The Milwaukee Public Museum is in financial difficulty. And its board was unaware in January when told the museum’s endowment stood at $6.4 million at the end of 2004. “That was wrong – the endowment was about $2.5 million at the time, down from $4.6 million at the end of August. Now, the fund contains less than $500,000.”
Tag: 06.06.05
Merce And The Art
Merce Cunningham has collaborated with some of the biggest artists of the past 50 years. “Given the celebrity of Cunningham’s list of collaborators the cost of insuring most of these sets would now be astronomical, aside from the expense of transporting them. And this is one reason why his recent work tends to take place on barer stages, and his preferred designers work with lights and projection.”
Europeans Take On Google
Amazon and Google have both launched major book-digitizing intitiatives in recent months, and that has publishers outside the U.S. concerned about increased competition and the further encroachment of American corporations on their turf. “Google’s ambitious undertaking has created unease in France over the hegemony of the English language and has led to a European effort to organize an alternative library scanning initiative.” Now, a group of German publishers have started their own digitizing project as well, in an effort to head Google off at the pass. Still, given the financial resources available to Google and Amazon, the European projects have to be considered a long shot.
NY Strikes Out On TV
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg tried to encourage the filming of TV shows in New York by giving tax breaks to producers. But the scheme has failed as none of the shows piloted in New York were picked up for the fall network schedule.
Waiting To Hear On The Future Of Scottish Art
A big official government report on the future of Scottish arts is due out soon. But speculation and rumor are running wild ove what the report’s recommendations will be. “In a last round of consultations with arts bodies, some details have begun to leak out. There is mounting speculation in the arts world over not just what the report contains, but how it will be received.”
Broadway Highlights (Tonys Aside)
Sure the Tonys have been handed out. Howard Kissel picks his personal Broadway season highlights. “With the perennial laments about the death of serious theater, it seems worth noting that there were enough candidates to fill the Tony Best Play Revival category but only three shows to fill the comparable musicals category.”
Statue Of Ancient Pharoah Found
“A life-sized statue of the 13th Dynasty Pharaoh Neferhotep I has emerged from the ruins of ancient Thebes in Luxor. Buried for almost 3,600 years, the six-foot limestone statue shows the “beautiful and good” pharaoh — this is what Neferhotep means — wearing the royal head cloth.”
Saving Machu Picchu
Peru has unveiled a new conservation plan for Machu Picchu. The plan includes restricting the number of visitors. “With the defeat of the Shining Path terrorist movement in the 1990s, Peru has been “rediscovered” by the international tourism industry and the hordes of visitors are causing erosion and other damage to the archaeological site which extends over some 76,000 acres. In addition, mummies dating from the Inca period are being exposed to the elements and wild orchids are threatened by the increasing pollution.”
British Art – Home To The World
Where are the hot new British artists coming from? All over. The British Art Show “reflects how London’s art scene is fast usurping New York and European cities as the place to be.” “The final list of 49 artists unveiled today – a day before the original Young British Artist (YBA) and former enfant terrible Damien Hirst turns 40 – incorporates more than 18 different nationalities. Curators of the exhibition said its diversity was a reflection of how London had become a magnet to growing numbers of international artists who were enriching the scene and re-defining the notion of “Britishness”.”
Top Two Cliburn Winners A Contrast
Russian pianist Alexander Kobrin wins top honors at the Van Cliburn Competition; South Korean Joyce Yang wins second and Chines pianist Sa Chen wins third. “Kobrin and Yang, the two top prize winners, couldn’t be more different. Kobrin polarized critics, bloggers and audience members. He often received screaming ovations, and fans threw carnations on the stage after his chamber orchestra performance Thursday night. Yet, some critics reacted strongly toward his steely style, dubbing him “The Undertaker.” Yang, on the other hand, is effervescent. She so dominated the news conference after the awards, that it was easy to forget Kobrin was actually the gold medalist.”