San Diego's mayor is facing opposition to proposed budget cuts that could affect the city's arts and cultural institutions. The Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center, which relies on public funding for youth programs, may be impacted. Gloria defended the cuts, citing economic reality, while Talamantez urged reconsideration, highlighting the struggle of local artists who rely on public support to create high-quality work.
https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/san-diego-arts-face-potential-funding-cuts-in-mayors-proposed-budget/509-2858629a-d5b9-4a56-9ede-b59eb5a21f4fSharjah, UAE, is gearing up to receive the 2024 World Book Capital title, following Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's announcement as the 2025 host city. Director Marwa Al Aqroubi emphasized Sharjah's commitment to supporting fellow cities through sharing its experience and expertise gained during its 2019 World Book Capital year. The initiative championed cultural diversity, knowledge sharing, and books as catalysts for community growth.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2025/04/20/sharjah-shares-sustainable-cultural-model-in-franceA museum is dedicated to preserving and interpreting primary tangible evidence of humankind and the environment, serving multiple purposes including recreational facilities, scholarly venues, educational resources, promoting tourism, civic pride, and nationalistic endeavors.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/04/21/campus-press/preserving-history-and-culture-through-museums/2095539Japanese artist Tamayama, 34, has held the youngest solo show at a museum, with his work featuring recurring motifs from his first job as a janitor, including mops. His exhibition "Past Works Floors" at Gasbon Metabolism in Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, includes pieces like "Pipeline (Mop)" and "Models (Pair, 6 sets, 12 rings)", a 20-meter long sculpture of suspended mobiles.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/04/20/art/takuro-tamayama/Canadian photographer Don Komarechka's artistic photograph of a maple leaf flag is at the center of a controversy over copyright protection. Komarechka claims his work is an homage to Canada's national symbol, but not covered by public domain laws. In contrast, Kriger argues that this situation reveals a deeper issue about the line between copyright protection and predation, citing the use of a shared cultural icon as a commercial trigger. The law currently favors Komarechka, with his image registered in the Canadian copyright database.
https://petapixel.com/2025/04/18/how-a-photographer-protecting-his-most-famous-image-made-him-the-bad-guy/China's museums are being retrained to promote ethnic unity and counter "wrong historical views" by emphasizing archaeological findings over confrontational portrayals of ethnic divisions between the Han majority and minority groups, according to Pan Yue, director of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3307057/chinas-museums-get-new-mission-promote-ethnic-unity-counter-wrong-historical-views?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionDavido, a Nigerian musician, believes that it's a privilege for another culture to draw inspiration from his music, citing P-Square as an example of African artists influencing American music with their hits inspired by Michael Jackson.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2025/04/19/afrobeats-megastar-davido-sees-nigerias-star-risingGaleri Sasha in Kuala Lumpur is hosting an exhibition of abstract works by Fadhli Ariffin, titled "Bino", which translates to "to shimmer" in Malay. The show, set to end on May 10, features a series of pieces that capture the fleeting moments of light and its effects on nature, inspired by the artist's roots in printmaking. Through slow layering techniques, Fadhli invites viewers to pause and notice the quiet brilliance in everyday life, creating a grounded yet dreamlike experience.
https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2025/04/19/weekend-for-the-arts-039the-plantation-plot039-exhibition-039baroque-brilliance039In Indonesia, Easter celebrations are shifting towards a more spiritual focus, but traditional symbols such as decorated eggs and rabbits are gaining popularity. Editor's Choice: Beyond Bunnies and Eggs: 7 Easter Traditions Across Indonesia.
https://en.tempo.co/read/1998485/unwrapping-easter-the-origins-of-eggs-rabbits-and-chocolate