Latest news with #CulturalInstitutions
Arab News
08-07-2025
- Arab News
Zayed National Museum to explore UAE's storied history
DUBAI: As Zayed National Museum gets ready to open its doors in the UAE capital, Arab News spoke to director Peter Magee about the museum's aims and what visitors can expect. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ An opening date is yet to be announced, but the center will focus on the history of the UAE with special emphasis on Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It will explore early human settlements that go back 300,000 years as well as the area's language, traditions, and flora and fauna. 'The narrative within the museum is guided by the enduring values of the UAE's founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan,' explained Magee. 'We look at those values and then we look at the way in which they guided him, but also the way in which they reflect social values which exist within the UAE both in the past and the present — and in the future. 'It's a national museum focused on the UAE, but of course it looks at the regional links which existed to other countries in the Arabian Gulf, the Indian Ocean and even further afield.' One particular highlight is a full-size reconstruction of a Magan boat from the Bronze Age, constructed with reeds and palm-fiber rope. Magee and his team sailed in it for two days on the waters of the Arabian Gulf. Located on Saadiyat Island, the Zayed National Museum has a bevy of illustrious neighbors including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum and teamLab Phenomena. 'The way I like to think about it is that each of these museums and institutions … is its own star … and in combination they appear like a constellation or something that can be read coherently together as well as individually,' Magee said.
The Guardian
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
After the Sabsabi debacle, Creative Australia must learn to embrace controversy
After months of angst and uproar in the arts, the decision has finally been reconfirmed: Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino will represent Australia at the Venice Biennale in 2026. An independent report, which was initially only tasked with reviewing the selection process and not the board's decision to rescind the appointment, has identified the 'missteps' of that decision and the board has had the courage to respond accordingly. There will be some detractors but I have no doubt that when the work is unveiled next year, all the preconceived fears will be laid to rest. The question now is: how can Creative Australia rebuild confidence in its role in supporting the visual arts? The report raises some red flags with regard to the selection process for future Venice Biennales – for example, among all the well-intentioned recommendations about risk management, it says the future selection process will need take into account what 'could be so polarising and divisive as to have a material impact on the ability of Creative Australia to discharge effectively its statutory functions'. This phrase is troubling. As a museum director of many years experience, I am well aware of how hard it is to predict what will stir up controversy. And what is genuine community concern, as opposed to media beat-up? People may be surprised to learn that complaints about content in artworks are rare and usually driven by those who have not seen the work. Creative Australia will have to demonstrate that prejudging what might cause offence does not lead to the bland and the boring. The report also references the tensions between artistic freedom and Creative Australia's responsibility towards the wider community. I do not believe that there needs to be such a distinction. We should have a funding body that supports artists to make work that is critical and demanding as well as organisations that make the bridge between this work and a wider public, who do have an appetite for contemporary art. The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, where I was once director, became the most visited museum of contemporary art in the world, while putting artists and artistic excellence at its core. But there is more to be done in the immediate aftermath of this debacle. What we need is strong leadership from Creative Australia in relation to the visual arts. Why does this matter? It matters because in the age of artificial intelligence, creativity will be a driving force of the future. AI relies on human creativity and educational experts have identified creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and empathy as the skills and qualities that employers of the future will be seeking. These are the very skills that working with art and artists can contribute to society. Sign up for our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning We also need support for galleries as we face the challenges of a society dominated by social media. Over a decade ago I sat on a panel discussing the impact of new technology on the arts and a panellist announced that, in future, art would be online and galleries redundant. We would all sit at home viewing art through ever more sophisticated gadgets. It has not happened. Social media instead can drive audiences to galleries – there is a strong desire for a shared, real experience to combat the world of the virtual. Why do visitors still flock to see works of art such as the Mona Lisa? Online representations are not enough – audiences want the power of the real, often a shared experience. Galleries in Australia and around the world can attest to this interest, especially from young people. Galleries can and still should be safe places for the discussion of difficult issues through the work of artists. There is now an opportunity for Creative Australia to take the lead and review the ecology of the visual arts across the country and to overcome the perception that it is an agency for the performing arts. We have seen a renewed focus on literature and music, so why not visual arts? It has been more than 20 years since the Australia Council's Myer inquiry into contemporary visual arts and craft, which focused on the organisations it funded, not the whole sector; I have long thought that our regional galleries, for example, play a vital role in engaging audiences with new work. A new strategic framework for the visual arts, with a commitment to respecting peer review in selection processes, could transform Creative Australia's relationship with the sector and restore confidence. What Australia needs is a visionary federal agency that works closely with all levels of government and other funders, respected for its commitment to artists. Instead of shying away from controversy, a strong agency would embrace it and work to engage the public. Art does matter – if it didn't, why all the recent outrage? Elizabeth Ann Macgregor is a curator and art historian and was the director of MCA Australia until 2021.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Freedom Flourishes in Dutch Capital On Destination: Scientology, Amsterdam
LOS ANGELES, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientology Network's DESTINATION: SCIENTOLOGY, the weekly travelogue series that takes viewers inside Scientology Churches all around the world and discovers what makes each one unique, presents an episode featuring Amsterdam, the Netherlands, premiering on June 23, 2025. DESTINATION: SCIENTOLOGY airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Scientology Network. ABOUT DESTINATION: SCIENTOLOGY, AMSTERDAM A world-class capital and icon of culture and tolerance, Amsterdam has long been a beacon for free thinkers, innovators and artists. From building the world's first stock market to reclaiming land from the sea, the city is a testament to human ingenuity and bold ideas. It's a place where knowledge grows and a rich artistic heritage remains, reflected in masterpieces by Rembrandt and Van Gogh and celebrated through the city's vibrant cultural institutions. Located on the Knowledge Mile near the iconic Rembrandt Tower, the Church of Scientology Amsterdam stands prominently along one of the city's most dynamic thoroughfares. This episode takes viewers inside the Church, offering a look at its role in a metropolis that has always celebrated individual thought. The episode also showcases Dutch traditions, from historic windmills and handcrafted wooden clogs to local cuisine and distinctive architecture. Hear from local Scientologists as they share their vision for Amsterdam's future—one of unity, dialogue and mutual respect—while showing how the Church helps guide the community toward their own paths to spiritual freedom. The Scientology Network debuted on March 12, 2018. Since launching, the Scientology Network has been viewed in over 240 countries and territories worldwide in 17 languages. Satisfying the curiosity of people about Scientology, the network takes viewers across six continents, spotlighting the everyday lives of Scientologists; showing the Church as a global organization; and presenting its social betterment programs that have touched the lives of millions worldwide. The network also showcases documentaries by independent filmmakers who represent a cross section of cultures and faiths but share a common purpose of uplifting communities. Scientology Network's innovative content has been recognized with more than 125 industry awards, including Tellys, Communitas and Hermes Creative Awards. Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the Church's global media center in Los Angeles, the Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320, DIRECTV STREAM, AT&T U-verse and can be streamed at on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Church of Scientology International Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
South China Morning Post
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong exhibition showcases Chinese calligraphy and paintings from 3 major collections
A visitor looking at 'The Pride of Hong Kong: Three Preeminent Collections of Ancient Paintings... A visitor looking at 'The Pride of Hong Kong: Three Preeminent Collections of Ancient Paintings and Calligraphies'... share
CBS News
08-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden speaks out on her firing by Trump
Former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden speaks out on her firing by Trump Last month, Carla Hayden was nearing the end of her ten-year term as Librarian of Congress. Appointed by President Barack Obama, Hayden was the 14th Librarian of Congress since 1802. She was a history-maker – the first woman and first Black person to hold the job. Then, on May 8, Hayden received an email, one she thought may have been fake. It began simply, "Carla," and stated: "On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately." CBS News "I was never notified beforehand and after," she said. "No one has talked to me directly at all from the White House." She said she has received no phone call, either – only that single email. Hayden said there had never been any issues between her and President Trump: "Oh, no, or any other administration." "So, this wasn't personal?" Dr. Carla Hayden, former Librarian of Congress. CBS News "No, no. I don't think it was personal," she replied. "Do you think it was about power?" "I don't know what it was about, frankly," Hayden said. Hayden's firing is seen by many as part of a broader story. President Trump has been pushing out leaders at cultural institutions, and is targeting public media and universities for spending cuts. Call to action Last weekend, at Washington, D.C.'s Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, Hayden's supporters gathered for a town hall meeting. One speaker, author Kwame Alexander, said, "The firing of our distinguished, esteemed Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, makes it clear to us that the freedom to read, the freedom to learn, the freedom to express ourselves is under attack. … We are simply going to be bold." On May 31, at Martin Luther King Jr. Library in Washington, D.C., a town hall meeting was held "to defend creative expression, access to all books, and the freedom to learn." CBS News I asked Hayden, "There are librarians, academics, activists, many people in America who are often seen as the 'quiet types,' they're being loud." "They're being loud, I think, and it's so humbling to have that outpouring of support," Hayden said. "But what is really, I think, part of this feeling is that it's part of a larger-seeming effort to diminish opportunities for the general public to have free access to information and inspiration. We like to say as librarians, 'Free people read freely.' And so, there's been an effort recently to quelch that." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has addressed Hayden's dismissal, stating on May 9, "We felt she did not fit the needs of the American people. There were quite concerning things that she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and, uh, putting inappropriate books in the library for children." Hayden's response? "When I heard those comments, I was concerned that there might not have been as much of an awareness of what the Library of Congress does." The library's primary function is to fulfil research requests from members of Congress – it is not a lending library for the general public. The White House press secretary also used the term "DEI," referring to "diversity, equity and inclusion." I asked Hayden, "When you hear that, as one of the most prominent Black women in the United States, what do you hear?" "It's been puzzling in many ways, to think about being 'inclusive' as a negative," Hayden said. "What's that all about?" "I don't know, because when you think about diversity, you can put it to its lowest level. It's wonderful to have options," Hayden said. "When you go and get ice cream, you know, this one likes strawberry, this one likes pistachio – you know? I would stay with the chocolate, I must say." The book that sparked a lifetime of reading While Hayden, who's 72, is no longer at the Library of Congress, the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, which she led for over two decades, has the feel of home. Hayden's lifetime of reading was sparked by a library book – "Bright April" by Marguerite De Angeli, the story of a Black girl and her family. She said she saw herself in that book: "Yeah, it was like, 'Oh my gosh, this is me,'" she said. "You see yourself. And that's why it's so important for young people to see themselves, or to read about experiences that they're having. 'Cause it validates you, because you've seen it in a book. Somebody took the time, somebody cared enough. "That's what librarians are fighting for, that people will be able to say, 'Here's a book about our family. We have a family that other people might think is a little different.' Or, 'Here's a book that talks about someone that's just like you.' And because it's in a book, it's been published, it means that it's real and it's important." Carla Hayden shows correspondent Robert Costa a copy of "Bright April." CBS News For Hayden, libraries do more than convene people in buildings; they convene Americans around our founding values. And she points to "Freedom to Read" – the 1953 statement by the American Library Association – as a guiding light. "The freedom to read is essential to our democracy," it said. "It is continuously under attack." Is it under attack today? "Democracy is under attack," Hayden said. "Democracies are not to be taken for granted. And the institutions that support democracy should not be taken for granted. And so, that's what the concern is about libraries and museums. It's part of a fabric. Think of it as an infrastructure that holds up – the libraries have been called one of the pillars of democracy, that you have these institutions in every community that allow anyone to come in and access knowledge." For more info: Story produced by Ed Forgotson. Editor: Chad Cardin.
