02.08.00 – ArtsJournal Wayback

BOOST FOR THE ARTS?

President Clinton proposes a hefty budget increase for the National Endowment for the Arts – from $97.6 million to $150 million next year. He also proposes increasing the budget for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and suggests a new $200 million annual “lease fee” for analog frequencies that broadcasters have been using free for the past 50 years. The money would be used for the arts. – Variety

NEA money for “Challenge America” program, plus funds to repair cultural icons. – Washington Post
More budget specifics at the NEA website – NEA

TOWER OF TREASURES

The Chester Beatty Library, which holds one of the greatest collections of oriental manuscripts in the world, has been a more or less well-kept secret on Shrewsbury Road in Dublin. This week the library was relocated to the newly-renovated tower in Dublin Castle where number of visitors is speculated to increase 2500%. – Irish Times

WHERE’S THE ART?

Four years ago San Francisco opened a brilliant new museum for modern art. But while SFMOMA’s building was impressive, many wondered where the art to go inside it was. Wonder no more. “In less than two years the trustees have helped the museum acquire more than $130 million worth of art by contemporary masters like Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Ellsworth Kelly and Mark Rothko. Their shopping habits — paying top dollar for the best available — are more aggressive than those of any museum in the world right now.” – New York Times

THE NEW NEW THING

So what new art trend is chasing New York’s Chelsea galleries? Computers. – New York Press

NEW MILLENNIUM DOME CHIEF —

— says he’ll make the dome the hottest ticket in town. After all, he helped transform EuroDisney into a success. – Times of India (AP)

A HANDLE ON HIP HOP

The big lie in writing about hip hop. – New York Press

PETER PRINCIPLE

“Of all the book-crafting companies in the world, Workman Publishing is arguably the loosest, the looniest, the least predictable–and one of the most successful. The firm, in its 33rd year, also owns the haute-lit house Algonquin Books and the artsy Artisan publishing company. Though publisher Peter Workman won’t reveal its financial footing–one knowledgeable publishing source estimated Workman’s annual revenues as ‘north of $100 million’ – he will say that each year has been better than the previous one.” – Washington Post

NEW PBS HEAD —

— vows to pursue those things that set the public broadcaster apart. Pat Mitchell says she wants to make sure it remains clear that “what we stand for is something singular in this consolidated and commercialized world.” – Los Angeles Times 02/08/00

ANATOMY OF AN OSCAR

It’s coming into Academy Awards season. But first a lot of work. Choosing candidates and evaluating efforts is a time-consuming process. – San Francisco Chronicle 02/08/00

PACIFICA NETWORK’S SELF-IMMOLATION

The tiny “progressive” radio network is the last non-mainstream American network. “What began as a labor dispute at Pacifica’s Berkeley, Calif., station nearly a year ago has degenerated into a tedious, slow self-immolation that has involved firings, resignations, court intrigue, lost listenership and a protest march of more than 10,000 people in Berkeley.” – Washington Post 02/08/00