Articles

How the recession is hitting artists

Here’s some of the info pulled from the National Endowment for the Arts study, released yesterday, titled “Artists in a Year of Recession: Impact on Jobs in 2008.” For the full document, click here.

— “The artist unemployment rate grew…

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What if you ran the NEA?

An interesting piece in the LA Times asks a range of high-profile folks (including, at the extremes, Bill Maher and Ann Coulter) what they would do if they ran the NEA.

Some interesting thoughts (Warning: If you click on the story,…

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Video: Arts funding roundtable

Got a little time? And some interest in the future of the arts in Indianapolis?

Sit back and watch IBJ’s arts funding roundtable. Your thoughts, of course, are most welcome. 

[kml_flashembed movie=”http://weblive.ibj.com/ibj/video/ae/articlePlayer.swf” height=”250″ width=”306″ /]

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Thomas Kinkade, painter of…cars?

I’m all for populist art. But I’ll readily admit to being a bit embarrassed for the city that Thomas Kinkade, the much-collected — and much-mocked — “painter of light,” has been named the featured artist for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway…

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Should libraries charge?

Should libraries be charging for the hottest materials?

The Dallas Public Library thinks so. It’s slapped a $5 surcharge on a short list of bestsellers and new-release DVDs. You can find more details here.

A slippery slope or a smart move?

And,…

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Chicago: Weathering the arts storm

I know I’m not alone among Indianapolis arts lover in taking occassional trips to Chicago for a change-of-venue cultural fix. So I like to keep an eye on the news up there.

Well, the Chicago Tribune recently reported on some…

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Good news for the arts?

Last night, on my way to the Phoenix Theatre to see “Love Person,” I called and discovered that the play was sold out. And I hadn’t made a reservation.

On the one hand, I’m frustated that I didn’t get to the show…

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Exec pay, Chicago discounts, etc.

Occassionally, I like to devote a blog to connecting you to conversations on other blogs. It’s that time again.

Of course, feel free to comment here on anything you find out there (Hint: right click and open any link in another…

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Arts once removed

The British TV channel Sky Arts will be broadcasting English National Opera’s production of “La Boheme.” Nothing new there.

The twist is that it will, simultaniously, broadcast a live, behind-the-scenes, view. See story here.

If both were offered here, I’d guess that…

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Your arts resolutions

Have I ever asked anything of you, loyal readers?

Well, now I am. And it’s pretty simple.

Resolve right now to attend at least one more arts event in 2009 than you did in 2008. Resolve to do more if you feel…

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The art of ‘Friending’ on Facebook

I’ve recently joined the Facebook revolution. Yes, I know, I’m late in this, but I also didn’t start watching “L.A. Law” until the third season and still haven’t seen “Mad Men,” so I’m not always an early adaptor.

I signed on to Facebook,…

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Indianapolis Star arts coverage

In Sunday’s Indianapolis Star, editor Dennis Ryerson commented on staff departures, announcing that “Talk of the Town,” Susan Guyett’s former column, will continue with another TBA writer. And that Jay Harvey will take over arts reviewing. See the story

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From the blog roll: IMA, etc.

Today, I’m just going to serve as your GPS, guiding you to some interesting arts writing from my blog roll. Happy clicking.

–Recent Indy visitor Tyler Green (of IMOCA/IMCPL/IO’s “10 Things I Hate About Contemporary Art”) comments on his recent trek…

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Review: “Whirl of the Divine”

It was encouraging to a see a packed house at the Central Library for the Nov. 9 performance of “Powered by Poetry– Whirl of the Divine.”

It was even better to see that the production itself–a collaboration between Butler University Departments…

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Cultural two-fers

One of the more convenient excuses given for not going to cultural events is the cost.

Well, with the 25th anniversary Zoobook now in release, that excuse has once again been mitigated.

Yes, I know that there are those of you…

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Random tricks/random treats

Some random thoughts on cultural horrors.

 –Boris Karloff may be Hollywood’s most underrated golden-era star. Watch him in “Son of Frankenstein” if you get a chance (although the film itself isn’t as good as the perversely fun “Bride of Frankenstein”).

–When we…

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Emptying the arts notebook

Today, some random notes from around the arts world:

–Chris Jones at the Chicago Tribune has an interesting item today about customer service in theaters. See it here. Have you had any overwhelming negative or positive experiences from the front-of-the-house…

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Haunt-ing for real reporting

This is the time of year that otherwise respectable news outlets begin publishing or broadcasting stories about haunted houses–not just the “guy jumps out at you with a chainsaw” haunted houses but also the allegedly real ones. 

Problem is, many of…

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Carnage: Art vs. Art and “Sweeney”

As I mentioned Monday, I finally got to Art vs. Art  (Sept. 26), the crazed art auction/game show/demolition derby that uptowned from Fountain Square to the Vogue this year.

I’ll confess to getting caught up in the same blood lust…

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Bible tour: For better or verse?

Zondervan, one of the world’s leading publishers of Bibles, announced that it will be printing a hand-written version, with more than 31,000 Americans performing the penmanship. It’s being called Bible Across America and, yes, there’s an RV involved. You can find the…

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