Susan Rella: “Now let me tell you about another play. It involves a king so bogged down by the personal and political conflicts of his staff of toadies that his ability to govern is utterly compromised. False narratives are spun on all sides until even the king doesn’t know what’s true. There are accusations of money laundering, of treason, of murder. While feigning innocence, the king stokes conflict by proposing a duel between the fighting factions, WWE-style … Come to find out, the king has not only depleted the royal coffers but he’s – get this – personally profiting off government business. …”
Tag: 06.20.17
Jeff Koons Gives A Present To Paris – And Paris Is, Let’s Say, Ambivalent
The gift is a large sculpture – a hand holding a bouquet of the artist’s signature balloon tulips – in honor of the victims of the 2015 terrorist attacks. But it’s a problematic present: it’s too heavy for the site Koons wants, not everyone cares for it (one museum director says, “I think it will be much less kitsch in several years”), and the city is having trouble raising the required €3.5 million to have it made and installed. (Koons’s donation, you see, isn’t the completed work; it’s the concept.)
Could This Be A New Funding Model For Dance?
“Using the sports marketing model, where major brands advertise to capture the sporting fan market,” the National Performing Arts Funding Exchange “will target corporate underwriters for various [small and independent] dance organizations. [Founder Cliff] Brody is convinced that companies will jump on the bandwagon to put their names behind dance.”
Mass Resignations At Boulder Museum Of Contemporary Art After Allegations Of Malfeasance
“The museum and its ex-employees are offering starkly different accounts as the museum is reeling after losing five full-time staffers, at least two part-time visitor-services workers, and seven contract support staff and educators on June 13.”
Time Warner Gets $100 Million Deal To Make Video For Snapchat
“Under the two-year deal with Snap Inc., Time Warner – which owns Warner Bros. as well as cable networks CNN, HBO, TBS and TNT – will develop and produce up to 10 made-for-Snapchat shows per year. The projects will span genres, including scripted dramas and comedies, and will reach across Time Warner’s networks and entertainment properties, meaning that Wonder Woman or Batman could one day end up on Snapchat.”
Toronto’s Biggest Theatre Company Sets Up Camp In New York For A Month
“Soulpepper Theater Company isn’t moving everything to New York for the month of July. Its theater in Toronto’s Distillery District will still be open, with six productions on two of its three main stages. But a dozen other Soulpepper shows are headed for Manhattan, and 65 artists are making the trip. Add support staff, and it’s quite a hefty operation.”
Calgary Arts Orgs Ask City For $2 Million From Economic Development Fund
Ten major organizations, among them the Calgary Opera, Alberta Ballet, and the National Music Centre, are arguing to the city council that they’re the best bet for increasing tourism. Says Alberta Ballet artistic director Jean Grand-Maître, “If we develop a thriving cultural sector, they may stop by in the city for a while before they get out to the mountains and before you know it, it won’t just be Banff that’s thriving right now.”
Terrible News For UK Arts Funding: Lottery Revenue Down £55 Million
“[National] Lottery operator Camelot has warned it expects the decline in sales to continue this year, which means arts funding is also likely to fall further. It is launching an internal review of its operations.”
Top Posts From AJBlogs 06.20.17
Engagement Terminology
Since I got into the weeds of defining development terms last week (Development Terminology), I thought it was time to present the latest in my thinking about terminology related to community engagement. … read more
AJBlog: Engaging Matters Published 2017-06-20
Great new jazz photography: Marc PoKempner portfolio from New Orleans
Photos of musicians making music – visualizations stirred in the photographers by watching sounds manifest – are exciting, and as different in style as the photographers and musicians themselves. … read more
AJBlog: Jazz Beyond Jazz Published 2017-06-20
Daniel Day-Lewis Is Retiring From Acting
“The 60-year-old star, who has played presidents, writers, and gang leaders in a career that has spanned four decades, has one final film awaiting release, an untitled drama set in the world of high fashion” to be released this Christmas. He gave no reason, and his spokeswoman said, “This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject.”