Latest news with #Lyric
The National
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Female filmmakers festival to take place in Tiree
Taking place from September 19 until 21, Sea Change will showcase a selection of new films from women directors from across the globe in Tiree (more than 80 miles away from the nearest permanent cinema). A 1934 story documentary about crofting life in Shetland by pioneering Scottish filmmaker Jenny Gilbertson, The Rugged Isle: A [[Shetland]] Lyric, will opening the festival. Later screenings include Motherboard, BAFTA-winner Victoria Mapplebeck's look at solo motherhood shot over 20 years and six iPhones; Sister Midnight, Karan Kandhari's feminist punk black comedy set on the streets of Mumbai; and the Berlin Film Festival Audience Award winner Deaf (Sorda), a drama about a young Deaf woman and her hearing husband having a baby. READ MORE: Prestwick Airport gears up for Donald Trump arrival on Air Force One The film festival also invites audiences to experience sea swims, beach pilates and ceilidh dancing classes in between screenings. Orkney author Amy Liptrot will introduce a special screening of The Outrun, Shallow Grave star Kerry Fox will share some of her favourite collaborations with female directors including An Angel At My Table and Fanny and Elvis, and there will be a focus on Scottish women in animation. The festival will take place at venues across the island including An Talla, community hall, the 19th century Hynish Centre (originally built to house the workers building Skerryvore Lighthouse) and Screen Argyll's screening room in Crossapol. The Rugged Isle: A Shetland Lyric, a 1934 "story documentary" about crofting life by the Scottish filmmaker Jenny Gilbertson (Image: National Library of Scotland) In the week before the festival, Screen Argyll will host official Sea Change screenings of some classic films directed by women in Seil, Mull and Coll. Following on from the festival dates, Screen Argyll will be touring a programme of Vicki and Selina's animations to audiences across the Hebrides and Argyll, including showings in the world-famous Screen Machine mobile cinema. Ahead of the public festival opening, a host of leading female and non-binary film industry professionals will arrive in Tiree for a series of conversations around an ever-shifting industry. Highlights of the sessions include guests sharing their wisdom, with Kerry Fox delivering a masterclass on working with actors, Glasgow Film CEO Allison Gardner revealing her tips on getting your film in front of an audience and animator Selina Wagner talking about how she is developing her first feature film. READ MORE: New Glenfinnan bus service launches in bid to tackle viaduct overtourism They will be joined by talks and panels from top Scottish industry bodies including BECTU, the Scottish Documentary Institute and Animation Scotland. Sea Change's artistic director Jen Skinner, who lives full-time in Tiree where she runs Screen Argyll, said: 'We are so excited to share brilliant films and welcome wonderful people into our communities, for this year's Sea Change. "Tiree is the most westerly island in the inner Hebrides and the ideal place to ask what connects us? 'Everyone is welcome to join us for a weekend of films, workshops, family activities and special guests! Local venues open their doors to filmmakers, film students and film lovers of all ages as we come together to watch, talk, walk, swim, make and share.'
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: Chicago's Joffrey Ballet pirouettes to stability and growth
Arts organizations often have money problems and the cuts flowing from President Donald Trump's administration have only made them more acute. Dance companies typically struggle more than most. But in Chicago, there's a ballet company with an impressive record not just of creative success but financial stability. Consider. Like many ballet companies, the 70-year-old Joffrey makes its annual bones on 'The Nutcracker.' Last year, Christopher Wheeldon's adaptation, set during Chicago's 1893 World's Fair, brought in more than $7 million in ticket sales and played to more than 50,000 people. Since its debut in 2016, that annual production alone has grossed more than $30 million. This spring, the exceptionally well-managed Joffrey risked more than $3 million on a new Wheeldon production of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.' It paid off. It grossed $2.69 million in ticket sales just on this first go-around. 30,000 people bought tickets over the course of the 14-performance run. Most performances sold out; no mean feat for a venue with 3,520 seats. All of that goes someway toward explaining why the Joffrey, which is run by artistic director Ashley Wheater and President and CEO Greg Cameron, has an annual operating budget of about $29 million and employs about 300 full- and part-time people in Chicago, does not carry a deficit, or struggle with debt. Over the past 10 years, with the help of its board of directors, it has built up a total endowment of $32 million. Ten years ago it did not have any endowment at all. There's another factor too: smart consolidation, a rarity in the arts. On Wednesday, the ballet company told us it was extending its lease at the Lyric Opera House for seven more years through 2034, continuing an agreement that began in 2020 when Joffrey made the smart decision to move its main performance venue from the Auditorium Theatre. This has been a win-win situation for both the Lyric and the Joffrey, creating a dynamic combination operating within a historic building that's a pivotal cultural anchor on the western edge of Chicago's Loop. Opera audiences are not as large as they once were, so runs are not as long and thus the Lyric had empty weeks, especially during the holiday period between the fall and spring opera seasons. Joffrey got the benefit of a massive stage, a grand auditorium with a huge capacity and an aesthetically pleasing environment. The combination of ballet and opera in the same building is common in Europe (it occurs with the Royal Opera House and the Royal Ballet in London, among many others) but less so in the United States. Yet it makes perfect sense, not least because there is a big overlap between ballet and opera audiences. Not only can each company market to the other, they can share the heavy costs of live production, virtually year-round. Tough as they have been for most peers, the last five years have been phenomenally successful for the Joffrey. This Chicago company is a balletic model for the nation.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Avel eCare Appoints Martainn Lenhardt as Chief Financial Officer to Lead Financial Strategy Amid Rapid Growth and Innovation
SIOUX FALLS, SD / ACCESS Newswire / July 23, 2025 / Avel eCare, a leading provider of telemedicine services in the United States, today announced the appointment of Martainn Lenhardt as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Lenhardt brings over 20 years of healthcare finance experience to the role, where he will oversee Avel's financial strategy, operations, and performance during a pivotal era of innovation and nationwide expansion. Lenhardt joins Avel eCare following his tenure as VP of Finance at Lyric and senior leadership roles at Change Healthcare, where he managed a $480 million business unit and was instrumental in driving growth and improving margins. He is widely recognized for his expertise in strategic growth, mergers and acquisitions, and optimizing global operations. His ability to turn complexity into opportunity and build agile, purpose-driven teams will be instrumental in advancing Avel's mission. 'Avel eCare is transforming how healthcare is delivered across the country,' said Lenhardt. 'It's an honor to join this team and help scale a model that brings high-quality, virtual care to every corner of the nation.' This appointment comes at a time of unprecedented momentum for Avel eCare. In the past two years alone, Avel has launched new service lines, secured exclusive partnerships with organizations like Amwell and Cibolo Health, and expanded services to more than 46 states. The company continues to innovate with in-ambulance telehealth, ICU solutions, and programs that support EMS, law enforcement, and correctional health, making care more accessible, cost-effective, and consistent, especially in rural and underserved areas. The new CFO joins an accomplished executive team committed to advancing healthcare access and outcomes across the country. Avel's leadership includes: About Avel eCare Avel eCare is a national leader in technology-enabled clinical services delivered through telemedicine, offering provider-to-provider virtual care solutions that expand clinical capacity and improve outcomes across the healthcare industry. With more than 30 years of innovation, Avel's board-certified clinicians partner with hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, schools, EMS agencies, and correctional health systems nationwide to bring high-quality care to patients when and where it's needed most. Learn more at: Media Contact: Jessica Gaikowski Avel eCare [email protected] SOURCE: Avel eCare press release
Borneo Post
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Borneo Post
China's innovative solutions propel global shifts toward smarter, greener industries
A staff member sets parameters before welding at Guangdong Lyric Robot Automation Co., Ltd. in Huizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) GUANGZHOU (July 14): As global industries accelerate their transition toward intelligence and sustainability, China's innovative solutions form vital components of international supply chains, driving cross-sector transformation. SMARTER FACTORIES At Guangdong Lyric Robot Automation's Huizhou facility in south China, an automated warehouse operates efficiently with only two staff members. Materials glide autonomously through storage systems, arriving precisely at workstations as needed. A central control screen displays real-time inventory levels, material usage frequency, and shelf capacity. 'This system cuts operational costs by over 30 percent while boosting productivity by 40 percent,' said Duan Yajie, general manager of Lyric subsidiary Shunchu Intelligence. Overseas orders for such integrated solutions now constitute over 40 percent of the subsidiary's total business. Lyric's intelligent factories serve industry leaders across six countries. From battery plants in North America to a comprehensive automotive logistics center in Hungary, as well as sectors like renewable energy and AI computing, Lyric has supported clients in establishing digital factories using technologies such as intelligent sensing, precision control and execution systems. With subsidiaries in 14 countries, including the United Kingdom, Poland, France, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, and the United States, Lyric has navigated cross-cultural challenges through co-developed standards. 'Building consensus during the design phase helps prevent conflicts during implementation,' Lyric's co-founder Lu Jiahong said. 'Once rare on European streets, electric vehicles are now increasingly common, reflecting the combined efforts of Chinese equipment, battery and auto manufacturers,' she added. POWERING ENERGY REVOLUTION EVE Energy Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese lithium battery company headquartered in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, is advancing its global manufacturing strategy with a new battery production base in Hungary's Debrecen. The facility represents a transformative industrial upgrade for the region, introducing advanced manufacturing systems where agricultural production once dominated the local economy. 'We're bringing advanced industrial production to this region, creating employment while accelerating the energy transition,' stated EVE vice president Jiang Min. He added that the Debrecen base is scheduled to begin production in late 2026, while their overseas facility in Malaysia is already operational. Ranked fourth globally in cylindrical battery shipments and second in energy storage capacity for 2024, EVE Energy operates 12 production bases across Asia, Europe and North America. Its power batteries supply premier global automakers including Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover. According to Jiang, the company continues to expand investments in carbon-reduction technologies. It has recently established a comprehensive resource recovery ecosystem with over 10 partners. 'Collaborative expansion across the industrial chain creates mutual benefits,' Jiang said. A staff member operates a robot to perform synchronous action at a provincial embodied artificial intelligence robot innovation center in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) VISION FOR INTELLIGENT MACHINES At Orbbec's Shenzhen exhibition hall, a food-delivery robot navigates through display areas, skillfully avoiding obstacles. This agility comes from its 3D vision sensors, powered by the proprietary 'MX6600' chip, which measures about 9 square millimeters. This chip processes depth-sensing data to enable high-precision spatial mapping. Currently, 7 out of 10 service robots in China use Orbbec sensors, while international clients grew by 77 percent year on year to 1,469 in 2024, including major companies like Nvidia and Microsoft. 'We concentrate on foundational technologies,' said Huang Yuanhao, founder of Orbbec. 'We are one of the few companies worldwide to cover all major 3D vision perception technology approaches, serving global robotics enterprises across various sectors, such as smart factories, warehouse logistics, construction automation, and intelligent inspection,' he added. Orbbec also offers rapid technical support to better serve its global users. 'Some of our products have demanding technical service requirements, and excellent service is a major factor why overseas users choose us,' said Orbbec's CFO Chen Bin. China's global engagement is transitioning from manufacturing exports to integrated technological empowerment, said Yang Boru, professor at the School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong. As these innovative solutions expand worldwide, they have become key drivers of intelligent and sustainable industrialization, he added. – Xinhua China industrial innovation robotics supply chain
Malaysia Sun
11-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
China's innovative solutions propel global shifts toward smarter, greener industries
GUANGZHOU, July 10 (Xinhua) -- As global industries accelerate their transition toward intelligence and sustainability, China's innovative solutions form vital components of international supply chains, driving cross-sector transformation. SMARTER FACTORIES At Guangdong Lyric Robot Automation's Huizhou facility in south China, an automated warehouse operates efficiently with only two staff members. Materials glide autonomously through storage systems, arriving precisely at workstations as needed. A central control screen displays real-time inventory levels, material usage frequency, and shelf capacity. "This system cuts operational costs by over 30 percent while boosting productivity by 40 percent," said Duan Yajie, general manager of Lyric subsidiary Shunchu Intelligence. Overseas orders for such integrated solutions now constitute over 40 percent of the subsidiary's total business. Lyric's intelligent factories serve industry leaders across six countries. From battery plants in North America to a comprehensive automotive logistics center in Hungary, as well as sectors like renewable energy and AI computing, Lyric has supported clients in establishing digital factories using technologies such as intelligent sensing, precision control and execution systems. With subsidiaries in 14 countries, including the United Kingdom, Poland, France, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, and the United States, Lyric has navigated cross-cultural challenges through co-developed standards. "Building consensus during the design phase helps prevent conflicts during implementation," Lyric's co-founder Lu Jiahong said. "Once rare on European streets, electric vehicles are now increasingly common, reflecting the combined efforts of Chinese equipment, battery and auto manufacturers," she added. POWERING ENERGY REVOLUTION EVE Energy Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese lithium battery company headquartered in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, is advancing its global manufacturing strategy with a new battery production base in Hungary's Debrecen. The facility represents a transformative industrial upgrade for the region, introducing advanced manufacturing systems where agricultural production once dominated the local economy. "We're bringing advanced industrial production to this region, creating employment while accelerating the energy transition," stated EVE vice president Jiang Min. He added that the Debrecen base is scheduled to begin production in late 2026, while their overseas facility in Malaysia is already operational. Ranked fourth globally in cylindrical battery shipments and second in energy storage capacity for 2024, EVE Energy operates 12 production bases across Asia, Europe and North America. Its power batteries supply premier global automakers including Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover. According to Jiang, the company continues to expand investments in carbon-reduction technologies. It has recently established a comprehensive resource recovery ecosystem with over 10 partners. "Collaborative expansion across the industrial chain creates mutual benefits," Jiang said. VISION FOR INTELLIGENT MACHINES At Orbbec's Shenzhen exhibition hall, a food-delivery robot navigates through display areas, skillfully avoiding obstacles. This agility comes from its 3D vision sensors, powered by the proprietary "MX6600" chip, which measures about 9 square millimeters. This chip processes depth-sensing data to enable high-precision spatial mapping. Currently, 7 out of 10 service robots in China use Orbbec sensors, while international clients grew by 77 percent year on year to 1,469 in 2024, including major companies like Nvidia and Microsoft. "We concentrate on foundational technologies," said Huang Yuanhao, founder of Orbbec. "We are one of the few companies worldwide to cover all major 3D vision perception technology approaches, serving global robotics enterprises across various sectors, such as smart factories, warehouse logistics, construction automation, and intelligent inspection," he added. Orbbec also offers rapid technical support to better serve its global users. "Some of our products have demanding technical service requirements, and excellent service is a major factor why overseas users choose us," said Orbbec's CFO Chen Bin. China's global engagement is transitioning from manufacturing exports to integrated technological empowerment, said Yang Boru, professor at the School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong. As these innovative solutions expand worldwide, they have become key drivers of intelligent and sustainable industrialization, he added.
