Dispatches

The Long Shadow of the Pandemic: 2024 and Beyond

Even when the world returns to ‘normal,’ the legacy of Covid-19 will transform everything from wages and health care to political attitudes and global supply chains. (The Wall Street Journal)

Growing Scenes for London Artists: Towns and Suburbs

With the upscale galleries of Manhattan and Mayfair all but deserted, the pandemic and the internet could foster a new spirit of regionalism, and new kinds of art. (The New York Times)

International Policy Responses to Covid

The Centre for Cultural Value held a webinar presenting findings from recent research into international policy responses to the impact of Covid-19 on the cultural sector, exploring different interventions, policy models and structures. (Centre for Cultural Value)

Ten Ways Coronavirus Crisis Will Shape World in Long Term

Much remains uncertain for business, the economy, domestic politics and international relations. Martin Wolf oulines 10 aspects of longer-term possibilities. (Financial Times)

To Be or Not to Be: Theatres Brace for Another Season of Uncertainty

A survey of U.S. theatres finds them almost evenly divided on the prospects for closure or survival in 2021. (American Theatre)

Why Culture and the Arts are Crucial to the UK’s Recovery Post-Pandemic

Justine Simons, London’s Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, writes, “culture is not an optional extra; our cities wouldn’t thrive without them.” (Harper’s Bazaar) 

Are Art Museums Still Racist? The COVID Reset

“Is the art world merely mirroring social changes or can art institutions actually play a role in challenging the conditions of institutional racism in America?” (Los Angeles Times)

A Group of Powerful Black Museum Trustees Are Forming an Alliance to Push for Big Changes in US Institutions

The Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums, as the group is called, aims to promote the work of Black artists, curators, and directors countrywide—and to call on institutions to take note. Its work is funded by the Mellon Foundation and the Ford Foundation. (Artnet News)

In the Boardroom Where It Happens

Diversifying programming and leadership won’t be enough if our boards remain white and privileged. (American Theatre) 

Brooklyn Museum Sells Artwork to Create Long Term Collection Care

Museums were historically only allowed to sell art in order to buy more art, not to make ends meet. The Association of Art Museum Directors, however, altered that rule in April, due to the pandemic, announcing that for the next two years institutions can sell works and utilize the proceeds for “direct care.” (The Jewish Voice)

In Defence of Progressive Deaccessioning

In a strategy that might be called ‘progressive deaccessioning’, museums have begun selling off high-value art, and putting the realised funds towards works by under-represented artists. (Apollo)

Amid a Growing Outcry, the Baltimore Museum of Art Withdrew Its Controversial Sale of Three Works Through Sotheby’s at the Eleventh Hour

The withdrawal came after a group of former Association of Art Museum Directors presidents condemned the imminent sale. (Artnet News) 

The Financial Crisis for US Arts Organizations Has Not Been Distributed Evenly

The legislation allocated a combined $115 million to the grant-making National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for Humanities. The sector also received $1.8 billion in loans through the Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP). However, the assistance came to just a fraction of the $9.1 billion in estimated losses to arts organizations between March and July of this year. (Quartz)

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Gets Four-Year Fund Injection for Return of Cultural Heritage Items

In Tuesday evening's federal budget announcement, a $10.1 million commitment was provided to the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) over four years from 2020-21 in order to secure the return of cultural heritage to traditional owners and custodians. (Canberra Times)

Leveraging Momentum: A Study of Strategic Shifts Among Eight Major Arts Institutions

A study commissioned by the Knight Foundation explores the evolution of institutions that received grants with diverse aims, from technology innovation, to community engagement and education, to strengthened curation and program offerings over the past decade. (Knight Foundation)

Shakespeare’s Globe Among Venues to Get Slice of Culture Recovery Fund

Overall, 35 organisations and venues across England will receive up to £3m each in the latest round of grants, which is worth £75m in total. More than 70% is going to go to venues and organisations outside London. (BBC) 

Unobstructed: Virtual Success at Geffen Playhouse

Patrick Brown, Director of Marketing at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, discusses how the team shifted their business model through the pandemic to create engaging remote experiences for their audiences. (Audience View)

How Matthew Warchus Generated ‘Heat’ in an Empty Theater

London’s Old Vic has sold 30,000 tickets to three livestreamed shows, with more to come. (The New York Times)

Indianapolis’s Biggest Art Museum is Replacing Its Contemporary Galleries with an Immersive Van Gogh-Themed Light Show

The initiative is billed as “the largest exhibition experience in Newfields’s 137-year history” and promises to “transform two-dimensional paintings into a three-dimensional world that guests can explore through all their senses.” (Artnet News)

Bridging Divides, Creating Community: Arts, Culture, and Immigration

ArtPlace America and Welcoming America have released a report exploring how arts and cultural practitioners have long been and may increasingly be partners in helping to achieve community development goals. (ArtPlace America)

Research Digest: Culture on Referral

The Centre for Cultural Value has released a research report seeking to understand what evidence there is at present to support or challenge the value of culture on referral programmes on physical/mental health and/or wellbeing. (Centre for Cultural Value)

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