose the music industry’s long-standing argument that internet downloading is responsible for a slump in CD sales, with album sales falling 5% in the last year… Asked why they download music, the respondents were most likely to say it was ‘to check out music I’ve heard about but not listened to yet’ (75%) and ‘to help me decide whether to buy the CD’ (66%).” The recording industry has a survey of its own, and claims that 65% of respondents download music ‘because it’s free.’
Australian TV Strike Looms
Mere months after a potentially crippling strike was averted in America’s television industry, Australia is facing a similar action by the nation’s actor’s union, which has been embroiled in a pay dispute with broadcast networks for the better part of a year. At issue are the wages of Australian actors, who the union claims earn less than the national salary average even if they have a starring role on a hit show. Next week’s scheduled walkout is scheduled to last only a day, but the union is prepared to go farther, with television producers threatening that such action could result in popular TV shows being pulled off the air for good.
ArtsJournal As An Idea
Addictions can be good or bad, writes John Rockwell. But “certainly the presence of a Web site called ArtsJournal.com has added something important to cultural discourse…”
WTC Redevelopers To Artists: Come On Down
The group overseeing redevelopment of the World Trade Center site is soliciting arts groups that might want to be part of the project. “The ‘Invitation to Cultural Institutions for the World Trade Center Site’ is a nine-page ‘request for information’ that also provides the first glimpse into how much space, in terms of square feet, may be allotted to arts groups as the area rejuvenates.”
Prime Ministers Attack BBC
The BBC is widely regarded as one of the world’s finest broadcasters. But currently the Beeb is in an “unusually nasty and high-stakes clashes with two prime ministers: Labor leader Tony Blair at home, and Ariel Sharon in Israel.” The two leaders have have vehemently protested the network’s coverage of their recent military actions and “accused the BBC of being reckless and unethical in recent coverage. Both prime ministers have fought back ferociously, contending the broadcaster’s lofty reputation makes it impossible to shrug off stories they believe are wrong. These are not polite protests.”
Is HBO Returning To Ho-Hum TV-Land?
HBO has long been thought to be a cut or two above broadcast networks. Its original series are acclaimed, and it has often seemed willing to take risks that over-the-air newtorks will not. But, “its oft-repeated slogan notwithstanding, lately the service looks very much like it is TV in some respects — being held up by ego-inflated stars, hanging on to aging franchises, bristling at an attack of the clones by competitors, and watching quality series disappoint ratings-wise.”