Arts Funding Protests in France, Market Shifts, and Costco's Anti-Amazon Model

Approximately 1,800 individuals gathered in front of the Papal Palace in Avignon to protest cuts to arts funding, transforming the festival into a month-long discussion about the government's responsibilities to artists. The New Yorker reflects on a U.S. culture war that began 35 years ago, sparked by an NEA chairman caught between the realms of artistic expression and political pressures. Cleveland emerged as the top U.S. city for growth in arts-organization revenue, fueled by public funding from Cuyahoga County. Artnet speculates on the potential decline of the mega-gallery era, while auction houses' recent half-year reports resemble financial-services documents, indicating a shift in business models. The Walrus notes Costco's success as an alternative to Amazon by offering fewer choices. Meanwhile, the World Cup introduced its inaugural halftime show, which received a mixed critique from The New York Times.