“While everyone suspects that there might be a handful of empty Broadway theaters in the spring, at the moment the big theaters are still largely booked, and most nonprofits have finished their fund-raising for this fiscal year. More significant, though, is what happens when the next fall season comes round. Those in the industry wonder not only about empty theaters, but also about the effect on the stream of creative work.”
Author: sbergman
Eli Broad To Build His Own Museum
“Less than a year after the Los Angeles County Museum of Art opened a $56 million museum for contemporary art named for Eli Broad, the billionaire philanthropist who is its largest benefactor, Mr. Broad has decided to build his own museum and is considering a site just down the street.”
UN Unveils New Painting
“An intricate ceiling painting worth 18m euros [$23m] has been unveiled at the United Nations offices in Geneva. The coloured dome took Spanish artist Miquel Barcelo more than a year to produce, using 100 tons of paint with pigments from all over the world… However, the Spanish opposition party has criticised the country’s government for spending some public money on it.”
UK Heritage Fund Chips In To Help Keep Titian In Country
“The campaign to keep Titian’s masterpiece Diana and Actaeon on public display [in the UK] has been given a £10m boost. The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) announced it would donate the sum to The National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery. The two institutions are hoping to raise £50m to jointly buy the painting.”
LA’s MOCA In Deep Trouble
“Los Angeles’ prestigious but chronically underfunded Museum of Contemporary Art has fallen into crisis… The museum has burned through $20 million in unrestricted funds and borrowed $7.5 million from other accounts. Cash from donors is being sought. A merger has not been ruled out.”
Indy Symphony Back To Deficits, But Not Panicking
The Indianapolis Symphony ended the fiscal year in the red for the first time in five years. “The board and managers are re-evaluating the orchestra’s current ‘business model,’ with hopes of beefing up the roughly $120 million endowment, increasing earned income and containing costs.”
What Can Music Do For Math?
Academics are divided on whether or not studying music can help students get better at other subjects like math, but the people who believe it can are passionate about the connection. “[Music lessons have] given them discipline, confidence and self esteem to perform well under adverse conditions…”
Musicians On Fire
The wildfires ravaging Southern California are producing some stunning video. “A group of classical musicians on their way to a Riverside Philharmonic concert this weekend were on the 91 freeway as the fire literally crossed it.” Being musicians, they filmed their adventure and set it to a Shostakovich soundtrack…
Another Orchestra On The Brink
“In its 72-year history, the Charleston [SC] Symphony Orchestra has had its moments of near demise. But rarely have things looked this bleak. CSO board president Ted Legasey shocked some audience members Saturday during intermission of the Masterworks concert when he announced they could be attending the final CSO concert of 2008 unless the group raises $250,000 immediately to pay for the month of December.”
CBC Offers To Help Orchestra Transition
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which drew fire for its decision to stop funding the CBC Radio Orchestra, says that it has offered to help the ensemble in its quest to become a standalone orchestra. “The CBC has offered to give the rebranded orchestra three broadcasts next year and to commission more new works… [The orchestra] would also be able to use the CBC’s facilities in Vancouver for rehearsals and its library of sheet music.”