Construction begins on what will be the world’s tallest building. It’s in Dubai and will be 160 stories. “The Burj Dubai tower will stand 800 metres tall – just 5 metres shy of half a mile – once completed in 2008. That will be nearly 300 metres taller than the tallest floored building in the world today, the Taipei Tower in Taiwan.”
Tag: 12.13.04
Beaverbrook Dispute Drags On
A dispute at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in New Brunswick is dragging through the Canadian legal system. So far the legal costs alone are about $1.5 million for the three parties involved in the tug of war: the art gallery and the Canadian and British Beaverbrook foundations. “At stake is ownership of about 200 prized paintings worth at least $100 million, housed at the provincial art gallery in Fredericton.”
NY Museums To Raise Admission Prices To Cover City Funding Cuts
New York City will likely cut its funding to city museums, and the museums are weighing ways to make up the difference. “Leaders of the 34 city-owned arts groups that make up the Cultural Institutions Group got a face-to-face account of the city’s financial problems in a meeting with Mayor Bloomberg a couple of weeks ago. What officials heard was that they’ll have to absorb the same cuts of 9 percent over 18 months required of all other city agencies. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the city’s top tourist attraction, is upping its suggested donation from $12 to $15 next month.”
Free Admission To Continue At UK Museums
The UK government is announcing that free admission will continue at the nation’s major museums for three more years. “Under today’s package being announced by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, the big national museums will get increases of a fraction over inflation, while the lion’s share of a £40 million injection of extra cash to arts and heritage will go outside London to modernise regional museums.”
Stern Family Battling Over Estate
The former executor of the estate of violinist Isaac Stern paid himself outlandish fees, sold off assets without authorization, and effectively cut the Stern family out of the estate, according to a $2.25 million lawsuit filed by the late performer’s children. The suit further claims that the executor worked in collaboration with Stern’s third wife to deprive the family of their rightful inheritance. “The court documents open a window into the troubled affairs of a man known largely for his musical achievements.”