Category: today’s top story

Nearly 200 arts organisations in England have been told that their funding will end from next April in the biggest and most bloody cull since the Arts Council was set up more than 50 years ago.

“Today, choice is about everything. Is this good news or bad news? Everyone knows what’s good about it. The mistake is to think that the good is all there is. The dark side, laid out by research, involves its paradoxical effects.”

“In a sense listening to sounds or music ‘for their own sake’ is an odd thing to do. But this kind of innocent listening can have a transforming effect on us. Self and the needs of the moment drop away, and we become bewitched by the world’s fascinating aural colours, or if it’s music, by the mysterious order in the notes – which for a moment puts us in order too. The trouble is, that kind of listening is becoming harder and harder.”

“The Canadian government on Tuesday bowed to grass-roots opposition from consumer advocates and delayed the introduction of long-awaited amendments to the federal Copyright Act that deal with copyright infringement.”

“Ministers hope the radical move, to be launched in their Children’s Plan, will elevate the status of arts education and help to underline its importance in children’s development. The target aims to allow all children to watch and take part in professionally organised music, dance, theatre and visual arts. It is intended to reflect the growing importance of creative industries to the UK economy and will be backed by a gradual increase in funding.”

Last weekend, a 17-year-old dancer with the Atlanta Ballet took a tumble off the stage while wearing a bulky panda costume and fell 12 feet into an empty orchestra pit during a performance of The Nutcracker. “She remains in critical but stable condition… after spinal surgery,” and now, the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration is investigating the incident to determine whether the company was at fault.

According to NYC real estate transaction records, the Dia Art Foundation has sold its Chelsea exhibition space in November for $38.55 million.

“Both sides in the Hollywood writers strike expressed optimism that progress was being made in contract negotiations aimed at ending a five-week walkout… Negotiations were to resume Thursday.”

“The Tate Modern’s proposals to build a £215m extension have received a £50m boost from the government.” The extension, which should be completed before the London Olympics open in 2012, will consist of an 11-story building housing galleries and performance space.

“Compared with good CDs and LPs played on good hi-fi gear, MP3s flatten dynamic range (the difference between the loudest and softest sounds), obliterate dynamic contrasts (the slight variations between loud and soft), smother low frequencies (the bass), and smear transients (the front edge of, say, a drum smack or a string pluck). These shortcomings wreak havoc with drama and rhythm–the life and essence of much music.”