THE ARTSNEA Future Gloomy: Congress moved a...

THE ARTS

NEA Future Gloomy: Congress moved a step closer to making major cuts in federal arts funding Tuesday when a House appropriations subcommittee proposed sharp reductions in the 1995-96 budgets of federal cultural agencies. The National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities would be hit the hardest--a 39% reduction--should the proposal become law. The subcommittee soundly rejected budget requests from the Clinton Administration and signaled that the NEA could be phased out in three years. The Smithsonian Institution and the Institute of Museum Services also face cuts. Other budget proposals will be coming through the Senate appropriations committee as the summer goes on, and the two versions will be hashed out in a process that will likely last into autumn.

POP/ROCK

Hootie & the Soundtracks: Hootie & the Blowfish’s “Cracked Rear View” regained its spot as the No. 1 selling album in America last week, while movie music continued to flex its sales muscle. Soundtracks for “Pocahontas” and “Batman Forever” moved up to the No. 2 and 6 positions, respectively, while “The Bridges of Madison County,” “Braveheart,” “Forrest Gump” and “The Lion King” all managed to move up the charts from their positions last week. This week’s highest album debut was Paula Abdul’s “Head Over Heels” at No. 18.

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On Your Honors: Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, Bette Midler, Vince Gill, Smokey Robinson and Annie Lennox will receive awards for charity work at the second “VH1 Honors” show tonight at the Shrine Auditorium. All the honorees with the exception of Jackson will be performing, and special duo performances by Mary Chapin Carpenter with Kathy Mattea and Herbie Hancock with Lennox will honor the Red Hot Organization. VH1 will broadcast the show live at 5 p.m. with a replay at 8 p.m. Seats for the events are still available through Ticketmaster.

OPERA

Doctor’s Orders: Mindful of his reputation, Luciano Pavarotti sent a doctor’s note when he canceled his opening night performance at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Ill. His Viennese throat specialist vouched that Pavarotti is suffering from an allergic disease of his bronchial system and “singing under these conditions is irresponsible.” The note was almost a requirement. The Lyric Opera of Chicago banned the Italian tenor in 1989 after he missed more than half his scheduled performances in the preceding decade. Pavarotti was to sing the role of Cavaradossi in Puccini’s “Tosca.” He will be replaced at Saturday’s opening by American tenor Richard Leech.

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‘Butterfly’ Metamorphoses: Catherine Malfitano will be singing the role of Cio-Cio San in the L.A. Opera’s 1995-96 season finale of “Madama Butterfly,” scheduled for next spring. Malfitano replaces the previously announced Veronica Villarroel, who has also withdrawn from productions of “Butterfly” with the Toulouse, Houston and Metropolitan operas. According to sources at the L.A. Opera, Villarroel feels she needs to wait before adding the role to her repertoire.

LEGAL FILE

Culkin Clan Woes: Macaulay Culkin’s mother is seeking sole custody of him and five of his siblings, alleging their father left the family home alone and is threatening their acting careers with erratic behavior. Patricia Brentrup said Christopher Culkin moved out of their New York City home in March and is trying to pull the plug on 12-year-old son Kieran’s participation in the movie “Amanda,” scheduled to begin filming next week. Brentrup said in court papers filed Tuesday that agents and movie people “have informed me in no uncertain terms that if [Christopher Culkin] deliberately botches up this deal, no one in Hollywood will want to work with our children again.” The couple “have been separated in the past due to his excessive drinking, physical abuse and unfaithful behavior,” she said, adding that her husband’s “selfish and erratic behavior has been in direct contravention of the best interests of our children.”

MOVIES

Countdown Begins: Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, Kathleen Quinlan and director Ron Howard will land at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills at 6 tonight for the premiere of “Apollo 13.” . . . To further explore the dramatic space mission, A&E; has announced it will air “Apollo 13: Crisis in Space” as part of its “20th Century With Mike Wallace” documentary series on July 12.