Category: issues

Why Australia’s $75 Million Arts Rescue Package Is A Mess

“The recipients will be selected by Department [of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications] officials. Their proposals must be ‘efficient, effective, economical and ethical’.” (Which means … ?) “And, perhaps most crucially, … the final say on where the grants go will be placed in the hands of the federal minister for the arts” rather than any arm’s-length panel. – The Conversation

So Rich People Think NYC Is Dying. The Reality Is Something Different

“Of course, people don’t come to cities for jobs alone; people come to places such as New York and London to be around other people. They come for the addictive energy that you get only in places where millions of dreams are crammed together. And many of us – misfits and minorities – stay in cities because they are the only places we feel we can be ourselves. I always think it is funny when people talk about cities being dangerous: as a queer, mixed-race woman, New York is probably where I feel safest.” – The Guardian

Hackers Steal Donor Info From Smithsonian, UK National Trust, Other Nonprofits

In a ransomware attack in May on the computer security company Blackbaud, hackers copied names, contact info and donation summaries from the databases of the Smithsonian, Britain’s National Trust, and numerous museums, universities, and other not-for-profit organizations. Blackbaud says that it paid the ransom money and obtained proof that the stolen data was destroyed. – Artnet

Should Foundations Spend Down Their Assets To Truly Make A Difference?

By 2030, if only the 5 largest foundations spent down the entirety of their assets, approximately $73 billion would flow directly to large-scale issues that require only cash to be truly solved. Even if only half of that were to boost US issues, $36.5 billion in ten years might solve food insecurity. It might provide responsible housing for those who fight for it. – LinkedIn

A German Experiment In How To Have Large Audiences And Be Safe From COVID

All the fans were volunteers, part of Restart-19, a study to see if and how big cultural and sporting events can be held safely in the era of COVID-19. The daylong experiment was set up by scientists to try and understand why mass events are so effective at spreading the novel coronavirus and how organizers can act to minimize the risk. – The Hollywood Reporter

Indigenous Performers In Australia Struggle For Recognition As 21st-Century Artists

Audience demand for First Nations performing arts is growing. yet, aside from one superstar company (the dance troupe Bangarra), “many independent Indigenous dance and theatre artists are struggling for funding and autonomy, and fighting against stereotypical audience expectations and tokenistic programming decisions.” – The Guardian

In London, South Bank Arts Workers Rally For Their Jobs

Workers from the Tate, the Southbank Centre , and the National Theatre rallied for their jobs and against what they call callous job cuts on Saturday. One explained that now, “You’ve got the emotional labour of thinking, ‘I’m going to lose my job, how am I going to pay my rent?’ A lot of us in the arts live week by week, sometimes month by month.” – The Guardian (UK) (PA Media)

The Coronavirus Has Made It Clear How Desperately The U.S. Needs To Provide Internet For Everyone

To be blunt, as kids go back to school, it’s more obvious than ever. “Despite the truly heroic efforts in some communities, 17 million children in our country still do not have the technology and connectivity they need. The pandemic has made painfully obvious to the broader public what many in education have long known: Access to the internet is a necessity. Patchwork solutions in individual cities and states are not enough.” – Fast Company