|
Josef. Founder @ Rolodex. Expo Chicago recap, media mergers, verdicts, and oversight. Plus fellowships, residencies, and grants for visual or culinary arts + writers ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
|
I was at Expo Chicago this past Thursday, and it is safe to say this year Frieze’s acquisition came into focus. The fair prioritized business and transactions which is what characterizes most global art fairs. And that pivot worked. Dealers reported strong first-day sales including those in the five-figure range. That shift came at the expense of Expo’s civic flair. This year, it reduced participating galleries by 20% and axed “Special Exhibitions” and “Editions + Books”, programs that platformed nonprofits, print dealers, and lower-margin participants. But at the same time, Chicago welcomed Neighbors, a new invitation-only satellite fair held in a Gold Coast apartment, while The Other Art Fair returned to Ravenswood with 100+ participants continuing its artist-first format. Things change over time, whether for better or worse, but it was nice to feel the enthusiasm of visitors and locals alike across a beautiful weekend. As always, I take great pleasure when people realize Chicago is truly a city second to none. |
|
|
|
If this issue sparked an idea, let's talk.
|
|
MEDIA CONSOLIDATION CREATORS SPEAK OUT AGAINST PARAMOUNT-WARNER BROS MERGEROver 1k actors, writers, directors, and producers signed an open letter against Paramount Skydance’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which could cut the number of major US studios to only four. MORE INFO
|
|
ANTITRUST JURY DELIBERATES LIVE NATION VERDICTA Manhattan jury continues deliberations without a verdict in the Live Nation-Ticketmaster trial. In closing, the 34 states suing the company said Live Nation controls 86% of the concert market, or 73% if you include sports. After Trump’s DOJ abruptly settled last month, a win for them could loosen Live Nation’s grip on ticketing, venue contracts, and the pressure smaller venues face in a highly consolidated live-events market THE DETAILS
|
|
AI + JOURNALISM NEWS PUBLISHERS ORGANIZE AGAINST AIThe Guardian, BBC, Financial Times, Sky News, and Telegraph have formed SPUR, a coalition pushing for global licensing frameworks and shared technical standards for AI use of journalism. MORE CONTEXT
|
|
ADVERTISING META TO OUTPACE GOOGLE FOR FIRST TIMEThis year, Meta is projected to take $243.46 billion in global digital ad revenue, edging past Google at $239.54 billion. This is likely due to Meta’s Advantage+ automation and more ad inventory across WhatsApp and Threads. READ HERE
|
|
MEDIA REGULATION UK MOVES STREAMERS INTO DIRECT OVERSIGHTAs the UK rolls out the Media Act 2024, video-on-demand services with more than 500,000 average monthly UK users will be designated Tier 1 and brought under stricter Ofcom oversight. That is expected to capture platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, ITVX, and Channel 4. The new regime will apply TV-like standards on audience protection, fairness, and privacy. THE SPECIFICS
|
|
CULTURE INSIDE THE WORLD OF EL CHARROA beautiful, short feature on charrería, the horsemen of the Mexican countryside, that captures culture’s ritual, horsemanship, dress, and pride. GET INTO IT
|
|
INSPIRATION RADIO GARDENA live globe of radio stations. Spin, drop in, listen. Better for reference-building than another hour inside your algorithm. TAKE A LOOK
|
|
GRANT 3PTS ARTISTS & MAKERS IMPACT FUNDClimate Education for Writers program brings participants into hands-on learning around waterways, land use, ecology, and infrastructure in Philadelphia. DEADLINE APRIL 27 | APPLY HERE
|
|
P E R F O R M A N C E JACKI APPLE AWARDFranklin Furnace is accepting applications for the Jacki Apple Award, a $10K grant for one New York City-based artist working in performance art. DEADLINE MAY 1 | MORE INFO
|
|
CULINARY ARTS $50K FOR IMMIGRANT TALENT IN FOOD + STORYTELLINGThe Vilcek Foundation is accepting applications for its Creative Promise prizes in Culinary Arts, with unrestricted $50,000 awards going to immigrant professionals in Food & Beverage and Media & Storytelling. DEADLINE MAY 4 | APPLY
|
|
GRANT $20K FOR ART CRITIQUES ON SCULPTUREThe Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation’s 2026 grant for writing on sculpture. Ideal for critics, historians, and writers focused on sculptural art. DEADLINE MAY 31 | MORE INFO
|
|
RESIDENCY BRICLAB 2026/27 FILM + TVFor emerging or mid-career documentary filmmakers based in NYC. Three residencies will be awarded, with a $2.5k stipend, up to $2k in production support, access to equipment and studios, and a public presentation. DEADLINE JUNE 5 | DETAILS
|
|
If something here sparked an idea, let’s talk.
|
|
|
|