Latest news with #arts
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
JFK grandson rips move to name Kennedy Center theater after Melania Trump: This administration ‘stands for freedom of oppression'
Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, is blasting a measure from House Republicans that would rename the Kennedy Center's famed Opera House in honor of Melania Trump. 'A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces — but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers,' Schlossberg, quoting his grandfather, wrote in a Tuesday post on Instagram. 'JFK believed the arts made our country great and could be our most effective weapon in the fight for civil rights and against authoritarian governments around the world,' Schlossberg, a vocal critic of President Trump, said. 'The Trump administration stands for freedom of oppression, not expression,' he added. '[Trump] uses his awesome powers to suppress free expression and instill fear,' the 32-year-old son of former U.S. ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg said. Schlossberg's social media post came after House Republicans on the Appropriations Committee approved an amendment to the interior, environment and related agencies annual spending bill on Tuesday that would rename the opera house in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts the 'First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.' Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) called the move an 'excellent way to recognize [Melania Trump's] support and commitment to promoting the arts.' The Opera House renaming effort came after the president, accusing the Kennedy Center of being too 'woke,' overhauled its board in February and named himself its chair. But Schlossberg said the potential name change to the prominent institution's Opera House was not 'about the arts.' 'Trump is obsessed with being bigger than JFK , with minimizing the many heroes of our past, as if that elevates him. It doesn't,' he said. 'But there's hope,' Schlossberg wrote to his nearly 700,000 followers, 'art lasts forever, and no one can change what JFK and our shared history stands for.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Theatre in Dartford praised despite making heavy financial losses
An award-winning temporary theatre in Kent has been branded an "extraordinary success" by its director, despite racking up heavy Orchard West Theatre in Hythe Street, Dartford, posted a net loss of £755,999 for the last financial year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting was built as short-term replacement after its original venue was found to contain potentially dangerous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in September Borough Council leader Jeremy Kite also defended the venue, describing it as not operating in "ideal circumstances" but playing an important role in keeping the "spirit and culture" of the town's arts scene alive. In the theatre's annual report, discussed at a meeting of the council's overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday, its director Tal Rosen wrote: "Despite the challenges of relocation, Orchard West has been an extraordinary success."We were proud to receive national recognition, winning Innovation of the Year at The Stage Awards 2025 and Temporary Structure of the Year at the Festival Supplier Awards."The report added that the theatre generated more than £5m for the local economy and welcomed more than 95,000 customers to 173 performances across 2024 and also employed 18 permanent staff, and had 65 "casual team members." But the report also showed Orchard West making a net loss of £755,999 – equivalent to 34% of its revenue - up from £353,423, equivalent to 14% in in overheads, such as the national minimum wage and other inflationary costs, were among the "financial challenges" blamed. In February Dartford council approved an additional £10m in funding to repair the original Orchard Theatre in Home Gardens, removing Raac and making it safe to use again. It is scheduled to reopen in May authority also gave £500,000 to Trafalgar Events, which runs the theatre, to ensure they could continue hosting at the time, Kite called the decision a "no-brainer" which would still be cheaper than an entire rebuild.
CBC
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Motion to use empty spaces for arts and culture in front of Vancouver City Council
There's a motion being discussed at Vancouver City Council today that looks at more supports for arts and culture in the city. It would come in the form of funding, but it also has to do with space.
CBC
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Vancouver city council considers use of empty spaces for arts and culture
Vancouver city council is weighing a motion that supports arts and culture in the city by making it easier to open up spaces for art and artists. Owner of Chill Pill Comedy, Talie Perry, who has been trying to get her art space in Mount Pleasant going, said the current process has been incredibly frustrating.
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Arts and culture boost will create more island-wide productions, Taoiseach says
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has pledged to fund new arts and cultural programmes that will see more island-wide productions, tours and exhibitions on both sides of the border. Mr Martin said programmes will be launched later in the year to help communities celebrate the diversity across the island. Advertisement In the annual Seamus Share Home Place lecture at Navan Fort in Armagh on Tuesday, Mr Martin spoke of conversations he had with the former deputy first minister of Northern Ireland and a founder of the SDLP. Mr Martin said Mr Mallon's 'wise words' inspired him when he announced the Shared Island Initiative some five years ago. Orla Mallon, daughter of Seamus Mallon said; 'It is an honour that Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, a good friend of my late father, will deliver the annual Seamus Mallon Lecture. — The John and Pat Hume Foundation (@humefoundation) July 22, 2025 'Then, as now, I drew on Seamus's wise words to encapsulate why we need to do more to accommodate and understand each other across the different and often interwoven communities of this island,' Mr Martin said in his speech. The Fianna Fáil leader listed projects and initiatives to connect both sides of the border, including an hourly train service from Dublin to Belfast, which he said brought a 50 per cent increase in passenger numbers. Advertisement He also cited the Narrow Water Bridge project, a Shared Destinations tourism programme, the Ulster Canal restoration and island-wide enterprise and biodiversity programmes as ways of connecting different communities. 'Because, as Seamus perfectly described it, this is and will always be our 'shared home place',' Mr Martin added. 'Our focus on fostering people-to-people interaction is also now moving to a higher level. 'To meet the scale of the demand and the potential there is now, to foster connections in every domain, and to involve and benefit every town and community on this island. Advertisement 'We are continuing and expanding the Shared Island Civic Society Fund and island-wide Creative Ireland programming. 'We are this year initiating major new arts and cultural heritage programmes, backed with more than €20 million from the Government of Ireland out to 2030. 'This will see more island-wide productions, tours and exhibitions across all arts spheres and a new Ireland-UK cultural partnership for institutions and audiences to engage more with the culture and heritage of both our countries.' Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Martin visited the Middletown Centre, which works with children and young people with autism and is funded by the Irish Government and Stormont. Advertisement 'The centre is doing excellent work, not only through providing services and supports, but also in terms of contributing to the broader body of knowledge on autism, through their essential research,' he added. Ireland Micheál Martin rejects idea that Shared Island fun... Read More 'It is also a shining example of practical North-South co-operation in action. 'It was established by the two departments of education, north and south, in 2007, and is funded by both departments. 'It demonstrates the strength of collaboration on this island, and what can be achieved by working together.' Advertisement
