Hampshire College, Whose Alumni List Includes Many Well-Known Artists, to Close After 51 Years

Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, has announced it will officially close following the fall 2026 semester, ending 51 years of operation. The decision follows a period of significant financial instability, including a reported $20 million debt and a failure to meet enrollment targets. The college has established agreements with regional institutions, such as Smith College and Bennington College, to allow current students to complete their degrees elsewhere.

National Gallery picks Tokyo Olympic stadium architect to design new wing

The National Gallery in London has selected Japanese architect Kengo Kuma to design a major new wing as part of its ambitious £750m "Project Domani." Kuma, known for the Tokyo Olympic stadium and V&A Dundee, beat out high-profile competitors including Norman Foster and Renzo Piano. The expansion will occupy a site near Trafalgar Square currently housing a hotel and office complex, and is supported by record-breaking £150m donations from both the Julia Rausing Trust and the Crankstart foundation.

Tokyo Architect Kengo Kuma Beats Out Renzo Piano and Selldorf to Design National Gallery’s £350 M. New Wing

The National Gallery in London has appointed Tokyo-based architect Kengo Kuma to design a new £350 million wing as part of its ambitious £750 million "Project Domani" expansion. Kuma, known for the V&A Dundee, beat out high-profile Pritzker Prize winners Renzo Piano and Norman Foster for the commission. The project involves the demolition of St. Vincent House to create 15,000 square feet of new exhibition space dedicated to 20th and 21st-century art, along with new pedestrian zones and a roof garden.

Weekly News Roundup: March 13, 2026

The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art has commissioned artist Nalini Malani for a collateral exhibition at the 2026 Venice Biennale, titled 'Of Woman Born'. Art Collaboration Kyoto announced a shift from a single director to a seven-member leadership committee. Australian artist Datsun Tran won the 2026 Glover Prize for his landscape work 'The giants are falling'. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Diya Vij as commissioner of the city's Department of Cultural Affairs.

Deepen Your Creative Practice at Vermont Studio Center

Deepen Your Creative Practice at Vermont Studio Center

The Vermont Studio Center is now accepting applications for its artist and writer residencies scheduled for the first half of 2027. The program, located in Johnson, Vermont, offers two- to four-week sessions that provide private studio space, lodging, and a structured schedule including resident presentations, open studios, and a Visiting Artist & Writer program. Applications for the January–June 2027 residencies are due by March 31, 2026.

Talking Texas Art: The Panhandle

Glasstire has announced the second installment of its "Talking Texas Art" panel series, scheduled for April 23, 2026, at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA) in Lubbock. Part of the publication’s 25th-anniversary celebrations, the event focuses on the Texas Panhandle's creative landscape. The panel features prominent regional figures including Judy Tedford Deaton of The Grace Museum, Jon Revett and Amy Von Lintel of West Texas A&M University, and Charles Adams of CASP, moderated by Glasstire’s William Sarradet.

Art Fund celebrates decade of lending programme with Rossetti and Surrealist loans

The Art Fund is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its Weston Loan Programme by facilitating the loan of major masterpieces to 15 regional UK institutions. High-profile works, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s 'Beata Beatrix' and Joseph Wright of Derby’s 'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump', will travel from national collections like the National Gallery and Tate to smaller galleries in Newcastle, Derby, and Ipswich. The program covers essential logistical costs such as insurance, transport, and security that are typically prohibitive for local museums.

Comment | Why doesn't Tefaf Maastricht move to Brussels?

The European Fine Art Fair (Tefaf) continues to be held in the relatively remote Dutch city of Maastricht, despite logistical challenges like transport strikes and limited hotel options. The fair's organizers and the city actively resist recurring suggestions to relocate to a more accessible hub like Brussels, citing a commitment to the location and undisclosed financial support from local authorities.

After Five Years of Community Building, Social Practice CUNY Initiative to End in 2027

The Social Practice CUNY (SPCUNY) initiative, a major program fostering the intersection of art and social justice across the City University of New York’s 25 campuses, will officially sunset in February 2027. Co-directed by artists Chloë Bass and Greg Sholette, the program will conclude following its final 2025–26 fellowship cohort. The decision to end the project stems from the directors' personal transitions, including Sholette’s upcoming retirement and Bass’s shift away from full-time teaching to focus on her studio practice.

What can 160-million-year-old clay tell us about AI and ethics? Inside Es Devlin’s tech and pottery summit

Artist and stage designer Es Devlin convened a diverse group of AI researchers, tech experts, and academics at the Oxford Kilns for a unique summit blending pottery with ethical debate. Participants engaged in the tactile process of shaping 160-million-year-old Jurassic clay while discussing the moral implications of artificial intelligence, ranging from the Turing test to Isaac Asimov’s laws. This collaborative workshop serves as a precursor to Devlin’s upcoming installation, "360 Vessels," created in partnership with composer Nico Muhly.

Hospital Rooms Announces 10-Year Programme and National Artist Edition Launch

The arts and mental health charity Hospital Rooms has announced a comprehensive year-long program for 2026 to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The initiative features a nationwide artist edition project titled "10 Posters for 10 Years," involving ten world-renowned artists including Antony Gormley. Key events include a launch at White Cube in July, followed by a major exhibition at Victoria Miro and a fundraising auction at Bonhams in September, all aimed at supporting the charity's Future Fund for mental health environments.

A new experimental and independent art and culture bookstore is about to open in Venice

A Venezia sta per aprire una nuova libreria d’arte e cultura sperimentale e indipendente

Rupture Arts & Books is set to open a new experimental art bookstore and cultural hub in Venice’s Santa Croce district on April 29, 2026. Moving from its previous Giudecca location to the city’s "museum quarter" near Fondazione Prada, the space will function as more than a retail outlet, incorporating an independent publishing house, a record label, and a podcast production studio. Founded by Alexandre Sap and Anne-Marie Gaultier, the project aims to redefine the contemporary reading space through a multidisciplinary approach.

Riyadh continues to bet big on public art: over 100 new works to be installed in the Saudi capital in the coming years

Riyadh continua a scommettere forte sull’arte pubblica: nei prossimi anni oltre 100 nuove opere installate nella capitale saudita

Saudi Arabia is significantly expanding its Riyadh Art public art initiative, with plans to install over 100 new monumental works across the capital city in the coming years. Following the recent Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 event, which added 25 stone and metal sculptures to the permanent collection, the city has announced 12 new site-specific installations by high-profile international artists including Anselm Kiefer, El Anatsui, and Manal AlDowayan. The project aims to reach a total of 115 new commissions, building upon a collection that already features masters like Anish Kapoor, Jeff Koons, and Giuseppe Penone.

A new book series is born, bringing together the world of art and fairy tales

È nata una nuova collana di libri che tiene insieme il mondo dell’arte con quello delle fiabe

Rome-based publisher Bummy Edizioni has launched a new book series titled "Fiabe d’Arte" (Art Fairy Tales), which merges famous artworks with classic folklore. The debut title, "Gli stivali di Vincent" (Vincent's Boots), written by Beniamino Sidoti and illustrated by Ericavale Morello, reimagines the story of Puss in Boots within the world of Vincent van Gogh. In this narrative, the talking cat encourages the artist to express his inner emotions through painting, blending biographical elements with fantasy.

Sharjah’s Barjeel Art Foundation Is Building its First Museum

The Barjeel Art Foundation has officially broken ground on its first permanent museum in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, with a scheduled opening for January 2028. Founded by Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, the 38,750-square-foot facility will be designed by Abdelmoneam Essa of Architecture Corner Consultants, featuring a design inspired by the traditional architecture of the Al Rigga neighborhood.

Long threatened, the Palais de la découverte will finally reopen in 2027 after a seven-year closure

Longtemps menacé, le Palais de la découverte va finalement rouvrir en 2027 après sept ans de fermeture

The Palais de la découverte in Paris will officially reopen in March 2027 following a seven-year closure for extensive renovations. Located in the Palais d’Antin wing of the Grand Palais, the institution faced the threat of permanent closure or relocation to the Cité des sciences due to economic constraints. However, a joint decision by the French Ministries of Research and Culture has secured its future at its historic site, where it will feature a shared entrance with the Grand Palais to foster a unique dialogue between art and science.

Hong Kong gains new foundation for global majority

The Cheng-Lan Foundation, a new independent arts initiative, has launched in Hong Kong during the city's major art week. Founded by Brian Yue, it supports artists, curators, and writers from African, Asian, Indigenous, and Latin American backgrounds through exhibitions, residencies, and commissions, with an inaugural solo show by Manila-based artist Cian Dayrit.

A new Romaeuropa Festival approaches. Here is what the 2026 edition of the review will be like

Si avvicina un nuovo Romaeuropa Festival. Ecco come sarà l’edizione 2026 della rassegna

The 41st edition of the Romaeuropa Festival has announced its 2026 lineup, scheduled to run from September 8 to November 15 across various venues in Rome. Under the artistic direction of Fabrizio Grifasi, the multidisciplinary festival will feature a robust program of contemporary dance, theater, and music. Highlights include the Italian premiere of Sofia Nappi’s 'Chora', a world premiere of Romeo Castellucci’s 'Faust', and a special celebration of the Rome-Paris twinning anniversary featuring choreographer Benjamin Millepied.

Bologna's Most Vibrant Artist Collective Turns 10 and Launches Crowdfunding

Il collettivo di artisti più vivace di Bologna compie 10 anni e lancia un crowdfunding

The Bologna-based artist-run space Gelateria Sogni di Ghiaccio is celebrating its 10th anniversary by transitioning into a broader collective and launching a crowdfunding campaign. Founded in 2016 by artists Filippo Marzocchi, Mattia Pajè, and Marco Casella, the space has hosted nearly 150 artists and over 50 solo exhibitions, filling a critical gap between art education and professional practice in Italy.

Treviso is a Painted City: The Benetton Foundation Details Its Research

Treviso è una città dipinta. La Fondazione Benetton racconta tutto nelle sue ricerche

The Fondazione Benetton Studi Ricerche has unveiled the results of its decade-long multidisciplinary project, "Treviso urbs picta," which documents the extensive history of frescoed facades in Treviso, Italy. Spanning the 13th to the 21st centuries, the initiative has produced a comprehensive database of 614 buildings, a scholarly publication, and a topographical map. The project includes a digital archive featuring professional photography and historical mapping to track the evolution and current state of the city's unique painted architecture.

In Rome, the major company Acea launches its Foundation for art and culture: The interview

A Roma la grande azienda Acea lancia la sua Fondazione per l’arte e la cultura. L’intervista

The Italian multi-utility giant Acea has officially launched the Acea Foundation, signaling a shift from being a mere cultural sponsor to an active producer and curator of cultural projects. Central to this initiative is the Acea Heritage Museum, which showcases the company’s 117-year history through a massive 12km historical archive and a rediscovered art collection valued at two million euros. The foundation aims to integrate art into corporate spaces, including a dedicated contemporary art section in its foyer and a focus on site-specific works by artist Gino Marotta.

A New "Creative" Campus in Rennes

Un nouveau campus « créatif » à Rennes

The private higher education group Icônes is investing €33 million to construct a new 16,000-square-meter "creative campus" in the EuroRennes district of Rennes, France. Scheduled to open in 2027, the complex will feature three buildings designed by architect Philippe Dubus, including a new home for the ESMA 3D animation school, a 300-studio student residence, and coworking spaces dedicated to creative startups.

Stitch Your Favorite Destinations with Jake Henzler’s ‘Knit the City’

Fiber designer Jake Henzler, known as Boy Knits World, is releasing a new book titled 'Knit the City' through David & Charles Publishing. The book provides modular knitting patterns inspired by the architecture of global cities like Copenhagen and Paris, allowing crafters to create customizable blankets, pillow covers, and other textile projects that stitch together building-block facades.

Biennale Tecnologia Begins in Turin: Five Days of Theater, Performance, Artificial Intelligence, and Distorted Futures

A Torino inizia la Biennale Tecnologia. Cinque giorni tra teatro, performance, intelligenze artificiali e futuri distorti

The Biennale Tecnologia has launched in Turin, featuring over 120 events across 20 venues, including lectures, exhibitions, and a significant performing arts program. The festival utilizes theater and audiovisual performances to translate complex technological themes—such as artificial intelligence, environmental infrastructure, and ethics—into accessible narratives. Key highlights include Marco Paolini’s exploration of the Po River at OGR Torino and the play 'Retrofuturo,' which uses a comedic time-travel premise to critique societal reliance on algorithms.

Three Years, One City: Tulsa’s Transformative Artist Fellowship.

The Tulsa Artist Fellowship has announced an open call for its 2027–2029 award cycle, seeking ten artists and arts workers for a three-year residency in Oklahoma. Selected fellows receive a comprehensive financial package totaling over $150,000 in stipends, plus housing and relocation support, in exchange for committing to live and work in Tulsa. The program, established by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, emphasizes long-term community engagement and the development of ambitious, site-specific projects.

Hangar Announces Longitudes Residency Open Call for Artists, Writers, Curators and Musicians.

Hangar – Centro de Investigação Artística in Lisbon has launched an open call for its Longitudes Residency programme. The call invites artists, writers, curators, researchers, and musicians from diverse disciplines to apply for stays of one to three months. The programme is process-based and non-prescriptive, encouraging participants to develop projects in response to Lisbon's environment or to pursue research within its cultural context.

Haslemere girl, 6, chosen by artist as national event winner

A six-year-old girl from Haslemere, England, was selected by a prominent artist as the winner of a national art event. Her artwork was chosen from a large pool of entries submitted by children across the country.

Working in Art: Opportunities from Roma Capitale, Fondazione Cariplo, Municipality of Milan and Fucine Vulcano

Lavorare nell’arte: opportunità da Roma Capitale, Fondazione Cariplo, Comune di Milano e Fucine Vulcano

This article lists five current job and funding opportunities in Italy's cultural sector. These include a call for live performance projects for Rome's Museum Night at the Civic Museums, the "Luoghi Plurali" grant from Fondazione Cariplo for urban regeneration through cultural reuse of disused spaces, a public art commission for a new library in Milan, a call for artists to access the workshops at Fucine Vulcano in Milan, and a search for cultural mediators by the Provincial Museums of South Tyrol.

Artists invited to shape Shellharbour’s next major works for popular art trail

Shellharbour City Council has launched an open call for artists to create two new permanent public artworks for the Waterfront Shell Cove art trail. The commission seeks large-scale, site-specific installations that reflect the local coastal environment and community identity, specifically targeting the areas near the marina and the foreshore.

A Time of Growth for Museums for Children

Children's museums across the United States are entering a significant period of expansion, with new institutions opening and existing facilities undergoing major renovations. This surge in construction and programming aims to meet increasing community demand for interactive, educational spaces designed specifically for young learners.