Latest news with #CulturalAffairsDepartment
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House could close due to city budget cuts
Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House could soon be closed to the public and lose its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site if budget cuts proposed by Mayor Karen Bass are passed by the City Council. The architectural landmark, perched atop Barnsdall Art Park in East Hollywood, is managed by the city's Department of Cultural Affairs, with two full-time staffers running tours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays as well as handling the maintenance of the building, which is an early example of California Modernist architecture. The mayor's proposed budget, which attempts to close a nearly $1-billion shortfall in part by laying off more than 1,600 city employees, eliminates one of those two staff positions and also cuts two vacant positions at Hollyhock House. Read more: Bass proposes laying off about 1,650 city workers, a quarter of them civilians at LAPD The Cultural Affairs Department had been interviewing candidates for the vacant positions and had made an offer for the job of arts manager. But after the mayor released her proposed budget, the department had to rescind the offer and pause other job interviews. "A single full-time staffer would not be able to manage both the tour program and preservation, necessitating the suspension of public tours until additional full-time staff could be restored," said Juan Garcia, a spokesperson for the department. Amid the massive budget shortfall caused in large part by rising personnel costs, soaring legal payouts and a slowdown in the local economy, department heads have been testifying before the City Council's budget committee about how the mayor's proposed cuts would affect city services. The Cultural Affairs Department would face 14 layoffs and the elimination of 10 vacant positions, out of 91 total positions. The cuts also could lead to the closure of the Lincoln Heights Youth Arts Center, said Daniel Tarica, the department's general manager. Oil heiress Aline Barnsdall commissioned the Hollyhock House in 1918. She never lived in it, donating it to the city in 1927. In 2019, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the only man-made World Heritage Site on the West Coast. The house was closed for more than two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening in August 2022 after undergoing major renovations. The monumental fireplace, which brings together the four classical elements of earth, air, fire and water, was restored, as were the art-glass balcony doors in the master bedroom. Read more: Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House will soon reopen to the public Two Wright-designed sofa tables, which the architect had said he considered 'part of the house design itself,' were reinstalled. The improvements also included a major restoration of the guest house. The UNESCO designation required the house to have four full-time staffers, said Garcia, the spokesperson. The department has requested that the City Council restore the three positions in its final budget, which it must pass by June 1. "The proposed staffing cuts will severely impact the management of Hollyhock House and subvert the baseline staffing commitments made by the City of Los Angeles as part of the site's 2019 World Heritage List inscription," Garcia said. The proposed cuts shocked preservationists. "UNESCO World Heritage status is a great honor that needs to be nurtured, not lost by taking public access away," said Kim Cooper, one of two people behind Esotouric's Secret Los Angeles, a tour company and preservationist blog. "Hollyhock House is the only one of Wright's Los Angeles houses that people can tour, recently restored at great cost." Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who represents the area, said it's imperative to keep the house's UNESCO status in light of the upcoming Olympic Games and World Cup. "We're exploring all options through the budget process to save our dedicated Hollyhock House staff and preserve its protected status," he said in a statement. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House could close due to city budget cuts
Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House could soon be closed to the public and lose its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site if budget cuts proposed by Mayor Karen Bass are passed by the City Council. The architectural landmark, perched atop Barnsdall Art Park in East Hollywood, is managed by the city's Department of Cultural Affairs, with two full-time staffers running tours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays as well as handling the maintenance of the building, which is an early example of California Modernist architecture. The mayor's proposed budget, which attempts to close a nearly $1-billion shortfall in part by laying off more than 1,600 city employees, eliminates one of those two staff positions and also cuts two vacant positions at Hollyhock House. The Cultural Affairs Department had been interviewing candidates for the vacant positions and had made an offer for the job of arts manager. But after the mayor released her proposed budget, the department had to rescind the offer and pause other job interviews. 'A single full-time staffer would not be able to manage both the tour program and preservation, necessitating the suspension of public tours until additional full-time staff could be restored,' said Juan Garcia, a spokesperson for the department. Amid the massive budget shortfall caused in large part by rising personnel costs, soaring legal payouts and a slowdown in the local economy, department heads have been testifying before the City Council's budget committee about how the mayor's proposed cuts would affect city services. The Cultural Affairs Department would face 14 layoffs and the elimination of 10 vacant positions, out of 91 total positions. The cuts also could lead to the closure of the Lincoln Heights Youth Arts Center, said Daniel Tarica, the department's general manager. Oil heiress Aline Barnsdall commissioned the Hollyhock House in 1918. She never lived in it, donating it to the city in 1927. In 2019, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the only man-made World Heritage Site on the West Coast. The house was closed for more than two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening in August 2022 after undergoing major renovations. The monumental fireplace, which brings together the four classical elements of earth, air, fire and water, was restored, as were the art-glass balcony doors in the master bedroom. Two Wright-designed sofa tables, which the architect had said he considered 'part of the house design itself,' were reinstalled. The improvements also included a major restoration of the guest house. The UNESCO designation required the house to have four full-time staffers, said Garcia, the spokesperson. The department has requested that the City Council restore the three positions in its final budget, which it must pass by June 1. 'The proposed staffing cuts will severely impact the management of Hollyhock House and subvert the baseline staffing commitments made by the City of Los Angeles as part of the site's 2019 World Heritage List inscription,' Garcia said. The proposed cuts shocked preservationists. 'UNESCO World Heritage status is a great honor that needs to be nurtured, not lost by taking public access away,' said Kim Cooper, one of two people behind Esotouric's Secret Los Angeles, a tour company and preservationist blog. 'Hollyhock House is the only one of Wright's Los Angeles houses that people can tour, recently restored at great cost.' Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who represents the area, said it's imperative to keep the house's UNESCO status in light of the upcoming Olympic Games and World Cup. 'We're exploring all options through the budget process to save our dedicated Hollyhock House staff and preserve its protected status,' he said in a statement.
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Maharashtra govt reclaims sword of Maratha warrior Raghuji Bhosale at auction in London
The state government has reclaimed the iconic sword of legendary Maratha warrior Raghuji Bhosale, founder of the Nagpur-based Bhosale dynasty and a prominent Maratha general during the reign of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, at an auction in London, Minister of Cultural Affairs Ashish Shelar said on Tuesday. This marks the first time Maharashtra has reclaimed a historical artifact of such immense cultural value at an international auction. The news of the historic sword being put up for auction in London reached Maharashtra just Monday, immediately spurring the state government into action. Shelar swiftly coordinated with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to ensure the state got back the sword. Accordingly Shelar entrusted Vikas Kharge, Additional Chief Secretary in the Cultural Affairs Department, to liaise with embassy officials and oversee the acquisition process. Both Fadnavis and Shelar worked late into the night, coordinating efforts, sources said. The state successfully won the bid with a total expenditure, including handling, transport and insurance, amounting to Rs 47.15 lakh. Speaking to media persons on Tuesday, Shelar said this is indeed a moment of pride for Maharashtra under the leadership of Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. Raghuji Bhosale I (1695–February 14, 1755) was a distinguished Maratha general under Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj. Impressed by his bravery and military acumen, he was honoured with the title 'Senasaheb Subha' by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj. Raghuji led pivotal military campaigns in Bengal in 1745 and 1755, greatly expanding the Maratha Empire's territory into Bengal and Odisha. His influence also extended to regions such as Chanda, Chhattisgarh and Sambalpur. Raghuji's successful campaigns in South India, which resulted in the defeat of the Nawabs of Kurnool and Cuddapah, further solidified Maratha dominance in the region. Widely regarded as one of the most valiant Maratha warriors of the 18th century, Raghuji Bhosale's legacy endures in Indian history. The Nagpur Bhosales ruled over a mineral-rich region abundant in iron and copper, which were skilfully used to craft both everyday items and formidable weapons. The quality and artistry of the weaponry crafted by the Bhosales are renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship. The sword auctioned in London exemplifies the 'firangi' style of Maratha weaponry — characterised by a straight, single-edged European blade paired with a locally crafted Mulheri hilt, beautifully adorned with intricate gold inlay. The blade bears the European manufacturer's mark and is inscribed with a gold-inlaid Devanagari script near the hilt, reading 'Shrimant Raghoji Bhosale Senasaheb Subha Firang'. This inscription suggests the sword was either created for Raghuji Bhosale or was used by him personally. The hilt is further embellished with koftgiri gold inlay, and the grip is wrapped in green cloth, adding to its unique beauty. This sword holds immense historical significance for several reasons. Most medieval Indian weapons either lacked decorative detailing or did not bear the maker's or owner's name, making this sword a rare and remarkable exception. Also, the European-made blade reflects the active global arms trade in 18th-century India, emphasising the intersection of Indian and European craftsmanship. Following the 1817 Battle of Sitabuldi, where the East India Company defeated the Nagpur Bhosales, the British looted the Bhosale treasury, seizing priceless treasures, ornaments and weapons. Experts believe that this sword may have been a part of that war loot or a gift presented to the British in the aftermath of the battle.
Sharjah 24
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Cultural Palace hosts 2nd day of 28th SAAC
The workshop included two sessions. An academic and critical session took place first, featuring a group of scholars and researchers who presented their papers. Dr Nabila Qutb Rushdi presented a paper entitled "The Rhetoric of Contemporary Arabic Poetry Writing," in which she examined the rhetorical and intellectual frameworks of modernist poetry, emphasising its philosophical symbolism and profound reflective qualities. Dr Marwa Diab Al-Hayji presented her paper titled 'Rhetorical Techniques in Contemporary Poetics', which explored symbolic and linguistic transformations in modern poetry. She emphasised the importance of intertextuality and internal rhythm when creating new poetic meanings. In her paper titled 'New Techniques in the Modernist Poem,' Dr Fatima Abdul Hamid Mohamed Ali explored various facets of rhetorical innovation, such as the shift from traditional metre, the incorporation of symbolism and irony, and the embrace of everyday language that is abundant in sensory and interpretive richness. Researcher Taha Hussein Mahmoud (Al-Aswani) presented a comparative analysis in his paper, 'The Rhetoric of Modern Poetry: Free Verse and Prose Poetry,' in which he elucidated the rhetorical distinctions between the two forms concerning rhythm, imagery, and symbolic density. The activities progressed with a poetry reading session, showcasing a collective of Arab poets who delivered an array of poems encompassing various themes and styles, merging authenticity with innovation and articulating profoundly human experiences. This workshop demonstrates the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity's dedication to positioning itself as a prominent creative platform that plays an active role in the Arab cultural movement and the contemporary literary landscape. Mr. Mohammed Al Qusair, Director of the Cultural Affairs Department at the Department of Culture in Sharjah and Secretary-General of the award, highlighted that the award has, through its various editions, greatly enhanced the Arab literary library with a wealth of publications. These encompass creations in poetry, novels, short stories, theatre, children's literature, and literary criticism. He highlighted that these works embody the essence of a youthful literary generation and reflect the creative influences of new writers. A significant number of the winning and commended entries have been published by the jury as part of the award's series and have become an essential resource for Arab library scholars, critics, and poets.
Sharjah 24
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah Award for Artistic Criticism reveals 16th edition theme
Meeting and opening for participation This announcement took place during a meeting held by the General Secretariat at the Sharjah Department of Culture. The session aimed to finalise the theme and open the award's submission process to writers, critics, and those passionate about artistic criticism, adhering to the award's conditions and regulations. Significance of the a ward Mohammad Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of Cultural Affairs Department at the Department of Culture in Sharjah and Secretary-General of the award, highlighted the importance of the award in supporting Arab visual arts. Since its founding in 2008, the award has been instrumental in shaping Arab art criticism, reinforcing the visual concept through compelling topics, and supporting Arab critics. Impact on the Arab Arts Community Al Qaseer pointed out that the award has carved out an important place in the Arab library through its efforts in documentation, publishing, and distribution across the region. Over 65 research papers from various Arab countries have been shared, featuring both winning works and those recognised by the jury for publication. These contributions help establish a broad platform for art criticism in the Arab world. Focus on Arab heritage This year's theme, which centres on the rich and diverse field of Arab heritage, reflects a long-standing fascination with cultural heritage among Arab artists. The heritage, full of artistic depth and beauty, continues to inspire their works. Al Qaseer stressed that the theme offers critics a wide research scope, encouraging exploration of narratives surrounding humanity, place, and time throughout Arab history. A unique award in the Arab world The Sharjah Award for Artistic Criticism Research stands out in the Arab world as the only award to address such vital artistic themes. It highlights the work of Arab writers, critics, and academics, renewing its focus with visual language while keeping up with developments in the fine arts, thereby playing a crucial role in the evolving arts landscape.
