Former Arts Critic James Russell Laments Demise of Bloomberg’s Arts Coverage

James Russell. Photo © Michael Mahoney, Hathead Studios.

On his personal blog, former Bloomberg News architecture critic James S. Russell condemns the news agency’s decision to end its arts and culture coverage in favor of focusing on luxury and lifestyle-related content.

Calling the change a “regrettably powerful signal that culture doesn’t matter in our society and economy,” Russell argues that “arts and design demonstrably matter, certainly to a business audience.” The critic believes that Bloomberg will eventually realize its mistake and recognize the “essential relationship between artists, makers, markets, and well-being.”