Tag: 03.12.09

‘Covent Garden North’ Plan Is ‘Spellbinding’ (-ly Expensive)

A report for Arts Council England describes the proposed second home for the Royal Opera and Ballet in Manchester with the un-bureaucratic word “spellbinding,” calling the plan “the most significant arts development in this country for a decade.” But the report also says the scheme is “not yet viable” and would require £100m in capital costs and £15m in annual funding from the central government.

Doodling Helps Kick-Start Your Brain When It’s Bored

“[Bill] Gates is a doodler, and he’s not alone. Lyndon Johnson doodled. Ralph Waldo Emerson doodled. Ronald Reagan drew pictures of cowboys, horses and hearts crossed with arrows. Most of us doodle at one point or another. But why? To understand where the compulsion to doodle comes from, the first thing you need to do is look more closely at what happens to the brain when it becomes bored.”

Was Location The Downfall Of Las Vegas Art Museum?

“The Las Vegas Art Museum closed indefinitely last month because it was broke. After 59 years, there was no endowment, no public funding and little community involvement. The abrupt closure sparked heartache and anger among longtime supporters. But the fact that there are only about 1,000 museum members and little attendance in a region of 2 million residents illustrates the disconnect between the Las Vegas Art Museum and the community.”

Revenue Drop-Off Forced Nevada Ballet’s Reductions

“Nevada Ballet Theatre’s announcement Tuesday that it would let go nine dancers and cut its final concert of the season came as almost no surprise. … Reeling from the recession, ballet companies across the country are reducing staffs and canceling performances. Nevada Ballet took its actions to cover budget shortfalls caused by a drop in revenue from ticket sales, contributions, academy tuition and special events.”

Official Won’t Say How Govt. Chose $44.8M In Arts Cuts

“Deputy Canadian Heritage Minister Judith LaRocque refused yesterday to give a parliamentary committee any details about how the Conservative government chose $44.8-million in arts and culture programs to be cut last fall. Ms. LaRocque was summoned to the witness chair of the committee on Canadian heritage to testify about statements Heritage Minister James Moore made to the committee on Feb. 9 that the programs had been dogged by wastefulness and inefficiency.”

Art Institute Of Chicago Hikes Price Of Admission By 50%

“Come May 23, the cost of admission to the Art Institute of Chicago will jump by 50 percent–$18 instead of $12–after the Chicago Park District Board unanimously approved the museum’s request for the steep increase Wednesday. … The increase comes less than three years after the museum instituted mandatory admissions fees, in June 2006.”

Philanthropy-Dependent Sesame Workshop Cuts Staff

“The recession has spread from Wall Street to Sesame Street. The home of Elmo and Oscar the Grouch announced yesterday that it would cut a fifth of its 355-strong workforce as market turmoil ate into its income and assets. Sesame Workshop, the 41-year-old non-profit educational organisation behind the Sesame Street television programmes, toys and community projects, said it was ‘not immune to the unprecedented challenges of today’s economic environment’.”

Baltimore’s Senator Theatre Gets Foreclosure Notice

“The Senator Theatre’s bank has notified the city and the owner of the historic movie house that it intends to foreclose on the property. The North Baltimore landmark could stop showing films as early as next week and be sold at auction next month. Owner Tom Kiefaber had been in talks with the city to turn the long-struggling theater into a nonprofit community center that would offer a range of activities beyond movies.”