Singapore has designated 75 national monuments to preserve its cultural and historical heritage. These monuments are significant sites that reflect the country's history, architecture, and cultural diversity. One such monument is the Istana Kampong Glam, a Malay palace built in the 19th century by Sultan Hussein Shah. Another example is the Adam Park Mansion, which was once the residence of Sir Stamford Raffles' friend, Dr John Crawfurd. The monuments are scattered across the island, with some located in urban areas like the Central Business District and others in more rural settings such as Pulau Ubin.
https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/uncovering-secrets-what-ive-learnt-visiting-all-75-national-monuments-singaporeThe Taliban's ban on music in Afghanistan is threatening the country's rich musical heritage, including the ancient rubab instrument. Since their return to power in 2021, authorities have banned public performances and destroyed instruments, forcing many musicians to flee or abandon their livelihoods. Amateur musician Gull Agha, who has been playing the rubab for over 20 years, is among those who continue to defy the ban by occasionally strumming a homemade instrument for tourists in Herat, a city known for its art and culture. Despite the risks, Agha remains committed to preserving Afghanistan's musical traditions, saying "it's our duty to pass on our local music to the next generations as our ancestors passed it down to us."
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/asia/unesco-listed-musical-instrument-stifled-in-afghanistanThe Taliban's ban on music in Afghanistan has threatened the country's rich cultural heritage, including its traditional instrument, the rubab. The UNESCO-recognized instrument, made of dried mulberry wood and often inlaid with mother-of-pearl, is one of the oldest instruments in the region. Despite this, amateur musician Gull Agha continues to play the rubab, motivated by a desire to preserve Afghanistan's cultural heritage. However, he fears that the craft will be lost as professional musicians flee the country and his former students lose interest in practicing. The Taliban authorities have encouraged musicians to turn their talents to Islamic poetry and unaccompanied vocal chants, but Agha remains committed to preserving the rubab tradition.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/582211-afghanistans-unesco-listed-musical-tradition-under-threatIn Afghanistan, traditional musicians are struggling to keep their craft alive under Taliban rule. Despite the risks of persecution, some musicians continue to play the rubab, a traditional instrument that has been an integral part of Afghan culture for centuries. Gull Agha, a 40-year-old musician from Herat, still plays his rubab for tourists and hopes to pass on his skills to future generations. However, many professional musicians have gone into exile, and those who remain are often forced to play in secret due to the Taliban's crackdown on music. Sakhi, a luthier, continues to craft rubabs despite the challenges, while Majid, a 46-year-old musician from Kabul, has not played his instrument for over three years but still holds onto it as a symbol of Afghan culture. Despite the difficulties, musicians remain optimistic that their traditional music will survive and continue to bring joy to others.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2024/12/29/afghan-rubab-music-defies-taliban-silence-as-artists-keep-legacys-soul-alive/161440The Vasari Corridor, a nearly five-century-old passageway, is now open to the public with tickets priced at 43 euros. The corridor offers stunning views of Florence's architecture and grants access to the Uffizi Galleries, which houses masterpieces by artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael. Simone Verde, director of the Uffizi Galleries, described the Vasari Corridor as a "mythical place" that played a crucial role in shaping the Renaissance and its influence can still be seen in modern European courts.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/florence-s-hidden-16th-century-passageway-built-for-medici-family-opens-for-first-time-7355936Dilip Mali's upcoming exhibition, Whispers of Nature, will be held at Jehangir Art Gallery from December 30, 2024, to January 5, 2025. The exhibition features 45-50 acrylic paintings that blend realism and abstraction, inviting viewers to reconnect with nature. Inspired by the natural world, Mali's works showcase a mix of realistic and abstract artworks that pay homage to the beauty of the world around us.
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/booksart/whispers-of-nature-exhibition-by-dilip-mali-celebrates-natures-beauty-1850264Ntombela, a curator at the Nelson Mandela Museum, said it took about two years to secure the works of artist Esther Mahlangu for an exhibition in South Africa. The exhibition features numerous artworks owned by international collectors that were brought back to the country with significant funding. Mahlangu, a recipient of the Order of Ikhamanga in silver, is known for her colorful home in Mpumalanga province, which attracts tourists. The exhibition will run until April 17 before embarking on an international tour starting in the US in 2026.
https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-art-exhibition-esther-mahlangu-be15dbfafa39ea6b58743845b436e0b2The historic photographic archive of two magazines was sold at auction in 2019 to a group of museums and foundations, which plan to digitize the collection and make it accessible to the public. The archive, representing one of the largest visual collections of African American life, contains photographs taken over most of the 20th century by publications such as Ebony and Jet magazines.
https://whyy.org/articles/african-american-museum-wheaties-art-exhibit/Missoula has been ranked as the seventh most art-vibrant medium-sized community in the country by the National Arts Research Center's SMU DataArts. The city stands out for its strong support of arts and culture, ranking in the top 1% for state grants and the top 2% for federal grants that fund art projects. Heather Adams, Executive Director of Arts Missoula, attributes this success to a robust support system, including the Montana Arts Council and local family foundations that invest heavily in the city's artistic endeavors. The consistent recognition has led to an increase in murals and artwork created by local artists throughout the city, with Adams emphasizing the importance of art in making the community more attractive to visitors and boosting the local economy.
https://www.montanarightnow.com/missoula/missoula-ranked-among-top-arts-vibrant-communities-in-the-u-s/article_e739f372-c4a4-11ef-a187-cfdc55f8a18b.html