Cleveland arts groups have experienced a significant downturn in business, selling fewer tickets. “Some blame temporary causes, like the continuing bad economy. Other short-term explanations include lingering worries about terrorism and the war in Iraq, and distraction during and disappointment (in some quarters) with the presidential election. Others suggest paradigm shifts to which the performing arts may be hard-pressed to adapt.”
Tag: 12.21.04
A Limit To “Free” Speech?
The UK has had a number of recent incidents that challenge the idea of free speech. “The crux of the matter is that one person’s attempt to shock, outrage and offend is another’s legitimate form of creative expression. It’s a murky area of discussion, one that is entirely subjective. But what about art at the very margins of popular acceptance; art that appears to almost everyone to serve no other purpose than to be offensive?”
Guggenheim Cancels Major Cezanne Show
The Guggenheim has canceled a major Cezanne show, due to open in Februarybecause it says it was unable to secure loans for some of the work. The show, Cézanne: The Dawn of Modern Art, explores the painter’s impact on artists like Matisse, Picasso and Braque. It is currently on tour in Europe.
Iraq’s National Library Struggles To Rebuild
“The daylight burning of the library, which the invading US military did not protect, was one of the first costly failures in the post-war chaos of occupation last year. Now it is slowly being restored. But in a country where recent history remains bitterly disputed, resurrecting the library and national archive has turned into a remarkably sensitive and political operation.”
WaPo Buys Slate
The Washington Post is buying one of the internet’s first digital magazines. “In announcing a deal to acquire Slate from Microsoft Corp. for an undisclosed sum, said to be in the millions of dollars, Post executives said they would keep Jacob Weisberg as editor and most of the 30-person staff.”
Whole Lotta Bull For Sale
Fifteen years ago a 7000-pound bronze charging bull mysteriously appeared on Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange. Now the artist who made it wants to sell, and bidding begins at $5 million. The sculpture is much beloved on the street and the artist insists “that any deal would require the buyer to donate the landmark sculpture to New York City, with the new owner’s name inscribed on a plaque to be placed next to it. The buyer would be allowed a tax deduction.”
Wicked Breaks The Profit Barrier
After 14 months, the Broadway show Wicked has earned back its $14 million capitalization and is now officially profitable. “Wicked was greatly helped by factors including an effective, broadbased marketing campaign, a bigger theater and a pair of splashy performances by its two original female leads.”
Birmingham Theatre Cancels Play After Violence Threats
A Birmingham theatre company canceled the remaining performances of a play depicting rape and murder in a Sikh temple after violent protests were threatened. “This is thought to be the first time a play in Britain has been halted during its run by violent religious protests and raises the question of freedom of speech.”
Playwright Goes Into Hiding After Threats
Playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti went into hiding after threats of violence over her play caused a UK theatre to cancel. She said she had “fled her home and warned “mob rule” was endangering freedom of expression.Protesters say that her play Behzti – Dishonour – demeans Sikhism by showing rape and murder within a gurdwara, or temple. But the row took a new twist as a second Birmingham theatre company offered to stage the play, just hours after officials at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre scrapped it over public safety fears.”
Will China Rule The (Art) World?
Chinese art has been a hot sell this year, with millions racked up at recent auctions. “But does all this mean that the new rich of mainland China are about to take the international art market by storm and that Sotheby’s and Christie’s will soon be holding sales in Beijing and Shanghai? The reality, as with most things in this vast, complex nation, is much more complicated..”