Photo: Coachella-based artist Chris Sanchez, aka Kas Infinite, is among five artists who created site-specific artworks for the on-the-land exhibition Available to All, continuing this month in Joshua Tree.
IDEAS & ISSUES
McCallum now selling shows, not subscriptions (The Desert Sun)
In a nod to the desert’s changing demographics, the McCallum Theatre is eliminating subscription series and putting all of its 2018-2019 shows on sale this month. The general public can buy tickets starting April 16 at the box office in Palm Desert or at mccallumtheatre.com.
New state arts council director shares vision for the arts in California (KPBS)
Anne Bown-Crawford, the new director of the California Arts Council, joined KPBS’s Midday Edition to discuss her vision for the future of arts in California. (Audio)
Have museums been too generous with naming rights? (Apollo Magazine)
What does it mean to put a wealthy donor’s name on a museum’s door — and should public institutions exercise more careful judgement when accepting donations?
A new toolkit helps museums measure socially engaged practice (The Museum Association)
The London-based Museum Association created the toolkit for museums to measure their social impact and find the right approach for their organization and participants.
EDUCATION
A new bill could increase access to arts education, but it has skeptics (SCPR)
While many advocates applaud the goal of SB 933 to increase access to arts education in California, some professional educators suggest the language fails to guarantee quality instruction.
Music lessons boost kids’ cognitive skills, new research shows (Pacific Standard)
In a recent study, children who received music lessons showed improved language-based reasoning, and the ability to plan, organize and complete tasks, as well as improved academic achievement.
What’s the best path to become a museum curator? (Artnet News)
To find out, Artnet examined the educational histories of 100 curators who specialize in contemporary art at 69 fine art museums in 32 states.
MUSIC
Soul’d Out challenges Goldenvoice’s ‘radius clause’ (The Desert Sun)
Producers of a Portland-based Soul’d Out Music Festival have filed a federal lawsuit against Goldenvoice, contending that Coachella festival’s contractual restrictions violate state and federal antitrust laws.
Music and magic in the Mojave (Palm Springs Life)
You ain’t lived till you’ve rocked, ribbed, and raged at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, says writer Maggie Downs.
LITERARY/SPOKEN WORD
Ken Layne’s ‘Desert Oracle’ lures you into the deep, dark Mojave Desert (Palm Springs Life)
Desert Oracle lulls you into the quietude of the desert, then rattles you with chilling tales of Bigfoot sightings, UFOs, and any number of myths and conspiracies involving an eclectic cast of oddballs and experts.
Does recovery kill great writing? (The New York Times)
Many of the writers Leslie Jamison idolized were famous for work that evoked the dysfunction of their addictions. Work that evoked sobriety often faded into obscurity, out of print or unpublished.
THEATER
Big dreams at the small Desert Rose Playhouse (Palm Springs Life)
Desert Rose Playhouse Artistic Director Jim Strait explains how he and his partner in the playhouse and life, Paul Taylor, discuss their commitment to the production company and the LGBTQ community.
Courting older audiences will be crucial over next decade, theatres told (The Stage)
Arts organizations will need to focus more on older audiences over the next 10 years to cater for England’s ageing population, new research has claimed.
VISUAL ART
Meet 6 artists leaving their mark on the local landscape (Palm Springs Life)
Creating in different styles and media, artists Ryan Campbell, Michelle Castillo, Sofia Enriquez, Nalani Hernandez-Melo, Adam Enrique Rodriguez, and Emily Silver are connecting people and place.
Riverside is getting ready for “The Cheech” (IE Business Daily)
Riverside officials are hoping the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture and Industry, aka “The Cheech,” will revitalize the city’s downtown.
How taking a road trip for art enhances the journey (KCET)
When you take road trips and consider art as the main attraction, the journey brings about a transformative experience. Here are some of the most engrossing art pieces in the Southern Californian desert.
Does having a day job mean making better art? (The New York Times)
For artists with “real” jobs, a trade isn’t just about paying the bills; it’s something that grounds them in reality.
