The new, two-year budget recently signed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine gives counties with a charter form of government or populations of at least 800,000 the option to levy a cigarette tax to fund arts and cultural programming. "We have a lot of … » Read

Connecticut native Lydia Steier is to succeed Ivan Van Hove as artistic director of the Ruhrtriennale for the 2027-2029 seasons. Germany’s largest industrial region hosts an international arts festival every year, launched in 2002 by the … » Read

In today’s political climate, state support for the arts is having its ups and—in Republican-run governments at least—downs. In California , the legislature recently restored $11.5 million to the Performing Arts Equitable … » Read

In January of 2026, the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) will launch a new online Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Performing Arts Degree Completion Program designed to allow performing arts professionals to translate their work experience into … » Read

Clarinetist Jaroslav Skuta from the Czech Republic, planning to perform a number of Stateside concerts, was refused entry and sent back to Prague. One of his presenters, Frank Wiley, director of music at the United Methodist Church of Kent and … » Read

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Putin’s favorite conductor, has been persona non grata in Europe and the U.S. Dismissed as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic and replaced as conductor of … » Read

LONDON—The ability to mount a production of Peter Grimes is a litmus test for the health of even the starriest institution. This July 6 performance at London’s Cadogan Hall proved that British Youth Opera (BYO), the U.K.’s … » Read

The 30-year-old Colombian conductor Ana María Patiño-Osorio is to become the new music director of the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra (“Filarmed”) as of February 2026. Her appointment makes her one of the … » Read

On June 29 Kenneth Freed died while participating in a triathlon with his wife and son. He was 64. Freed was a mainstay of the viola section of the Minnesota Orchestra for 27 years, and for the past 12 had also served as the artistic director and … » Read

La Scala has recently reminded its patrons of proper attire at the opera house. Flip-flops, tank tops, and shorts – apparently favored primarily among tourists—are not ok. In fact there has been a dress code on the books since 2015, … » Read