ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Arts News Digest: Microdramas Surge, Bolshoi Under Fraud Probe, Rijksmuseum Opens Digital Archive

other · 2026-08-18

Hollywood is experiencing a contraction, yet the microdrama genre is thriving, with revenue in the US expected to reach $1.5 billion this year, as stated by Reuters. The Onion's acquisition of InfoWars is surpassing the performance of Alex Jones's venture, according to TheWrap. Newsrooms are evolving investigative journalism by transforming exposés into video games aimed at a potential audience of three billion gamers, as noted by Nieman Lab. Following the conclusion of its last tour, regional theaters are presenting Les Misérables, according to The New York Times. The Bolshoi Theatre is undergoing a fraud investigation related to Yuri Grigorovich's legacy, impacting 11 productions, as reported by Gramilano. Dance/USA's new executive director remarked that the organization's current structure 'is not sustainable,' according to Dance Magazine. Additionally, the Rijksmuseum has made 840,000 works accessible online, as reported by Open Culture.

Key facts

  • Microdramas (vertical 90-second serials) are projected to reach $1.5 billion in US revenue this year, per Reuters.
  • The Onion's takeover of InfoWars now out-draws Alex Jones himself, according to TheWrap.
  • Investigative newsrooms are turning spying scandals and vote-rigging exposés into video games, targeting three billion gamers, Nieman Lab reports.
  • Regional theaters are producing Les Misérables now that the last tour has closed, per The New York Times.
  • The Bolshoi faces a fraud investigation over Grigorovich's choreographic legacy, putting 11 productions including Nutcracker and Swan Lake at risk, Gramilano reports.
  • Dance/USA's incoming director says the existing structure 'is not sustainable,' as told to Dance Magazine.
  • The Rijksmuseum has put 840,000 works online, free to download and edit, Open Culture reports.
  • Getty curators are grading art emojis across operating systems, according to The New York Times.

Entities

Artists

  • Yuri Grigorovich

Institutions

  • Nieman Lab
  • Reuters
  • TheWrap
  • The New York Times
  • Gramilano
  • Dance Magazine
  • Open Culture
  • The Onion
  • InfoWars
  • Bolshoi Theatre
  • Dance/USA
  • Rijksmuseum
  • Getty Museum

Locations

  • Hollywood
  • Amsterdam
  • United States

Sources