HfBK-Studierendenrat äußert sich zu Protesten gegen Kunstausstellung

The student council of the Dresden University of Fine Arts (HfBK) has distanced itself from acts of vandalism against an exhibition by artist Holger John, but expressed understanding for the protests as a sign of frustration with opaque decisions by the university administration. The exhibition, which runs until Sunday, has been repeatedly targeted: bicycle locks blocked the entrance gate, a poster was damaged, and a protest sign was hung. The university filed a criminal complaint against unknown persons. The controversy stems from images shown at the vernissage depicting John with Rammstein singer Till Lindemann, who faced serious allegations in 2023 (later dropped).

Protest gegen eine Kunstausstellung in Dresden

An exhibition by Dresden-based artist Holger John at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste (HfBK) in Dresden has been met with protests from students. Before the opening on April 30, the exhibition banner was cut and a gate was repeatedly blocked with locks. Students are calling for the show to be closed, not because of John's artwork, but because of his association with musician Till Lindemann, who faced serious allegations in 2023 (later dropped by prosecutors). John denies any wrongdoing and says the protests are damaging his reputation. The university has filed a criminal complaint against unknown persons and increased security, while also attempting to open a dialogue with the student council.

Kazakhstani Art Community Demands Reinstatement of Censored Venice Work

On May 21, over 100 Kazakhstani artists, curators, and arts professionals signed an open letter demanding the reinstatement of Äsel Kadyrkhanova's installation *Machine* (2013) at the Kazakhstan Pavilion of the 61st Venice Biennale. The work, which features archival Soviet-era arrest warrants and a vintage typewriter, was dismantled on May 5, days before the Biennale's public opening. The pavilion's curator, Syrlybek Bekbota, took personal responsibility for the removal, citing a lack of agreement with the artist on alternative presentations. Kazakhstan's Ministry of Culture and Information initially cited a contract clause prohibiting political works, but the museum manager, D'Uva, denied imposing any restrictions.

Future Generation Art Prize Returns with $100,000 Award for Emerging Artists.

Applications are now open for the eighth edition of the Future Generation Art Prize, a biannual international prize for emerging artists aged 35 and under. Established by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and organized by the PinchukArtCentre in Kyiv, the prize offers a total award of US$100,000, including $60,000 in cash and $40,000 invested in the artist's future practice. The open call accepts submissions in any medium, with a deadline of 28 June 2026. Shortlisted artists will exhibit at the PinchukArtCentre in spring 2027, and a distinguished international jury will select the winners.

Bulletin du Musée Ingres Bourdelle n°98 - Avril 2026

The April 2026 issue (No. 98) of the Bulletin du Musée Ingres Bourdelle has been published, featuring a range of scholarly articles on the museum's namesake artists and related historical figures. Key contributions include Aude Gobet's study of Ingres's painting "Le Condottiere," Dominique Cordellier's new perspective on two 17th-century paintings, and Christophe Marcheteau de Qinçay's exploration of the Caen-based Ingres disciple Gustave Collet-Descotils. The issue also contains a substantial section of "Petits mélanges" (short miscellanies) paying homage to the late Georges Vigne (1954-2025), a prominent Ingres scholar, with tributes from colleagues including Pierre Rosenberg, Florence Viguier, and others. Additionally, the bulletin reports on the museum's activities in 2025 and the annual report of the Association des Amis du MIB.

L'Art en une semaine n° 1 - Mardi 26 mai 2026

La Tribune de l'Art has launched a new filmed podcast series titled "L'Art en une semaine n° 1 - Mardi 26 mai 2026." In this first episode, the hosts discuss the Pont-Neuf, the Louvre, Chambord, the Louvre-Lens, and the Société de l'histoire de l'art français. The podcast is being distributed for free on YouTube and Dailymotion, with plans to also host it on the ad-free platform Peertube, though technical issues have delayed that upload. The article provides links to the Société de l'histoire de l'art français website and to Cairn, where issues of La Revue de l'Art can be found.

DuSable Museum President Responds to Whistleblower Lawsuit in New Filing

Perri Irmer, president of Chicago’s DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, has filed a 15-page response seeking dismissal of a whistleblower lawsuit brought by former vice president of education and programs Kim Dulaney. Dulaney alleges she was fired in October 2023 after reporting misuse of restricted funds, improper financial practices, and workplace misconduct, including that only $600–$700 of a $5,000 University of Chicago grant was used for Juneteenth children’s programming. Irmer’s attorneys argue Dulaney failed to meet the Illinois Whistleblower Act’s requirement that she refuse to participate in the alleged unlawful conduct, and that her claims lack specific factual details. The museum has separately filed a 24-page response denying the allegations.

Yemen deals with cultural heritage challenges after years of civil war

Mutte Ahmed Qasem Dammaj, Yemen's newly appointed culture minister in the internationally recognized southern government, is working to address rampant looting, unguarded heritage sites, and a war-weary society after more than a decade of civil war. In an interview with The Art Newspaper, Dammaj emphasizes the need to shift international narratives about Yemen by highlighting its rich cultural heritage, including recent cultural events in Hadhramaut, Aden, and Taiz. He is negotiating with Germany, the US, Switzerland, and France to secure the return of illegally trafficked Yemeni artifacts, though challenges include a meager ministry budget of less than $1,000 per month for museums and the need to secure sites before objects can be repatriated.

French project uses AI to visualise how climate change will affect heritage sites

French conservation experts from multiple public and private institutions are developing an AI model to predict the impact of climate change on cultural heritage sites. Led by Ann Bourgès of the French Ministry of Culture’s Centre for Research and Restoration of France’s Museums, the project began in 2022 with two doctoral researchers, Adèle Cormier and David Roqui, who are studying three heritage sites: Strasbourg Cathedral's sandstone spire, the Bibracte archaeological site, and a future coastal site. The team is gathering climatic and material deterioration data to train an AI to correlate weather patterns with physical degradation, using open-source methodology so the tool can be adopted globally.

RESONANCE 2026 Opens Fully Funded Paris Residency

ART X Lagos and Cité internationale des arts, in partnership with the Embassy of France in Nigeria / Institut Français du Nigeria, have opened applications for the 2026–2027 edition of the RESONANCE residency programme. The fully funded three-month residency in Paris is open to Nigeria-based visual artists, curators, and designers, offering a live-in studio at the Marais site, a monthly allowance of €1,200, round-trip travel, professional mentoring, and institutional visits. Applications are due by 31 May 2026, with separate residency periods for curators (October–December 2026) and visual artists/designers (November 2026–January 2027).

Moskaus Angriff auf Kiew beschädigt auch Museen und Gedenkstätten

A massive Russian attack on Kyiv over the weekend targeted historical buildings, museums, and memorial sites, causing widespread damage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported 87 injuries and at least two deaths, with around 300 objects damaged, mostly residential buildings. Military administrator Tymur Tkachenko described it as the largest attack since the full-scale invasion began, noting that for the first time Russia deliberately struck historical architecture and memorials, including the Foreign Ministry building, the Chernobyl Museum, and the Art Museum. Russia used 600 drones and 90 missiles, including the new Oreshnik intermediate-range missile, in retaliation for a Ukrainian attack on a vocational school in occupied Starobilsk.

Gilded: The New Icons Exhibit

Arts Advocates Gallery in Sarasota, Florida, is hosting 'Gilded: The New Icons,' a two-person exhibition running Saturdays from December 6 to December 27, 2025. The show features paintings by Alicia Brown and digital works by Elisabeth Trostli, who explore themes of identity, female beauty, and representation through Renaissance, Baroque, and Pre-Raphaelite influences. Brown’s oil paintings reimagine family members with colonial and Caribbean imagery, while Trostli’s AI-enhanced digital collages blend hand-drawn illustrations, photography, and fractal patterns. The exhibition includes weekly talks on painting, gilding, and digital art.

Protest against Holger John exhibition

Students at the Dresden University of Fine Arts (HfBK) have staged protests against the retrospective exhibition "66 × John" by painter and gallerist Holger John, on view at the Oktogon until June 1. The protests were triggered in part by photographs displayed at the vernissage showing John alongside Rammstein singer Till Lindemann, against whom allegations were made in 2023 before Berlin prosecutors dropped the case. Protesters repeatedly blocked the entrance gate with bicycle locks and damaged exhibition materials, leading the university to file a complaint against persons unknown.

National Art Museum of Kyiv Forced to Close After Russian Strike

Le Musée national d’art de Kiev contraint de fermer après une frappe russe

The National Art Museum of Ukraine (NAMU) in Kyiv was damaged during a massive Russian airstrike on the night of May 23-24, which involved 90 missiles and 600 drones. The museum has closed indefinitely after windows were blown out, window frames damaged, plaster fell from walls, and the skylight roof was hit. No staff or collections were harmed, as the main artworks had been evacuated to secret storage sites since February 2022. The museum had maintained partial activity with temporary exhibitions and conferences, and had loaned over sixty works to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium for the exhibition 'In the Eye of the Storm.'

DEP ART GALLERY | 20 Years

DEP ART GALLERY is celebrating its 20th anniversary, as reported by Artsy. The gallery has reached a two-decade milestone in its operations.

Max Pezzali entra nel mondo di Topolino con un numero tutto Anni Novanta

Max Pezzali, the iconic frontman of the Italian pop band 883, has been appointed as the guest artistic director for a special issue of the long-running comic magazine *Topolino* (the Italian edition of Mickey Mouse). The issue, number 3680, will be released on June 3 and features a concept-comics format inspired by a concept album, with stories written and illustrated by various artists including Tito Faraci, Alessandro Perina, and Claudio Sciarrone. The cover, drawn by Alessandro Perina, references Pezzali's 1993 album *Nord sud ovest est*, and the issue includes autobiographical elements and nods to 1990s pop culture.

Working in the arts: opportunities from Spazio Taverna, Comune di Chiusa, Fondazione Artea and Cinecittà

Lavorare nell’arte: opportunità da Spazio Taverna, Comune di Chiusa, Fondazione Artea e Cinecittà

This article from Artribune compiles five current job opportunities in Italy's cultural sector, with deadlines ranging from June to July 2026. Spazio Taverna, in collaboration with Eni and ROAD – Rome Advanced District, launches a call for ideas for artists and architects under 35 to design a monument, pavilion, or installation for the Gazometro district in Rome. Assitej Italia, TRAC, Teatro tra le generazioni, and Fondazione SAT announce a national call for four artistic residencies in theater for younger generations, offering production support and mentorship. The Comune di Chiusa (Bolzano) seeks a librarian for a part-time permanent position, while Fondazione Artea is hiring a communications and marketing officer with a gross annual salary of €30,000. Finally, Cinecittà (Istituto Luce-Cinecittà) is recruiting a technical audio support specialist with at least ten years of experience.

Sharjah Art Foundation Launches The Hook for Emerging Art Writers.

Sharjah Art Foundation has launched The Hook, a new editorial platform that supports emerging and established art writers across the region. The initiative invites writers to submit pitches responding to a single artwork currently on view at Sharjah Art Foundation venues, encouraging personal, critical, and experimental approaches to art writing. Selected texts will be published on #SAFOnline, and contributors will receive an honorarium. The open call is aimed at local and regional writers interested in engaging critically with contemporary art.