In the Arts: Chicago Symphony Musicians Take Pay Cut

Musicians in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra have agreed to a 2.5 percent pay cut for about two years and the donation of additional services to help the organization save about $4-million, reports the Chicago Tribune.

This follows a pay and hiring freeze at the orchestra that began in October. In a column in the Tribune, music critic John von Rhein says pay cuts at financially challenged orchestras around the country should go beyond performing musicians and into the ranks of high-profile music directors.

Meanwhile, symphony organizations in Indianapolis and New York, as well as several museums around the country, have employed the use of text messaging to engage their audiences, reports The New York Times.

A story on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition discusses whether big expansion projects at art museums, such as the $300-million project just completed at the Art Institute of Chicago, contribute toward the goal of revitalizing local economies and increasing attendance.

At Brandeis University, the Rose Museum closed its temporary exhibitions on Sunday, and when it reopens in mid-July, it may not have a director or curator, reports The Boston Globe.

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