“According to the Book Industry Study Group, used book sales topped $2.2 billion in 2004, an 11 percent increase over 2003. Much of that growth can be credited to the Internet. While used sales at traditional stores rose a modest 4.6 percent, they jumped 33 percent online, to just over $600 million. More than 111 million used books were purchased last year, representing about one out of every 12 overall book purchases. By the end of the decade, the percentage is expected to rise to one out of 11, a troubling trend when sales for new works are essentially flat; authors and publishers receive no royalties from used buys.”
Tag: 09.28.05
LA Schools: Building Arts Education A Percent At A Time
The ten-year program is designed to “help the 80 Los Angeles County school districts develop plans for putting arts into the curricula for all students and to encourage school boards to work toward committing 5% of their operating budgets to arts education. It is a modest program, at least in terms of making up for years of diminished funding for the arts. Many of the county’s 1,800 public schools provide a spotty arts program at best. And, the emphasis on standardized testing coupled with district budget shortages in recent years have left arts educators wondering whether their subjects will ever be a school priority.”
Brain Scan: The Ultimate Lie Detector
Researchers have discovered that MRI scans can detect when people are lying. “The MRI images show that more blood flows to parts of the brain associated with anxiety and impulse control when people lie. More blood also flows to the part of the brain handling multitasking because it is hard for people to keep track of lies they have told.”
How Much Of NPR’s Reporting Should Come From Local Stations?
“In 1997, only 5 percent of the reports on NPR came from reporters who were based at the member stations. Over the next few years, that rose to 25 percent due to a deliberate collaborative effort of NPR and member station reporters. But In the period from Aug. 30, 2004 to Aug. 30, 2005, NPR aired a total of 18,486 reports on the newsmagazine programs. Only 960 — or 5.19 percent – of all reports came from member-station reporters over the past year.”
Leonardo Inspires New Heart Surgery
A heart surgeon has devised a new heart procedure after studying drawings of the heart made by Leonardo da Vinci. “The drawings allowed him to work out how to restore normal opening and closing function of the mitral valve, one of the four valves in the heart. Until now, surgeons have repaired a floppy valve by narrowing its diameter. However, this can restrict the blood flow further when the individual is exercising and working their heart to the maximum. It’s a complete rethink of the way we do the mitral valve operation.”
Has Saatchi Lost His Game?
Charles Saatchi has dominated the British art scene for more than a decade, his taste influencing the art of a country. Now that he’s moving his gallery out of its prestigious address, does this mean his influence is waning?
NEA Chief Attacks Proposed International Culture Pact
Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, has attacked a proposed international pact that would give governments more power to protect their own country’s artistic heritage. “He called the draft text a trade document designed to give governments power to protect such interests as a country’s film producers by keeping down foreign competition – not a protection for individual artists. Artists should have full freedom to share their work throughout the world, he said. ‘As I read it, it gives central governments the right to protection by prohibiting imports’.”
Michigan Proposes major Arts Funding Cuts
Michigan’s state legislature proposes cutting arts funding by 17.5 percent. “Cuts to the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs leave $9.1 million for grants, down 63% from a recent peak of $24.4 million in 2002.”
Summing Up The Thomas Krens Era
“The Krens Era showed that museum directors could wander far from the traditionally ethical as long as their boards were compliant. While many of Mr. Krens’ peers copied his “innovations,” many more watched and said nothing. The Association of Art Museum Directors—a strong candidate for the most spineless, useless industry association in America—never sanctioned, censured or formally criticized Mr. Krens in any way. In the end, Mr. Krens’ most lasting legacy is this: He made the building of synergies between nonprofit art museums and for-profit corporations acceptable to his peers. More than anything else, that’s made him the most influential museum director in America.”
An Iowa City Reinvents Itswelf With Ambitious Culture Agenda
“With this month’s gala for the $46.9 million Figge Art Museum and the June debut of a $7.4 million skybridge that joins downtown to the riverfront and was designed by Chicago architects Holabird & Root, Davenport has signaled that it is repenting for past urban planning sins and recovering from the 1980s, when farm-equipment manufacturers here slashed thousands of jobs. And the city is using dramatic insertions of modern architecture to make its point. Aesthetically, the results are mixed.”