“Remaining residents, particularly those in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods like San Francisco’s Mission District, don’t see a huge distinction between a well-intentioned arts funder and a slick developer with blueprints for luxury condos. … But does arts-based development really push out long-term residents? The research is inconclusive at best.” – Inside Philanthropy
Tag: 05.30.19
Opera Takes Up #BlackLivesMatter And The Central Park Five
Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson’s Blue is about a black police officer whose son is shot by a white colleague. Jazz trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard and librettist Kasi Lemmons have adapted New York Times columnist Charles Blow’s memoir, Fire Shut Up in My Bones. And The Central Park Five has a text by Richard Wesley and a score by Anthony Davis, arguably the dean of America’s black composers. And those are just the pieces premiering this summer. – The New York Times
The Whistling Language Of Turkey May Be Endangered, But It’s Not Dead
Kuş dili (“bird language”), used to communicate over long distances in a mountainous farming area near Turkey’s Black Sea coast, renders the entire Turkish language into variously pitched and articulated whistles. Cell phones may have made kuş dili redundant, but at least some of its speakers won’t give up on it. – The New York Times
More And More Studios Question Publicly Whether They Could Operate In A Georgia Where Abortion Is Outlawed
On Tuesday, Netflix issued a cautious statement of concern; on Wednesday, Disney warned a bit more strongly. By late Thursday, WarnerMedia, NBCUniversal, and AMC Networks had made their disapproval clear, while Sony Pictures and Viacom made statements that were more circumspect, though hardly supportive of the Georgia lawmakers who passed the anti-abortion law. – Variety
Baltimore Symphony Management Cancels All Summer Concerts; Lockout Begins June 17
The musicians have been playing without a contract since mid-January, and the main issue in negotiations has been whether to shorten the orchestra’s annual season to 40 weeks from 52, which management says there is not enough money to maintain. CEO Peter Kjome has now made that decision unilaterally, and, after the subscription concert on June 16, will not pay musicians again until September. – The Baltimore Sun
Singer Leon Redbone Dead At 69
“Although Redbone’s pop-defying predilection for seemingly antiquated musical styles of the ’20s and ’30s made him the unlikeliest of stars, he became one anyway.” – Variety
Amsterdam Is Trying To Reduce Its Enormous Tourist Traffic, Except When It Isn’t
The rowdy, messy, laddish types who flock to the city for the hashish and the red-light district have been joined by hordes of selfie-seeking Instagram addicts, and Amsterdam is becoming ever more unpleasant for those who live there. So the Netherlands Tourism Board has stopped promoting the city, permits for new hotels are being sharply reduced, and Airbnb limits are being enforced. On the other hand, two airports are being expanded and an enormous cruise ship terminal is planned. Feargus O’Sullivan looks into the Dutch capital’s conflict between quality of life and economic growth. – CityLab
Who Will Take Over As Head Of The National African American Museum When Lonnie Bunch Leaves?
“Lonnie Bunch gave 14 years. He has built an incredible foundation. We want someone just like [him], who was transforming, who could inspire the really terrific people we have at the museum to reach new heights, someone who has credibility in the academic community as well as someone who is a strong leader.” – Washington Post
Technology Can Now Digitally Alter Actors On Screen To Make Them Younger. But Isn’t Something Being Lost?
Director Martin Scorsese thinks so. When you remove wrinkles and smooth out eyes, aren’t you losing crucial expressive elements of an actor’s performance? – The Guardian
Disney Says It Too Will Reconsider Any Work In Georgia
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos spoke out on Tuesday. Then Disney CEO Bob Iger was asked about the situation on Wednesday. Disney will find it “very difficult” to film in Georgia if the new law takes effect, Iger told Reuters. – CNN