The most revealing arts story this week was a hire that, by the old rules, wouldn’t have happened. The San Francisco Symphony passed over the marquee conductors and handed its podium to Elim Chan — the first woman to lead one of America’s “Big 7” orchestras and, by critic Joshua Kosman’s own count, the most unproven music director the institution has chosen in four decades. His verdict: the choice “could not have been wiser” (San Francisco Chronicle). Potential.

Chicago arts groups are locking patrons’ phones in pouches to sell something a screen can’t (WBEZ). And a Philadelphia orchestra that programs Rainbow Road and the Sonic theme is growing like a weed. What’s the secret? (Philadelphia Inquirer).

The field’s top honors kept landing in unexpected places, too. The Regional Theatre Tony went to American Players Theatre, in a Wisconsin town of 1,500 (Wisconsin Public Radio). And the International Booker, for the first time in its history, went to a novel written in Mandarin Chinese (AP).

None of these are the same story, but they pose the same question: the map of what counts — who leads, who belongs in the room, what’s allowed on the program — is being redrawn from the edges in.

Which is the bigger question I take up in this week’s AJ Chronicles: Hollywood has completely reinvented its core business model six times in a century. The nonprofit arts have managed it once. Is the second time finally being forced?

All this week’s stories below, organized by topic.

Hollywood has reinvented its core model at least six times in a century. The nonprofit arts model has reinvented itself exactly once. Now there may no choice. But what’s the case?

Christine Taylor Conda, Executive Director of Education and Community Engagement at Ravinia, talks about the unique impact of their One Score, One Chicago program.

Yes, this is a thing. – The San Francisco Standard

We no longer argue about whether art as such is a matter of life and death—we assume that it’s not. Consequently, critics aren’t prompted to ask about the political valence of their own activity: Is criticism itself a moral good? – Artforum

In 2019, Howard Reich, longtime jazz critic of the Chicago Tribune, published The Art of Inventing Hope, based on conversations with Elie Wiesel and Reich’s mother’s experiences in WWII Poland. He has now adapted that book into an opera libretto, The Dialogue of Memories, with music by Tom Cipullo. – WTTW (Chicago)

An indicative ballot held by the performing arts union, Equity, was overwhelmingly backed by its membership: 98% voted yes to potential strikes. The result means the union now has the right to have a statutory ballot on taking industrial action. – The Guardian

Daniel Weiss took over as director and CEO in December after the dismissal of former leader Sasha Suda. He has rolled back some of the decisions made during her tenure, including the brief renaming of the museum as the “Philadelphia Art Museum,” or PhAM. And now new leaders in finance and human resources. – Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)

The national government’s arts agency, Creative New Zealand, plans to have most funding decisions (excepting international projects and national companies such as the NZ Symphony and Royal NZ Ballet) made by up to 16 independent regional organizations. – The Big Idea (New Zealand)

His return became one of the most remarkable late-career success stories in American opera. As his voice matured into a true dramatic tenor, Pulliam emerged as a sought-after interpreter of Verdi and other heavyweight repertoire. – Moto Perpetuo

In 2022, Vermont Public Radio merged with Vermont Public Television to form a new entity titled simply Vermont Public. The marriage pulled together 57 employees from the radio network and 42 from the TV side and total assets valued at $90 million. It thus became the state’s largest news organization by far. – Valley News (Vermont)

Large online streaming services must contribute 15% of their Canadian revenues to Canadian content, the country’s federal broadcast regulator said Thursday. That figure is three times the 5% initial contribution requirement the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, CRTC, set out in 2024. – AP News

The evening was championed by baritone Christian Pursell, better known in the fandom as Chester the Geroo, who plays Escamillo in Carmen. As far as anyone can tell, this was the first official Furry Night at the opera in history, a genuinely historic moment for the fandom and the city of Seattle. – The Stranger

“Over the years with the RSC, the English Shakespeare Company” — which he co-founded — “and beyond, Pennington played most of the leading roles in the canon; … his stage career looked like ‘he drew up a list of the juiciest roles in the classical repertoire and methodically set about ticking them off’.” – The Times (UK)

Some students only want people who hold similar views to address them at their graduation. They exercise what free speech law experts call a “heckler’s veto,” meaning when an audience’s reaction, or anticipated response, stops someone from speaking. – The Conversation

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has circulated a “Be on the Lookout” alert to law enforcement nationwide, targeting a comedian whose satire of US immigration enforcement went viral. – The Guardian

The museum has committed to supporting four artists over the next several years—P. Staff, Tarik Kiswanson, Jenna Sutela and Eglė Budvytytė—in four distinct ways: acquiring their work throughout the period; financially supporting external production; providing a part-time stipend for a year to alleviate financial pressure; and covering health insurance for a year. – The Art Newspaper

“The owner of the Peanuts television and film music catalog is suing multiple entities over the alleged unlawful use of jazz artist Vince Guaraldi’s famous tracks from the “Charlie Brown” franchise. Lee Mendelson Film Productions filed four federal copyright lawsuits, … (one of them against) the U.S. Department of the Interior.” – USA Today

The Tribune, owned by finance firm Alden Global Capital, landed the deal to purchase the employee-owned Herald (based in northwestern suburb Arlington Heights) after several full-page ads, an 11th-hour bid and (probably) a premium price. – Chicago Tribune (Yahoo!)

Joshua Kosman: “In appointing Elim Chan as its next music director, the San Francisco Symphony has tapped the most inexperienced, unproven new artistic leader the organization has had in more than 40 years. The choice could not have been wiser or more opportune.” – San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)

“The Trump administration does not plan to seek approval from Congress for President Donald Trump’s planned 250-foot arch, arguing that they do not need it because lawmakers a century ago authorized a somewhat similar project that was never built.” – The Washington Post

“A decision to go ahead with a sale of ATG Entertainment, previously known as Ambassador Theatre Group, … could value the business at more than £4 billion ($5.38 billion). … ATG Entertainment ​owns and ⁠operates more than 70 venues across the UK, the United States, Germany and Spain.” – Reuters (MSN)

WEIU, licensed to and based at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, has halted over-the-air broadcasting and become an online-streaming-only station. Now-discontinued federal grants had made up 80% of its budget. – Jacksonville (Illinois) Journal-Courier