The chairman of the Arts Council of England says there’s a crisis in British theatre. “British theatre is living in the past and is failing to attract young people,” he says, and called on the government to pour an extra £100 million into the arts to help solve some of the problems. – The Independent (UK)
Tag: 06.28.00
CBC GOES INTERACTIVE
The Canadian Broadcasting Company launched its interactive web service yesterday. “The hybrid service is being inaugurated with the launch of 120seconds.com a storytelling site that will feature a wide range of bite-sized programming, submitted by young freelancers and ordinary Canadians. Items may be presented in a variety of formats – audio, streaming video, still photos, text or animation, or any combination of these.” – The Globe and Mail (Canada) 06/28/00
THE CRITIC IN THE HOT SEAT
As actors increasingly lash our at critics after receiving negative reviews (Donald Sutherland and Kelsey Grammer, most recently), the role of the critic – and arts journalism in general – is being widely debated. Should a critic be a neutral mediator of experience? Or a subjective arbiter of taste? “The critic is not a straw-poll merchant, a tipster or a second-guesser of audience taste, simply an individual paid to record his or her reaction. Throughout history this has been a source of creative tension between artists and critics.” – The Guardian
PROFIT MOTIVE
- Since the internet is rapidly transforming the music industry, and some estimates have us downloading our music rather than buying CDs by the year 2010, how will musicians continue to get paid for their songs? “Currently, there are four different ways: when listeners pay to download songs; subscription-only sites; advertising revenue from running banner ads; and cashing in on the musician’s identity by selling tee-shirts or fan club memberships. The most important thing artists can do is remind their listeners that music is worth paying for.” – NPR [Real Audio file] (Part 1 of a series)
A BUDDING CAREER THAT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN
A month ago a Starbuck’s store manager in Manhattan won the Van Cliburn international piano competition for amateurs. Since then, he’s been giving concerts, getting great reviews, and there’s even talk of a recording. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way. The president of the Van Cliburn Foundation admits he’d be concerned if the amateur competition became known as a stepping-stone to professional careers.” – Dallas Morning News
BRITISH CONDUCTOR ANDREA QUINN, —
— former director of London’s Royal Ballet, will take over as music director of New York City Ballet in August 2001. – New York Times
POINTEDLY CRITICAL
The chairman of the Arts Council of England says there’s a crisis in British theatre. “British theatre is living in the past and is failing to attract young people,” he says, and called on the government to pour an extra £100 million into the arts to help solve some of the problems. – The Independent (UK)
BETTING YOUR LIFE ON DESIGN
Almost 500 years after Leonardo da Vinci first put the concept down on paper, a British daredevil tests Leonardo’s parachute – and to the surprise of skeptics, floats “almost one and a half miles down from a hot air balloon. Ignoring warnings that it would never work, he built the 187lb contraption of wooden poles, canvas and ropes from a simple sketch that Da Vinci had scribbled in a notebook in 1485.” – The Guardian
CRITIC IN THE HOT SEAT
As actors increasingly lash our at critics after receiving negative reviews (Donald Sutherland and Kelsey Grammer, most recently), the role of the critic – and arts journalism in general – is being widely debated. Should a critic be a neutral mediator of experience? Or a subjective arbiter of taste? “The critic is not a straw-poll merchant, a tipster or a second-guesser of audience taste, simply an individual paid to record his or her reaction. Throughout history this has been a source of creative tension between artists and critics.” – The Guardian
THEY ARE IN THE NAME AFTER ALL
The Library of Congress has been expanding its services to the public. That has some in the US Congress wondering if the Congress is being slighted. Congressional testimony Tuesday takes an unexpected turn to focus on where the library’s allegiances are – to the legislators or the public? For every $1 of federal funds allotted for digital expansion and new programs, the library raises $3 of private funds. But, “if push ever comes to shove, the library will honor its commitment to Congress.” – Washington Post