Met Opera Saudi Deal Collapses, Venice Biennale Cuts Russia Funding

The $200 million agreement between the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Diriyah Opera House in Riyadh has collapsed as Saudi Arabia withdrew from the deal. In response to Russia's participation, the EU has cut €2 million from the Venice Biennale, and its jury will not evaluate countries whose leaders are charged with ICC crimes against humanity, thus excluding Russia and Israel from competing for top awards. The opening of Berlin's Modern museum has been postponed until 2030 due to moisture issues and microbial contamination. Sarah Wedl-Wilson, Berlin's culture chief, resigned following the irregular allocation of €2.6 million in antisemitism funding. Warner Bros. shareholders voted 82% against David Zaslav's $800M+ merger parachute. Nicholas Hytner's Bridge Theatre is considering a sale, while Arkansas Public TV secured a $3 million challenge grant contingent on remaining with PBS. Additionally, the article mentions a piece in Diacritical regarding LACMA's new building and the role of museums.