“While most marveled at the robust performance of the market with sales totaling $82.5 million in the Jan. 24 session on the day the Dow Jones was tumbling, a few were struck by the shift of interest they could sense. Suddenly, the spotlight was moving away from good or very good Dutch paintings on to top works of the German and French schools, with Neo-Classical pictures tripling their estimate.”
Tag: 02.01.08
It’s Official – Arts Council England Wields The Ax
The arts funder is realigning its funding. “A total of 185 arts organisations will not have their funding renewed, while 27 will have their grants reduced. But 81 venues that have not previously received Arts Council funding will benefit from new grants over the next three years.”
Prince Charles Lashes Out At Architecture (Again)
The prince questioned why society was willing to “vandalise” historic sites. “Corporate and residential towers are being proposed across London, and overshadowing World Heritage sites from Edinburgh to Bath,” he said. “For some unaccountable reason we seem to be determined to vandalise these few remaining sites which retain the kind of human scale and timeless character that so attract people to them.”
In TV – “Canada’s The Next Big Thing”
“The prolonged writers’ strike had triggered a serious look by the U.S. broadcasters into local series in the top English-language markets — Canada, the U.K. and Australia — reversing a decades-long programming flow in the other direction. But Canada is getting all the attention these days. Canada is the next big thing,’ a U.S. agent said.”
China, Sweden, Fight Over Dance Performances
“Swedish officials say China is against shows planned for Stockholm and Linkoping because some of the US-based performers have links to Falun Gong. The spiritual movement is banned in China and accused by the Beijing government of being a cult.”
Zeroing In On Participation In The Arts
The Heinz Endowments’ “Arts Experience Initiative” argues that “audiences are desperate to have emotional and personal connections with the arts. Too often, they are instead told to be still and quiet, and the museum or theater or dance troupe they are watching will direct them how to react and feel.”