70 percent of Cuyahoga County (OH) voters approved increasing cigarette taxes to support the arts in the recent election. A 30-cent per pack tax was about to expire and voters approved increasing the tax to 70-cents per pack and extending the tax to 2035. Since 2007 this tax has raised nearly $250 million in support of the arts.
Miami Beach has approved increasing arts funding by $960,000 to make up for cuts in state funding. As a result of a veto by Governor DeSantis, the entire $32 million in state arts funding was eliminated for the fiscal year. The city of Miami Beach recognized the economic impart of the arts and the number of jobs it provides and voted to make this one-time additional grant to fill the budget gap created by the cut in state funding.
Broadway musicians have agreed to a new one-year contract. Wages will rise 4.5 percent.
recording
Nintendo Music has been downloaded more than a million times since its launch on October 30. Picking up on the popularity of video game music on YouTube, the app features music from pioneer composers of Nintendo franchises such as Mario and Zelda.
SAG-AFTRA has filed a lawsuit against UFO Pictures for filming a movie overseas. The “low budget” collective bargaining agreement signed with the union requires all filming to take place in the U.S., and the lawsuit alleges that scenes for Beyond the Law were shot overseas and talent is owed an additional $163,000 in lost wages.
symphonic
The San Antonio Philharmonic has entered into a partnership to make the Scottish Rite building in downtown San Antonio its new home. The Philharmonic would be co-owner of the 2,200-seat auditorium. Currently the orchestra performs at First Baptist Church, with has a much smaller stage, and the new venue would enable more large-scale works. They hope to complete updates to the venue’s safety features and make it compliant with ADA accessibility standards in time for the 2025-26 season.
The New York Philharmonic has fired principal oboist Liang Wang and associate principal trumpet Matthew Muckey. Both had been accused of sexual misconduct and abuse of power dating back to 2010. They were originally fired in 2018 but were reinstated in 2020 after an arbitrator ruled in their favor. Local 802 will not arbitrate this latest firing.
Atlantic Classical Orchestra has hired Allison Kaiser as executive director. A 43-year veteran of the nonprofit arts sector, she has previously served as executive director of the Lexington Philharmonic and development director at both Miami City Ballet and the New World Symphony.