New Directions for Opera in France?

October 19th, 2021

Many years ago, my French wife was surprised when I explained that America does not have a Minister of Culture. “Who supports the arts?” she asked and I explained what donors contribute to performing arts functions. “Then the rich control the orchestras and operas?” “Ahhhh…. yes…” I admitted. And, since the rich do not necessarily […]

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THE NIE WALL TO COME DOWN …and more good news!

September 22nd, 2021

By Brian Taylor Goldstein It’s so rare that I get to share anything positive in the world of artist visas that I still find myself wondering if I have inadvertently fallen through the matrix into someplace where it is not 2021. The White House announced today (Monday, September 20, 2021) that in “early November” it […]

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The French “Legion of Honor” Awards

July 19th, 2021

By: Frank Cadenhead, July 19, 2021 The Légion d’Honneur is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. It was created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte and has been retained by all later French governments and régimes. The seat of the order is the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur, just next to the […]

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CLOUDY WITH CONTINUED EXCEPTIONS

July 11th, 2021

Every time I sit down to write a blog about a more compelling subject, such as tales of successful artist entrepreneurship or navigating exciting new commissions and projects, a visa crisis drags me back into the bowels of despair. On this occasion, it’s the ongoing impact of the U.S. COVID Travel Ban on international artists […]

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IS IT TIME FOR ARTISTS TO RETURN TO THE U.S.?

May 20th, 2021

The COVID Travel Ban, Significant Consulate Backlogs, and Other Current Issues For Non-U.S. Artists By Brian Taylor GoldsteinSorry for the long delay since my last post, but, well…it’s been an interesting year, to say the least. Things are improving, but 2021 still needs more rehearsal time to work the kinks out. Here in New York […]

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French Minister of Culture and Covid

March 29th, 2021

By: Frank Cadenhead, Mar. 29,2021Many in France were concerned in recent days after their popular Culture Minister, Roselyne Bachelot, 74, was hospitalized after contracting the Covid-19 virus. She had tested positive on the 20th of March and hospitalized on the 24th with oxygen therapy. Her son, Pierre, in a statement on Sunday, was reassuring, indicating […]

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HOW TO FIX EVERYTHING

January 28th, 2021

EXPLORING NEW BUSINESS MODELS AND PRACTICES IN THE PERFORMING ARTS IN A POST-COVID WORLD By Brian Taylor Goldstein Aside from thwarting a clown car coup, 2021 is certainly not off to the auspicious start we all had hoped for. Nonetheless, it is with trepidatious optimism that we find ourselves crawling out from our burrows like […]

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Notice of Cancellations at the Paris Opera

January 13th, 2021

By: Frank Cadenhead This is an update of the projections for the Opera National de Paris. It is probable that the cancellations until the end of January will continue well into 2021 as the virus will not be fully contained until appropriate general protection is gained with the vaccines. The same actions have been, or […]

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“A Particularly Painful Decision”

December 10th, 2020

By Frank Cadenhead, December 20, 2020 Tonight’s televised announcement of the French Prime Minister was another blow to the performing arts. The bad news came although the government’s Coronavirus control efforts were aggressive and it was working. Masks are a requirement in any public place and permission to leave your home had to be formally […]

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USCIS Has Officially Raised Premium Processing to $2500 EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 19, 2020… and an update on National Interest Waivers while we’re at it.

October 16th, 2020

The Screaming Demon Pumpkin and his festering goblins of anal carbuncles JUST announced TODAY that it was raising the premium processing fee from $1440 to $2500 effective this Monday, October 19, 2020. Any petitions postmarked after October 19, 2020 will be returned if they do not have the higher fee. Whilst I expect this to […]

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