“It is no accident that the new home of Westminster Academy looks more like an office than a school. Academies – Labour’s big idea in education – are free, independent secondary schools built with public funds (generally about £23m) plus a £2m top-up from a private-sector partner – usually a faith or business group, which, to the ire of academy critics, then gets to set the school’s educational agenda.”
Tag: 01.07.08
UK Resists Russian Demands To Close Culture Offices In Moscow
The U.K. vowed to defy a Russian order to shut down its cultural offices outside Moscow, setting the scene for possible confrontation between the two countries.
Seattle Arts Center In Turmoil
The Langston Hughes cultural arts center is in a crisis of leadership. “Conflict is nothing new to Langston Hughes, which, after a holiday break, reopens today amid unanswered questions that go beyond the fate of its artistic director to the mission and even future of the center itself.”
In Italy: A Culture Of Who You Know
“Ultimately, critics agree: Merit isn’t recognized as a value in Italy. According to a 2006 study by Censis, a Rome-based think tank, more than 60 percent of all Italians believe that economic resources and personal relations count for more than merit in getting ahead in life.”
Japan’s Readers Go Into Hibernation
Since the 90s, Japan’s publishing business has been in steady decline. Still, “the number of bookstores in Japan is huge: approximately 17,000. (By comparison, the United States, with more than twice Japan’s population, has about 6,000 bookstores, though books can also be purchased in supermarkets and drug stores there.) That figure is going down year by year.”
Recording Industry Scrambles For New Model
“Among the business models music fans are likely to see more of: music subscriptions bundled with the price of Internet access, and services like Nokia Corp.’s upcoming Comes With Music, which would give users of select mobile phones a year’s worth of unlimited access to music, for no extra charge.”
When It Comes To Movies, The French Prefer American
U.S. movies ruled in Gaul over 2007, taking a 49.9% aud share vs. French films’ 36.5%.
DVD Sales Down In 2007
On Monday, the Digital Entertainment Group released figures putting the dip in domestic DVD sales at 3.6%, a slight improvement over earlier tallies that showed a 4.5%-5% drop.
Will New UK Tax Pinch Collectors?
“Art market experts are concerned that new taxes on asset gains for overseas investments, coupled with a planned flat £30,000 ($60,000) levy for foreign residents, domiciled in the UK for over seven years, will put pressure on London’s appeal as a centre for buying art.”
Golden Globes Cancel Awards Broadcast
The Writers Guild strike sank the show. Instead, the Globe winners will be announced at a press conference. “Disrupting the awards show season, a huge promotional showcase for the entertainment industry, is one way the guild can flex its power and attempt to bring producers back to the table to resume talks that collapsed Dec. 7.”