Latest news with #artscommunity
Irish Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on basic income for artists: keep it going
Reports this week that Minister for Arts Patrick O'Donovan supports the continuation of the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) scheme will be welcomed by the sector. Introduced on a pilot basis by the Minister's predecessor, Catherine Martin, in October 2022, the scheme provides a payment of about ¤325 per week to 2,000 full-time artists selected by lottery from a larger group of 9,000 applicants. The intention was to gather robust data on whether such payment delivered meaningful benefits to the working practice of participants. Virtually every political party in the Dáil committed during last year's election campaign to the BIA's continuation. But there was more ambiguity on the matter in the Programme for Government. That was perfectly reasonable as the data required examination before any decision could be made. But it caused disquiet among artists' groups as the expiry date in August approached. The Minister has now confirmed he will seek funding to 'extend and expand' the BIA. His comments follow the release of a report which found it 'significantly impacts the subjective experience of financial uncertainty in the lives of recipients'. The scheme is a response to the fact that precarity and low incomes are a reality of life for many professional artists. This diminishes their ability to reach their full creative potential. It also acts as a barrier to entry for those from economically marginalised backgrounds, perpetuating the stereotype of the arts as a middle-class playground. For these reasons, the basic income is an imaginative and positive addition to more traditional funding mechanisms such as the Arts Council. READ MORE The challenge for O'Donovan and his officials will lie in redefining the scheme and securing the necessary funds. How many artists will be supported in future and will their participation be time-limited? The BIA currently costs the department ¤35 million per year, compared to spending of ¤300 million overall on arts and culture, so any expansion could have significant budgetary implications. None of this should be insuperable, though, and the Minister has made the right call.
New York Times
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Dead Outlaw' Cancels Library of Congress Concert to Protest Firing
The Broadway musical 'Dead Outlaw' announced on Friday that it was canceling an upcoming concert performance at the Library of Congress, one day after the Trump administration fired its top librarian. A brief statement from the show, which earned seven Tony nominations this month, said that it had decided not to perform at the library 'upon learning of the termination of Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress.' Dr. Hayden, the first African American and first woman to serve as head of the institution, was a 'fierce advocate for preserving America's cultural memory and a great champion of the Broadway community,' the statement said. No other details were given. The Library of Congress had planned to present a free concert on Monday afternoon featuring members of the cast and creative team of 'Dead Outlaw' performing selections from the show at its Coolidge Auditorium. The cancellation is the latest indication of the growing tensions between some in the arts community and the Trump administration. President Trump has once again proposed eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts, and last week the endowment began withdrawing grants from arts organizations around the country. This week some members of the cast of 'Les Misérables' were said to be planning not to perform at a gala performance at the Kennedy Center that Mr. Trump, who took over the center, was planing to attend. Earlier this year, a string of artists and speakers canceled engagements at the Kennedy Center after Mr. Trump purged the historically bipartisan board of Biden appointees and made himself chairman. Dr. Hayden's firing on Thursday drew swift outrage from Democrats, many of whom praised her work, including Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the Democratic minority leader, who said in a statement that Dr. Hayden was an 'accomplished, principled and distinguished' leader of the library. She was appointed as the 14th librarian of Congress by President Barack Obama in 2016. She was fired a year before the end of her 10-year term. Cindy Hohl, the president of the American Library Association, condemned the firing in a statement, saying that Dr. Hayden's 'abrupt and unjust dismissal is an insult to the scope and breadth of work she has undertaken in her role leading the Library of Congress.' Dr. Hayden was fired in a two-sentence email from Trent Morse, the deputy director of White House personnel. The notice did not cite a cause. The Library of Congress is the latest federal cultural institution to come under fire from Mr. Trump. In February he abruptly fired Colleen Shogan, the head of the National Archives, who had been appointed by former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., without citing any reason. And in an executive order in March, he criticized the Smithsonian Institution, and directed Vice President JD Vance to seek to influence its Board of Regents.
CNN
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
5 things to know for May 8: Immigration, Medicaid, Auto tariffs, Surgeon general, Tyre Nichols
Some cast members from the touring production of 'Les Misérables' will not appear in the show next month at the Kennedy Performing Arts Center. At least 10 to 12 members of the cast and ensemble have reportedly decided to boycott the high-dollar fundraiser and performance. The move highlights the friction between the arts community and the Trump administration that was sparked in February when 18 Kennedy Center board members were purged from the DC-based performing arts complex, only to be replaced by allies of President Donald Trump. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. Get '5 Things' in your inbox If your day doesn't start until you're up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the '5 Things' newsletter. The judicial branch continued to hammer the Trump administration over its immigration actions, particularly when it comes to due process. On Wednesday, a federal judge concluded that deporting migrants to Libya or Saudi Arabia would violate his previous order, which barred sending migrants to countries other than their own without providing written notice and an opportunity to contest ahead of time. In Minnesota, a federal district court judge ordered the release of an international student who entered the US on a valid F-1 visa and was arrested in March after that visa was revoked. Mohammed Hoque, a Bangladeshi national, argued that he was targeted for his political speech and not for any immigration violations or criminal activity. A federal appeals court also upheld a lower court's decision to transfer Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish national and PhD student at Tufts University, from a Louisiana immigration detention center back to custody in Vermont. In an opinion released Wednesday, the three-judge panel said the US had failed to prove it could suffer harm over the transfer. The House Republican conference is reportedly fractured and the battle lines are becoming more pronounced. One of the biggest sticking points: Medicaid and the related Children's Health Insurance Program, which nearly 80 million children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, parents and adults without dependents rely on for critical care. Speaker Mike Johnson wants to quickly pass President Trump's 'big beautiful bill' of tax and spending cuts — preferably before Memorial Day — but members of his party can't seem to reach a consensus on how much to cut. GOP hardliners want to slash Medicaid spending, while more moderate Republicans refuse to back any changes that could hurt Americans who rely on the program. 'I don't want to be mean,' Rep. Andrew Garbarino, a Republican from a New York swing district, told CNN. 'And I think any time it looks like we're actually hurting people, that's gonna piss off the American population. And if you piss them off, they're probably not going to vote for you.' President Trump's global trade war is starting to take a toll on automakers. Since April 3, imported vehicles have faced a tariff of up to 25%. In response, Ford announced on Wednesday that it was hiking the sticker prices for the three US models it imports from Mexico — the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Maverick and the Bronco Sport — by up to $2,000 each. This increase comes just days after executives said that they didn't expect a significant increase in car prices this year. And earlier today, Toyota forecast a 21% profit decline for the current financial year due to Trump's tariffs and the negative impact of a stronger yen. As the world's top-selling automaker, Toyota will have to deal with both the impact of tariffs on its US-bound vehicles and the potential for a downturn in consumer sentiment when car prices rise. The White House announced yesterday that it had pulled its nomination for Dr. Janette Nesheiwat to be the surgeon general. The news came just one day before Nesheiwat's Senate confirmation hearing was supposed to begin. Nesheiwat — a family physician, former Fox News medical contributor and the sister-in-law of UN ambassador nominee Mike Waltz — has been replaced by Dr. Casey Means. Although Means graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine, she dropped out during her residency. An author, wellness influencer and the sister of White House health adviser Calley Means, Casey Means is now a holistic medicine doctor whose medical license has been inactive since 2024. It took the jury just 8 1/2 hours to find three former Memphis officers not guilty of all state charges in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols. In 2023, Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, fled a traffic stop after he was yanked out of his car, pepper-sprayed and hit with a Taser. Five officers, who are also Black, caught up with him and punched, kicked and hit him with a police baton while trying to handcuff him. Afterward, video showed the officers talking and laughing as Nichols struggled with his injuries. He died three days later. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Nichols' family, expressed his outrage at the outcome of the trial. 'Today's verdicts are a devastating miscarriage of justice,' Crump stated. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith still face the prospect of years in prison for the federal charges they were convicted of last year. Two other former officers previously pleaded guilty in both state and federal court. Accused Aniston gate-crasher chargedThe man who allegedly drove a car through the front gate of a Bel Air mansion that reportedly belongs to Emmy-winning actress Jennifer Aniston has been charged with stalking and vandalism. He is accused of 'repeatedly harassing the victim' by 'sending her unwanted social media, voicemail and email messages.' 3 Doors Down singer reveals cancer diagnosisBrad Arnold took to Instagram on Wednesday to share the news that doctors have diagnosed him with a form of kidney cancer. Due to his health, the band has canceled its upcoming tour. Globes expand award categoriesThe Golden Globes are adding a new category for 2026: best podcast of the year. Only the 'top 25 podcasts' will qualify for the award. 'As the world of entertainment continues to evolve, we are excited to recognize new forms of storytelling,' Golden Globes president Helen Hoehne said. Regal portrait unveiled in LondonIn a tradition dating back more than 400 years, the official coronation portrait of Britain's King Charles was made public this week. Created by English figurative painter Peter Kuhfeld, the king's portrait will join one of his wife, Queen Camilla, at the National Gallery for one month. It will then be moved to Buckingham Palace. Like father, like sonThe eldest son of soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has earned his first call-up for the Portugal Under-15 national squad. The 14-year-old Ronaldo Jr. has also taken to mimicking his dad's famous 'Siu' goal celebration, a practice that has gone viral on social media. 1,002That's how many measles cases have been reported in the US this year. The vast majority of these cases – more than 800 – are associated with an outbreak centered in West Texas that has expanded to New Mexico, Oklahoma and possibly Kansas. 'I've never asked for a meeting with any president and I never will. I wouldn't do that. There's never a reason for me to ask for a meeting. It's always been the other way.' — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, during a post-meeting press conference Wednesday, after the central bank announced its decision to hold interest rates steady. President Trump has repeatedly berated and threatened to fire Powell if he doesn't lower rates. Check your local forecast here>>> A pat on the back for everyonePolice in Tampa, Florida, saved the life of a toddler who was choking on a tomato.
