Latest news with #arts
Times
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Times
Without a tourist tax, we can wave goodbye to free museum admission
Even a cynical old hack like me can't believe that governments actually set out to destroy the arts. No, it's usually the law of unintended consequences that wreaks havoc on culture. For instance, establish rigorous targets to improve children's literacy and numeracy, and the unintended consequence is that schools cut music and art to make time for more maths and English. Or bring in Brexit to 'take back control', and the unintended consequence is that UK performers find themselves tangled in red tape if they try to tour Europe. Now The Times tells us that Angela Rayner's plan to give directly elected mayors powers to tax tourists through a levy on hotel accommodation has been scuppered by the Treasury, who fear it could further damage businesses already clobbered by higher national insurance and an increased minimum wage. And sure enough, this veto could also have unintended and damaging consequences for arts institutions.
Yahoo
20 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
a day 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
2 days 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
2 days 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.
