Paris Without (Extra) People

Paris without tourists looks and feels different – and is a reminder of other traumatic times. “In this stage-set Paris, the monuments still brilliantly illuminated, it is easy to imagine an earlier time when the city streets were quiet: the German occupation. Photographs from that period show empty streets, solitary pedestrians, and grand monuments jarringly out of sync with the humiliated city. Like now, lines of grim-faced customers stretch from the few open stores.” – The New York Times

To Postpone Literary Prizes, Or To Go Virtual?

That is the question. The Booker delayed its prize not because it couldn’t have a virtual ceremony, but because book distribution is in a bit of a crisis right now. “According to a statement, the award will be delayed until later in the northern summer to ensure that readers are able to get hold of copies of the shortlisted books.” Uh, yes please. – Sydney Morning Herald

A Traveling Theatre Troupe In Japan, Ground To A Halt By Nothing Ever

Though the troupe has cut back on performances, it’s still going (Japan has encouraged people to stay home, but hasn’t shut down places like theatres – at the time of writing this post): “Gekidan Miyama has been entertaining audiences for over a century, persisting, as Nakamura says, through earthquakes and typhoons, but also managing to come back after a world war.” Can it, will it, survive Covid-19? – Japan Times

New Data On Impact Of The Pandemic On Artists

About 11,000 of the Artist Relief applicants completed a survey co-sponsored by the nonprofit advocacy group Americans for the Arts. Sixty-two percent of those surveyed said they are now unemployed (a number that rose to 67% for California respondents), and 80% do not yet have a plan for how to recover from the crisis. On average, these artists estimated that their annual income will decline by more than $27,000. – Los Angeles Times