AGP Executive Report

Creative Rights: Punjab has ordered Pakistan’s first film royalty law and approved rebates for Punjabi and Urdu productions, aiming to protect artists and draw investment into local cinema. Poetry: South Korea awarded its highest cultural honor posthumously to poets Yoon Dong-ju, whose work captured life under colonial rule, and Kim Nam-jo, a leading voice in modern Korean literature. Living Heritage: A nearly 900-year-old tile workshop in Herat is still hand-making tiles for the restoration of historic sites, including the city’s Grand Mosque. City & Creativity: Gulzar revisited Mumbai’s changing identity and migrant life in a conversation about how the city has shaped his writing. Cultural Exchange: Canton Fair visitors are meeting through food, performances and hands-on heritage activities alongside trade. Local Culture: As Tobago Carnival grows, a call to champion local talent spotlights the importance of building the festival around the island’s own creative community.

Cultural Celebrations: Japan’s Emperor and Empress opened national cultural festivals in Kochi, praising local traditions and artistic activity. Chicago’s Arts in the Dark parade also drew thousands, with 4,000 performers celebrating the city’s creative communities. Creative Economy: Bhopal’s Creator Summit put AI, social media and tourism in the spotlight, while honouring leading online creators. In Ghana, Professor Kwasi Ampene was recognised for his work preserving highlife and Akan musical traditions. Art & Heritage: Indian master painter Jogen Chowdhury has died at 87, prompting tributes to his expressive art and mentorship. Guyana is also planning a $545.7 million restoration of its National Cultural Centre. AI and Artists: Elvis Presley’s rights holders are suing Anthropic, alleging it used 274 songs to train its AI model and seeking about $41 million in damages. South African author Coral Hart, meanwhile, says AI helped her publish more than 370 books and sell over a million copies—fueling debate about authorship and creative work.

Artistic Legacy: Indian painter Jogen Chowdhury, celebrated for expressive, socially charged work, has died at 87, leaving a lasting mark on modern art. Reading Culture: Educators warn that short-form videos may erode children’s focus and deep reading; Malaysia’s National Library is expanding partnerships to promote reading and information literacy. Iraqi Modernism: Doha’s Mathaf museum has opened a major exhibition tracing seven decades of experimentation by the Baghdad Modern Art Group, whose artists blended local heritage with international ideas. Art Meets Football: Tyler, the Creator took full creative control of FC Barcelona’s El Clásico campaign, extending his design vision from the shirt to a wider collection. Human Craft: Laika’s new stop-motion film “Wildwood” is drawing praise for its painstaking handmade world, a reminder of the appeal of human artistry amid growing concern over AI-generated content. Art and Dissent: A row over the removal of protest photographs from Raihan Vadra’s exhibition in New Delhi has renewed debate about political expression and censorship.

Cultural Exchange: Kazakh musicians and dancers brought folk traditions to Ashgabat, as the city prepares to host an international theatre festival in November. AI and the Arts: Elon Musk’s xAI has released the first episode of its AI-made Odyssey adaptation. Jack Osbourne says his family’s Ozzy Osbourne avatar plans are about protecting the singer’s digital rights, while footballer Cristian Volpato has licensed his AI likeness for commercial use. Community Culture: Annapolis will mark Día de los Muertos with a free festival of music, dance, food and local art. In Hawaii, artist Aaron Kai has given Ala Moana’s famous “Aloha” sign a wave-inspired makeover. Creative Economy: Bangladesh’s finance minister says the government wants to make arts and culture a bigger part of economic growth, with support for artists and artisans.

Art & Music: Philadelphia artist Nazeer Sabree draws on music and synesthesia to turn sound into color. The Philadelphia Museum of Art will use a $20 million gift to create a learning and community center. Art in the Spotlight: Monet’s “Iris” sold for €50 million, a French auction record, while protests prompted Art Basel Paris to close early and several museums to shut their doors. On Stage: Raye won the Mercury Prize for This Music May Contain Hope, calling music a source of hope. Creativity and AI: Etsy is tightening rules on AI-generated listings as audiences push back against machine-made work; animation studio Laika’s handmade Wildwood offers a striking counterpoint. Cultural Connections: A Sydney exhibition brings together 10 artists of Indonesian heritage to explore tradition, memory and identity.

Culture on the Street: Los Angeles’ Grand Avenue hosts a free day of museum tours, pop-up concerts and performances on Saturday, marking the festival’s 10th anniversary. Heritage at Risk: Severe wildfires in Indonesia may accelerate damage to Sulawesi’s ancient cave paintings, including art dated to at least 51,200 years ago. Books as a Lifeline: Beirut’s returning international book fair drew about 100,000 visitors and 160 publishers, offering cultural respite amid conflict and economic strain. AI and Handmade Work: Etsy is tightening rules on AI-generated craft guides and requiring sellers to show real examples of their products, as publishers say trust remains essential when AI-detection tools can’t be relied on. Creative Legacy: Nintendo game creator Shigeru Miyamoto will become the first video game industry figure to receive Japan’s Order of Culture. Community Arts: Indigenous artists in New York’s East Village are building a peer-run studio and platform to preserve tribal culture and share contemporary work.

Art & Identity: Seoul Museum of Art has opened Lynn Hershman Leeson’s first solo museum exhibition in Asia, bringing together 200 works spanning six decades and exploring identity through technology and performance. Indigenous Design: Quinault Nation member Owen Oliver has joined Olson Kundig as cultural affairs adviser, bringing Indigenous perspectives and community engagement to the architecture firm’s projects. Creativity & AI: Debate over AI’s place in the arts is intensifying: virtual singer Xania Monet’s multimillion-dollar deal has drawn criticism from R&B stars Kehlani and SZA, while South African author Coral Hart says she has produced more than 370 books with AI since 2025. Culture & Craft: Laika’s stop-motion film Wildwood, 16 years in the making, champions human-made storytelling. Meanwhile, a call to treat arts and culture as essential services points to rising demand: spending on experiences has overtaken discretionary retail spending.

Arts Policy: Philadelphia voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to make the city’s arts office permanent, protecting Creative Philadelphia from changes by future mayors. Gaza’s Artists: IMMA in Dublin opens an exhibition of more than 60 works by six members of Gaza City collective Eltiqa, running through Feb. 9. Cultural Heritage: Glasgow museums have removed Egyptian mummies from display amid calls to respect the dignity and consent of the dead. Nightlife: A new global report finds New York’s scene is especially costly; across six cities, women and gender-diverse artists make up just 27% to 32% of lineups. AI and Creative Rights: Spotify says it has removed more than 50 million AI-made tracks from recommendations, while the Writers Guild of America East is offering scriptwriters a tool to block AI systems from reading their work without permission. Creative Industries: Malaysia is pursuing partnerships with Indonesia, Singapore and Cambodia to expand access for films and music, encourage joint productions and develop talent.

Creative Industries: Malaysia is pursuing agreements with Indonesia, Singapore and Cambodia to help its film, animation and music industries reach wider markets. Food & Culture: Mexican chef Elena Reygadas brings Panadería Rosetta and ceramic designer Perla Valtierra to Doha for a November residency celebrating Mexican food and craft. City of Culture: Blackpool, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Wrexham are shortlisted for the UK’s 2029 title and a £10 million prize; Swindon and other hopefuls missed out but say their bids built lasting ambition. Art & Expression: Photographer Raihan Vadra says 74 images were removed from his Delhi exhibition because they were considered political, calling the move a curb on artistic freedom. AI & Creativity: Spotify says it has kept more than 50 million AI-generated tracks out of recommendations, while publisher Boréal has ended its relationship with novelist Thelyson Orelien after confirming AI was used in his book’s writing process.

AI and the Arts: China’s first fully AI-generated feature film, Sanxingdui, reaches cinemas Friday after two years of work, 1.2 million draft images and more than 100 iterations. Its release puts a live question on the big screen: can AI-made spectacle win audiences without losing the human touch? Spotify, meanwhile, says it removed more than 50 million AI-generated spam tracks from recommendations. Creative Partnerships: Malaysia has proposed a cross-ministerial committee with Indonesia to speed up cooperation in the creative industries; two related agreements were signed. Culture and Community: Accra’s OWO Festival returns Sunday, celebrating Kantamanto’s secondhand fashion trade with an upcycling bazaar, music and art. Artists in the Spotlight: Singers including Mika and Badshah defended Daler Mehndi after a minister interrupted his performance at a cultural event, prompting criticism of the singer’s public treatment. Art Week: Art Basel Paris opened amid tight security as the city’s galleries and satellite shows draw international visitors.

Creative Rights: The Society of Authors has withdrawn from an Ethical AI Charter after members objected to its approach. The group will gather feedback ahead of a discussion at its November AGM. Music & AI: Spotify says it has removed more than 50 million AI-generated tracks from recommendations, as platforms face pressure to distinguish human-made work from automated output. Film & TV: In China, AI tools are reshaping production and opening new paths into the industry, as former rail worker Qin Wenshan turns viral AI-made videos into a business. Art & Memory: A major retrospective of Delhi printmaker Anupam Sud opens October 23, tracing her work alongside the city’s overlooked printmaking history. Culture & Care: A Rome hospital is using art-filled treatment spaces and museum visits to support cancer patients, aiming to restore a sense of connection and hope.

Creative Partnerships: Malaysia is looking to deepen creative-economy ties with Indonesia, from music and the arts to intellectual property. At home, Malaysian artists and animators are getting a wider showcase through an immersive theme-park attraction. Books Under Attack: Ukraine’s culture minister says Russian strikes destroyed 13 million books this summer; the government is preparing support for publishers and the book industry. Music & AI: Spotify says it has removed more than 50 million AI-generated tracks from recommendations. A new licensed remix and cover tool will let participating Believe and TuneCore artists opt in and earn royalties. Arts Workers: Serbian ballet artists have raised concerns about pressure on dancers over 40 and called for clearer retirement rules and protections. Community Arts: California awarded $2.8 million to 33 groups for arts and cultural programs in state parks. Art Week: Art Basel Paris returns Oct. 23–25, with new director Karim Crippa aiming to balance its global reach with a strong connection to the local art scene.

Live Music: Doha’s winter concert season starts Oct. 22, bringing together Arab stars, Hans Zimmer and regional performers including Wegz and Saint Levant. Culture Meets AI: China has chosen 14 pilot projects to test AI in cultural production, heritage preservation, public services and tourism. Art & Technology: Seoul Museum of Art opens a major Lynn Hershman Leeson exhibition this week, tracing six decades of work on identity and technology. Creative Work: A new benchmark finds AI design tools still fall short of professional standards, even as Runway’s co-CEO says AI could replace human actors. Heritage: An exhibition in Zhejiang brings together 25 artists from 14 countries, inspired by local landscapes, historic sites and traditions.

Museum Protests: Students picketed the Louvre in Paris, restricting access amid wider protests that have also prompted gallery closures and changes to Art Basel Paris. The demonstration comes a year after the museum robbery and amid staff demands for better pay and conditions. Craft & Heritage: Thirteen Kuwaiti craftswomen brought crochet traditions into a contemporary installation at Al-Shaheed Park, showing how heritage can live in shared public spaces. Performing Arts: India honoured 106 young artists, including Kashmiri folk theatre artist Rayees Wathori and two artists from Nagaland, for preserving and promoting traditional forms. AI & Copyright: Music publishers say AI companies have trained on songs by Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave without permission or payment, and warn Australia against weakening copyright protections. Cultural Memory: Colombia’s National Museum has become the focus of debate over who shapes the country’s history, with critics warning that display changes could sideline marginalised voices. Passing It On: A Kunqu opera festival opened at a school in China, spotlighting arts education as a way to bring the 600-year-old tradition to younger generations.

Public Art: Abu Dhabi’s 2026–27 Biennial will bring 21 artists’ installations into public spaces, exploring memory, community and the meaning of “home.” It opens in Al Ain on Oct. 23 and Abu Dhabi on Nov. 15. Living Heritage: Hanbok Culture Week is underway at more than 410 venues worldwide, pairing traditional dress with exhibitions, fashion shows and workshops through Oct. 25. Youth & Culture: Seoul plans a digital and cultural complex for young people on the former Seongdong Detention Center site, combining skills training, creative activities and public space. Art & Memory: A new book, Cairo Portraits, captures everyday people in the Egyptian capital through photographer Stefan Ruiz’s large-format camera. Bangladesh is also remembering Kalidas Karmakar, the experimental printmaker known as the country’s “Alluvial Artist.” Cultural Institutions: Leadership changes and incomplete governance arrangements are raising questions about continuity at several major Bangladeshi arts institutions. Community Voices: At Bacolod’s MassKara Festival, one dance group broke from the usual celebratory spectacle to spotlight corruption, rising costs and failing public services.

Living Traditions: Hyderabad’s Saddula Bathukamma celebrations brought 700 artists and 30 folk art forms to the Hussain Sagar waterfront, honoring Telangana’s culture and community. Art on View: The Whitney’s major Roy Lichtenstein retrospective features more than 130 works and runs through May 2027. Creative Crossovers: New Zealand music series BEYOND THE BEAT returns with artists reworking songs across genres, from metal into multilingual hip-hop. Making Space for Artists: Burlington City Arts has launched a $60,000 fund for experimental, community-focused projects by local artists. AI and Creativity: Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali says AI should support creative work, not control it; Olivia Rodrigo’s new video, meanwhile, was hand-drawn and animated without AI. Culture Out and About: Bhutan’s Dragon Fury race and Sha-Festival pair cycling with local food, performances and businesses, while Canberra’s week ahead includes a film festival and the Nara Candle Festival.