— dies in New York at age 83. – New York Times
Tag: 07.27.00
THE CULTURE WARS
“There is a direct connection between the ethics of a society and its architecture and art. Today’s culture of ugliness and ‘geography of nowhere’ need to be replaced by a physical and cultural environment that enchants life, inspires faith, and encourages learning. The spiritual and evangelical communion more and more Americans seek requires a cultural language that artists and poets alone can provide.” – The Idler
HIGH RENTS FORCE ARTISTS OUT
“The exodus of artists from Santa Monica has been both rapid and dramatic. When consultants hired to gauge the extent of the problem conducted a survey of artists’ spaces in May, there were 156 live/work and studio spaces left in the city. After the report on “Strategies To Preserve and Enhance Affordable Artist Housing and Studio Space” was typed up, the number had dropped to 117. By the time the final draft was presented to Santa Monica’s Arts Commission on July 10, there were only 78 studios left, half the number just two months ago.” – LA Weekly
A MATTER OF QUALITY TEACHING
A debate rages in Australia about the value – or lack thereof – of a liberal arts degree. But those defending the idea of a liberal arts education are missing a crucial point, writes one critic. The fact is, he says, is that the quality of liberal arts teaching is low in Australian universities because the schools don’t pay enough to attract quality teachers. – Sydney Morning Herald
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION TO CANADA
The actors strike in the US against producers of commercials has been a boon to the Canadian production industry as producers head north to get their projects done. – CBC 07/27/00
ACCESS TO THE MENTALLY DISTURBED?
Berlin’s public access channel is under fire and in danger of losing its spot on the broadcast band. “Opponents say the channel is out of date and a refuge for egomaniacs and the mentally disturbed. They argue the special-interest groups don’t reflect society as a whole.” – Die Welt (Germany) 07/27/00
THE BIG BUSINESS OF NON-PROFIT
New York’s Roundabout Theatre was almost bankrupt a few years ago. Tonight it moves into a new $25 million home and has money in the bank. “To some extent, the journey of this one nonprofit theater – from basement to Broadway, from bankruptcy to becoming the country’s second-largest nonprofit theater with an annual budget of $20 million – stands as a powerful example of how much the world of nonprofit theater has changed.” – New York Times
THEATRE AID
American actor Kevin Spacey has started a new company that he hopes will raise more than £1 million to fund new UK theatre venues and productions. “One of his ideas for boosting theatre attendance is to introduce film shows so that places like the Old Vic don’t just ‘rest on tradition’.” – BBC