The spirit of the north: Oulu is about to begin its year as European Capital of Culture

Oulu, a port city in northern Finland just over 100 miles from the Arctic Circle, has been selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2026. The year-long program will feature over 3,000 events, including art exhibitions, food festivals, and performances, kicking off with an opening festival in January. Highlights include a Sámi art exhibition at the Oulu Museum of Art, a new opera by the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš, and "Climate Clock," a trail of seven permanent public artworks by international artists such as Antti Laitinen, SUPERFLEX, Rana Begum, and Gabriel Kuri. Events will also take place across 39 adjoining municipalities.

Winners of the Leicester Open announced

The winners of the Leicester Open exhibition have been announced, with Simon Farrow winning the prestigious Attenborough Award for his drawing "Clock Tower: Heaven or Hell," which depicts Leicester's Clock Tower with a street preacher and passers-by. Farrow, an amateur artist from Leicester, was selected from over 1,000 entries across paintings, sculptures, prints, and photographs. Other winners include Peter J Lester, Lisa Davies, Alexis Hutson, and several young artists in categories for ages 5-18. All winning works are on display at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery until January 30, 2026, with adult artworks available for purchase starting at £50.

In Romagna for over a century there is a "serious" spring carnival. The story of the plaster and thought floats

In Romagna da oltre un secolo c’è un Carnevale “serio” di primavera. La storia dei carri di gesso e di pensiero

A small town in Romagna, Casola Valsenio, has been hosting a unique spring festival for 125 years, featuring massive allegorical floats made of plaster and wood. Unlike traditional carnivals, this event—called the "serious carnival"—takes place in late April/early May and focuses on social and political themes. The floats, up to seven meters long and nine meters high, are built by local youth and paraded twice (day and night) with performers frozen in tableau vivant poses. A jury, this year chaired by Roberto Cantagalli, director of the MAR museum in Ravenna, awards a winner.

Call For Artists: Dead Of Winter Exhibition & Art Sale At Frozen Dead Guy Days

Estes Park News has issued a call for artists to participate in the Dead of Winter Exhibition & Art Sale, held in conjunction with the Frozen Dead Guy Days festival. The event invites visual artists to submit work for a themed winter exhibition and sale, offering a platform for local and regional creatives to showcase and sell their art during the quirky Colorado festival.