“The Canadian writer-director of a controversial film about Turkey’s historical genocide says he’s surprised a country that seemed so committed to starting a dialogue about its painful past has postponed screening the film amid fears of attacks. Atom Egoyan, whose award-winning film Ararat was scheduled to begin showing in Turkey on January 16, said he’s still waiting to hear more details from the Turkish film distributor about why its screening was scuttled… The Armenian National Committee of Canada said the film distributor, Istanbul-based Belge Films, pulled the film’s release after receiving threats from Ulku Ocaklari, a group with ties to the Grey Wolves, a nationalist paramilitary group, as well as the Turkish military and intelligence units.”
Tag: 01.07.04
Keep That “Gay Stuff” Away From The Kids!
Even as gay culture continues to become more mainstream in American society, the crusades of “family-friendly” organizations to keep such themes away from children are gathering steam. In recent years, a number of children’s books have dealt with gay themes, either directly or indirectly, in an effort to find factual, non-threatening ways to introduce the subject to kids who might otherwise grow up with the same prejudices as past generations. But the authors of such books are finding that they are a tough sell to librarians, who are afraid of the backlash from right-wing pressure groups.
The Paradox Of Glamour Philanthropy
As arts groups across North America struggle to find the funds to stay afloat, Kate Taylor notes that there is a basic fundraising problem which is largely to blame: “It is easier to get people to donate millions to build museums, concert halls and theatres than the thousands needed to keep programming in their galleries and on their stages… There is, however, some more cheerful middle ground worth examining, in the form of arts stabilization funds, schemes that can attract donors to activity rather than buildings by giving arts groups a different kind of capital.”
Back And Better Than Ever
Ann Arbor, Michigan just happens to be home to one of America’s great concert halls, and after nearly two years of construction, Hill Auditorium will unveil its $38.6 million renovation later this month. “The restoration is the first face-lift for the four-story red brick auditorium since it was completed in 1913. Designed by the famous Detroit architect Albert Kahn, Hill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.” Hill is a regular stop for international orchestras touring the U.S., and is renowned for both its architecture and acoustics.
Can’t We All Just Get Along? Apparently Not.
“With the courts making it harder for the music industry to battle online piracy through lawsuits, you might think that the major record labels would be ready to cut deals with the leading file-sharing networks, transforming them from hotbeds of illegality into revenue-generating partners. Think again. Despite a recent survey that reported the percentage of Americans who download music online has been sliced in half, the gulf between the labels and the companies behind Kazaa, Blubster and other file-sharing networks seems as wide — and impossible to bridge — as ever. Not only are significant business and legal hurdles in the way, but there’s also an ocean of bad blood between the two sides.”
Unwanted But Profitable
Boston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker is being thrown out of its home at the Wang Theatre next year in favor of a touring holiday show, but the classic Christmas ballet is apparently still a profitable enterprise. The 2003 run of Nutcracker pulled in a record $6.6 million, more than $1 million above the company’s projections. As much as $2 million may be needed to transition the production to a new venue, and Boston Ballet still isn’t sure where that venue will be.
Music, War, and Priorities
The Gaza Music Institute, in the Israeli-occupied territory of the Gaza Strip, was once a hub of the community, a place where Palestinians of all ages and interests could come to learn, practice, and perform just about any type of music, from traditional regional folk instrumentals to symphonic music. But today, with the Intifada raging, and Israeli restrictions of Palestinian residents growing ever more severe, the Institute has been hit hard. It is down to eight students, and the director is keeping the school running with money out of his own pocket. “Music has many lovers in Palestinian society,” he says, “but unfortunately the search for food has become the priority at this point in time.”
Pittsburgh’s White Knight?
On the list of American orchestras badly hurt by the economic downturn, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is near the top. But Lawrence Tamburri, a Pittsburgh native and the PSO’s new executive director, is eager to turn the organization around, and he believes it can be done without the sort of draconian cuts to the artistic side of the ledger to which some troubled orchestras have resorted. “Tamburri’s perspective on the recent financial problems afflicting virtually all American orchestras is refreshingly devoid of hysteria,” and he points out that the industry has weathered similar storms in the past.
Little Orchestra, Big-Time Politics
The chairman of the Kitchener-Waterloo (Ontario) Symphony Orchestra has stepped down following a wave of protest over the recent dismissal of the orchestra’s principal conductor. However, a group of donors which had gathered 500 signatures opposing Martin Fischer-Dieskau’s dismissal, and had called for the entire board of directors to resign, is still angry, saying that the resignation of one man is unlikely to convince the board to reverse its decision. Most of the frustration seems to stem from the board’s unwillingness even to explain the reasons for Fischer-Dieskau’s dismissal.
Lloyd Webber Rules The Roost
“Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has been named the most influential man in UK theatre for the fourth year in a row by industry newspaper The Stage. The 55-year-old has recently enjoyed success with Tell Me On A Sunday, as well as the lavish musical Bombay Dreams… Lloyd-Webber is also the biggest theatre owner in London’s West End thanks to his Really Useful Group, which owns and manages 13 venues.”