Opera, Musical Play, Non-Musical Play...Where We Go

According to the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts' "Attendance rates for various arts activities," 3% of men and 4% of women attended an opera in 2002. In fact, the rates of attendance for various arts activities from museum visit to non-musical play (isn't that a "play?") to musical play (isn't that an "opera?"... well, I guess it might include Broadway) were roughly equal for men and women. As expected, however, jazz performance is slightly more macho than classical, and plays of any kind tend to be less macho. The big gap was apparent in attendance for arts and crafts fairs: 39% of women, 27% of men.

Even more interesting is that 8% of grade schoolers attended an arts and crafts fair in 2002 while 49% of college graduates and 52% of master's and Ph.D.'s went to an arts and crafts fair. Someone has to explain why a college graduate is more likely to attend an arts and crafts fair than a grade schooler. Isn't grade school itself an arts and crafts fair?

Design in the Federal Government

This is a little off topic, but since it concerns our artistic culture, I thought it deserved inclusion here.The new British coins pictured here are the work of a 26-year old graphic designer named Matthew Dent. Out of over 4,000 entries, Mr. Dent's was the winner of the Royal Mint's competition for the new currency design.
The new five dollar bill was created by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The agency is 147 years old, employs 2,500 people, and has an annual budget of $525 million. The agency's daring design choice was the addition of the big, purple 5 in Helvetica, the font familiar to readers of public signs across Europe and the U.S.

Dudamel View

Telephone conversation with Jean at the Los Angeles Philharmonic box office April 2008
Jean I can help you with your subscription. Do you know where you would like to sit?
Me I want the Orchestra View on the left, but I can’t afford that, so I’ll take the Terrace View left. Do you have seats there?
Jean (Sighing sympathetically) A woman after my own heart, let’s see what we have.... I think we can accommodate you there. They really are the best seats.
Me Yes, I want to be able to see the conductor.
Jean You’ve got that right (sexy sound). I sat there for Dudamel’s chamber performance.
Me Oh, I was at his Berlioz symphony. Wow, he was amazing!
Jean Do you know how many times he tucked his hair behind his ears?!
Me Snicker
Jean After the first movement, I just thought, “Give it up, honey.”
Me Oh, yeah, and I love it when he stops conducting and stands there digging the music!
Jean Me too, and in the Terrace View, you can even see him singing along.
Me Really!?
Jean Let’s see what we’ve got for a single ticket for his performance with the Israel Philharmonic this November. I think you’ll need a ticket to that too.
Jean really understands me.

Jessye Norman singing "Dove Sono"