What’s Happening: A recent survey of the tax filings of cultural institutions pulled back the curtain on the pay and perks afforded to those at the helm.

The Download: For many who aspire to it, even becoming an assistant—let alone a president, CEO, or director—at one of New York’s premier cultural institutions is a dream few will actually realize. The reasons why can vary: there simply aren’t that many positions; the earning potential of such a role (an average of $43,000 for the title of curatorial assistant at the Met) pales in comparison to the costs of higher education, minimum-wage internships, and costs of living in cultural epicenters. But for those who can hash out a career in arts administration and balance the pressures of maintaining a world-class collection, ever-growing fundraising goals, and tempering operating expenses in an inflation-weary economy, the material rewards can be considerable.

Last week, the New York Times took inventory of the earnings and tax-free perks afforded to those in director, president, and CEO positions at the country’s preeminent arts institutions. The numbers ranged from $2 million, a gym membership, and “free” housing in a luxury condo atop the museum for MoMA’s director, to a comparatively modest-sounding $548,000 for the top job at Miami’s Pérez Art Museum. The numbers sparked a conversation that culminated in a question with no easy answer: what is a fair salary for directors of these institutions, especially given how some of them only recently resolved drawn-out union pay conflicts, while others have undergone an umpteenth round of layoffs?

The most surprising takeaway: Even the highest salaries on the list make up mere fractions of a percent in the scope of the institutions’ total annual spending. As a part of the “federal establishment,” it comes as little surprise that the salary of the Secretary of the Smithsonian ($810,000) accounts for a scant 0.05 percent of the complex’s annual spending. That cushy-sounding MoMA gig, meanwhile, accounts for just 0.81 percent. As far as real estate goes, the American Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Met recently quit providing rent-and-tax-free residences to directors—they now provide a taxable housing allowance. MoMA, by contrast, has doubled down on the importance of the museum-owned luxury condo in which its director is required to live, with a reminder that even the most glamorous gigs come with nights and weekends.

In Their Own Words: During the early pandemic, LACMA director-CEO Michael Govan vacated his museum-provided housing—a move that allowed the institution to sell $9 million worth of real estate. “It was the one thing that would achieve cash in the bank and would not negatively impact our balance sheet, so all arrows pointed to the house,” he said in an interview. “There has also been a revolution in museums; people were calling for more accountability at the same time we were under duress.”

Surface Says: Of course, everyone knows the real money isn’t in the cultural sector; just look to the likes of Amazon, whose CEO Andrew Jassy’s $213 million compensation package amounted to 6,474 times that of its median employee in 2021.

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Reach the design world every morning. Find out more about advertising in the Design Dispatch.

As any creative knows, crafting something from scratch can be infinitesimally easier—easier to get excited about, easier on the ego—than iterating on and improving something that’s fallen out of step with the needs of its intended audience. It was in asking tough questions about excess, modernity, and environmental responsibility that Herschel Supply co-founder Jamie Cormack led his team in brainstorming how the brand’s signature backpacks, duffles, and accessories should reflect the myriad ways in which their consumers’ lives have changed since the brand was founded in 2009.

In an interview with Surface, Cormack talks about the enduring impact of the brand’s namesake small town on his creative process, and what its next chapter means for day-one fans.

Craig Redman and Karl Maier have brought their exuberant installations to Bangkok shopping centers, Manchester United’s home stadium, and even the covers of Billboard. Now the duo known as Craig & Karl—who split time between New York and London—have landed in Hong Kong’s Sai Lau Kok Garden as part of the city’s Design District. Taking over the park’s upper areas as well as a bridge and balcony, the setting has been almost entirely transformed into a whimsical fantasia of geometric sculptures and bold chromatic hues. The old-meets-new character of nearby Tsuen Wan inspired the trippy graphics, which passersby can interact with until September 14.

Our weekly roundup of the internet’s most preposterous headlines, from the outrageous to the outright bizarre.

Paper Straws Contain Toxic “Forever Chemicals”—Could Be Worse Than Plastic [New York Post]

Turtle Shells Have Collected Nuclear Fallout This Whole Time [Popular Mechanics]

DiGiorno Is Dropping a Pizza Topped With Both Pineapple and Pickle in an Effort to Enrage the Entire Internet [Food & Wine]

Georgia School District Canceled an Author’s Talks After He Said “Gay” [New York Times]

“Still Alive and Wriggling”: Doctors Remove 3-Inch Parasitic Worm From Woman’s Brain in World First [CNN]

Revelers Hurl Tomatoes at Each Other and Streets Awash in Red Pulp in Spanish Town’s Tomatina Party [AP]

Earlier this week, Saint Laurent brought some star power to Venice by way of a dinner hosted by Anthony Vaccarello in honor of French actor Beatrice Dalle. The fashion house has made a habit of showing up in a major way on the festival circuit, and last year hosted a dinner in honor of Catherine Deneuve. While details of Saint Laurent’s parties and dinners are often scant, the vibes of the photography are always immaculate.

When was it? Aug. 29

Where was it? Venice, Italy

Who was there? Catherine Deneuve, Juergen Teller, Claire Denis, Milena Smit, Gaspar Noé, and more.

When: Sept. 1–30

Where: Thaddaeus Ropac, London

What: Across large-scale paintings, vitrines, installations, and videos, the Malaysian-British artist interrogates how cultural meaning emerges from disparate information fragments. One installation channels Sigmund Freud’s consulting room, featuring Persian rugs and antique examination couches alongside her own unstretched paintings. Another extends her White Grounds series, using layered maps and studio detritus partially covered with white oil gesso, and skin-like latex curtains to explore psychological and bodily themes.

Founded in 1966, Gufram produces some of the world’s most recognizable radical design staples. Under Charley Vezza’s creative direction, the brand has revitalized its catalog through collaborations with famous designers and brands to keep the radical spirit alive.

Surface Says: Packed with playful irreverence, furniture from Gufram adds a pop to any interior. The brand’s most recognizable pieces, such as the Cactus coat stand and Pratone lounge chair, prove that humor never goes out of style.

This detailed collector’s guide instructs how to spot fake Eames furniture.

Chanel converts an old Brooklyn diner into a three-day fragrance pop-up.

Uma Thurman slays as a dodgy art dealer in the upcoming film Preposterous.

Selene Sarı dreams up an air purifier that also resembles a retro speaker.