Katherine Brown has been hired by New York City Ballet into a new executive director position that will oversee all non-artistic matters; the position will report directly to the board and will be charged with reducing expenses, solving the deficit problem, increasing revenue and attracting younger audiences. Julie Bloom reports in the New York Times:

NY Times

It's about time they created this position. I am a firm believer in the importance of checks-and-balances in a ballet company, or any artistic company really. It is essential that there is someone of equal rank to the Artistic Director who can say NO without fear of retribution.

The Saratoga Performing Arts Center has found a corporate sponsor -- the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, or HSBC -- for the residencies of New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra during Summer 2010.

Paul Post reports in the Troy Record.

Troy Record

Excellent news.

Executive Director Kathy Brown is interviewed in Businessweek.com by Patricia O'Connell.

Businessweek.com

In the Wall Street Journal, Erica Orden writes about the company's new, hard-hitting marketing campaign for the 2010 Fall Season.

Wall Street Journal

Interesting. It looks like they are trying to make ballet more accessible, less of an ivory tower. I think it's a good trend.

NYCB management is in a stalemate over wages with AGMA and A.F. of M. Local 802. Frank Nestor reports in Backstage.

Backstage

Ouch. This could get ugly. Though it sounds like the unions are saying what unions always say when in negotiations such as this.

New York City Ballet management wants to include a set of "social media guidelines" for artistic and administrative staff as part of its negotiations with AGMA on a new contract. Erica Orden reports in the Wall Street Journal.

Wall Street Journal

Interesting. So I guess they don't want their dancers releasing company secrets and embarassing pictures on Facebook.

In the New York Times, Robin Pogrebin reports on the status of contract talks, now in the hands of a federal mediator, as of April 27, 2011.

NY Times

Robin Pogrebin reports on the contract settlement at New York City Ballet in the New York Times.

NY Times

Susan Reiter reports on the NYCB contract settlement in the Los Angeles Times.

LA Times

I am glad to hear they have come to a settlement. There have been problems brewing in that company for a while. Hopefully this will be a start to getting them all back on track.