Many members of the UMS staff keep a watchful eye on local and national media for news about artists on our season, pressing arts issues, and more. We thought we’d pull together a list of interesting stories each week and share them with you. Welcome to UMS’s Arts Round-up, a weekly collection of arts news, including national and international arts issues, artist updates, local shout-outs, and a link or two just for fun. If you come across something interesting in your own reading, please feel free to share!

Arts Issues

• Ever wonder just what goes into bringing international artists to the US? For the first time since 9/11, the Federal Government is about to expedite part of the process.
• Writers, composers, painters, and inventive scientists have all suffered from it. Find out how some of the world’s greatest artists fought creative block.
• Check out the new trend in theater:  an audience of one.

Artist Updates

• Chris Lydon of the Huffington Post sits down with jazz pianist Vijay Iyer to talk about about his heritage, growing up in New York, and the spaces in between.
• Bill T. Jones and others pay tribute to Merce Cunningham with original performances commemorating the first anniversary of this death.
• Nathaniel Ayers, whose life was the basis for the movie The Soloist,  continues his inspirational battle with Schizophrenia with a triumphant performance at the White House to mark the 20^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
• It’s the year 2010, and the Vienna Philharmonic is  in more hot water with the public and government funders and the public over issues of gender equality in hiring practices.

Local Shout-Outs

• Congrats to the DSO and the DIA, who were both recently awarded major grants by Detroit foundations.
• U-M’s Residential College celebrated the 10^th anniversary of its Shakespeare in the Arb program with performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream last month. Here’s a look at this year’s event through a photo gallery.

Just For Fun

• Looking for a place to crash this fall? The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is looking for someone to spend a month living at the museum 24/7.

Categories: Music, Theater & Dance