Latest Arts News from around the World

PM seeks answers on child nudity after new scandal
The Australian
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (Australia)
THE Rudd Government will ask the Australia Council to develop a set of protocols to cover the representation of children in art, after a taxpayer-funded magazine put a picture of a nude six-year-old girl on its cover to protest at the Bill Henson dispute.

Maggie Sietsma in a dance of Titanic scale
The Courier-Mail
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (Australia)
THIS is to be Maggie Sietsma's last major work with the dance company she formed in 1984, but the show must go on.

Russia bans book on Hitler
The West Australian
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (Russia)
A Russian court has banned a book about Adolf Hitler by late British historian Hugh Trevor-Roper, saying quotes attributed to the Nazi leader insult Russians and Jews, prosecutors say.

Mao Crazy
The New Republic
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (China)
The thunderous popularity of a number of contemporary Chinese artists compels a political analysis. Much of the work is powered by a startling and completely delusionary infatuation with Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution.

'There's never been a great woman artist'
The Independent
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (United Kingdom)
So says the critic Brian Sewell, and the art market seems to agree, with men's work commanding millions more at auction.

The shape of things to come
The Guardian
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (China)
Beijing has rebuilt itself faster than any city on earth, turning from a warren of alleys into a capital fit for a superpower. No wonder the world's top architects - from Foster to Koolhaas - have flocked to make their mark on it.

Now every night is amateurs' night
The Guardian Blogs
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (United Kingdom)
Fancy starring in Disney's High School Musical? With more local productions than ever before, there's every chance you can.

'The Dumbest Generation' by Mark Bauerlein
The Los Angeles Times
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (USA)
How dumb are we? Thanks to the Internet, dumb and dumber, this author writes.

The Burden of the Humanities
The Wilson Quarterly
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (USA)
The humanities are among those unquestionably nice endeavors, like animal shelters and ­tree-­planting projects, about which nice people invariably say nice things. But there gets to be something vaguely annoying about all this cloying uplift. One longs for the moral clarity of a swift kick in the ­rear.

La Scala strike cancels 'Boheme'
Variety
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (Italy)
A strike at La Scala has forced the opera house to cancel Monday’s opening performance of Puccini’s “La Boheme,” produced by Franco Zeffirelli.

Art or abuse? Fury over image of naked girl
The Independent
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (United Kingdom)
A magazine has reignited debate about the censorship of artworks.

New storm over nude child picture
The Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (Australia)
THE Premier and the Prime Minister are again appalled, but a young girl photographed nude by her mother says the image, on the cover of the latest Arts Monthly Australia, is her favourite.

On Second Thought: Kenneth Turan on how a film critic can't go wrong
The Los Angeles Times
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (USA)
Everyone has had the experience of disagreeing with a critic, but do critics ever second-guess themselves? We asked Calendar's critics whether there were any reviews they regretted.

Washington Ballet Gets New Executive Director
The Washington Post
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (USA)
The Washington Ballet announced yesterday that it has hired Orlando Ballet Executive Director Russell P. Allen as its new chief administrator.

London theatres' 'best ever year'
BBC News
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 (United Kingdom)
London's theatres enjoyed their most successful year on record in 2007, with attendances exceeding 13m for the first time, according to a report.