us states culture funding cuts morning links 1234747960

The article reports that despite the Trump administration's efforts to eliminate federal funding for cultural agencies like the NEA, NEH, and IMLS, many US states have continued to support their arts and humanities agencies, though at reduced levels. According to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), states and territories allocated nearly $650 million to these agencies in fiscal year 2026, a 7.4% drop from 2025. While 29 states increased arts funding, others saw significant cuts: New Hampshire reduced its arts funding by 90% due to a revenue shortfall, while California, Missouri, Kansas, and Hawaii also experienced notable reductions. Conversely, Florida, North Dakota, Connecticut, and Oregon increased their arts appropriations, helping to offset overall losses. Per capita, Minnesota leads arts funding at $7.85, while New Hampshire, Georgia, and Wisconsin allocate less than $0.20.

van gogh museum closure dutch government funding 1234750053

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has threatened to close unless the Dutch government increases its annual funding to support a major renovation. The museum, which houses masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh, says the government is failing to uphold a 1962 agreement requiring it to fund the museum's construction and upkeep. The institution currently receives around $10 million per year but needs an additional $2.9 million annually for climate control, elevators, and infrastructure. Its Masterplan 2028, a $120.6 million project, would partially close the museum for necessary maintenance. Director Emilie Gordenker warned that without action, conditions could become dangerous for both the art and visitors.

Gilles Bloch: "The Museum needs 1.1 billion euros"

Gilles Bloch : « Le Muséum a besoin de 1,1 milliard d’euros »

Gilles Bloch, president of the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle in Paris, has issued an urgent call for €1.1 billion in funding to address the critical state of the institution's infrastructure. Ahead of its 400th anniversary in 2026, a diagnostic report reveals that 74% of the museum's 120 buildings are in poor condition, with several galleries currently closed to the public or suffering from inadequate climate control. The requested funds would cover €500 million in emergency repairs to stabilize decaying structures and a further €600 million for long-term modernization and energy efficiency upgrades.

yale art gallery rejects federal grants for africa migration show citing new anti diversity stipulations 1234747708

The Yale University Art Gallery has withdrawn two federal grant applications totaling $200,000 for an upcoming exhibition on the migration of Nguni peoples from southeastern Africa, scheduled to open in fall 2026. The museum rejected new anti-DEI stipulations attached to grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, which require applicants to certify they do not operate programs promoting diversity, equity, or inclusion that violate federal anti-discrimination laws. The gallery will instead use its endowment to fund the show, marking the second time it has forfeited NEA grants under similar circumstances.

switzerland reject inheritance tax billionaires collectors 1234764622

Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed inheritance tax on Sunday, with 78% voting no. The tax, introduced by the Social Democrats, would have applied a 50% rate to inheritances and gifts exceeding 50 million Swiss francs (about $62.3 million). Billionaire Peter Spuhler threatened to leave the country if the tax passed, and Swiss wealth managers warned that other ultra-wealthy individuals would follow, citing their mobility and options to optimize taxes.

national constitution center director resigns 2746658

Jeffrey Rosen has resigned as director of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia after 12 years, sparking allegations of political interference. While the board cited a leadership crisis following an external review of workplace conditions, board member and former judge J. Michael Luttig claims the ouster was a politically motivated "regime change" orchestrated to align the institution with President Trump’s vision for the upcoming America 250 celebrations.

museum worker satisfaction 2025 report 1234759334

A new survey by Museums Moving Forward (MMF), the 2025 Report on Workplace Equity and Organizational Culture in U.S. Art Museums, finds that employees at smaller U.S. museums report higher job satisfaction than those at major institutions, despite persistent issues of low pay, burnout, and inequity. The report surveyed over 3,100 staff across 91 institutions, nearly double the number in MMF's 2023 study, and notes a sharp rise in union organizing, with 55% of art museum unions formed in the last five years. Non-union staff earn about 78% of unionized counterparts, though unionized workers report higher dissatisfaction. Smaller museums (budgets under $15 million) outperformed larger ones on well-being measures, suggesting workplace culture and agency matter more than pay.

Yale Art Gallery Withdraws Federal Grant Requests After Trump DEI Ban

The Yale University Art Gallery has withdrawn two federal grant requests totaling $200,000 for a forthcoming exhibition on Southeast African art, citing concerns that the show does not meet the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) criteria under President Trump's executive order banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. The museum will instead use its endowment to fund the exhibition, which focuses on the migration of the Nguni peoples in southern Africa and is set to open next fall. Additionally, the NEA cancelled a $30,000 grant for another exhibition, Nusantara: Six Centuries of Indonesian Textiles, prompting the museum to draw on its Robert Lehman Endowment Fund.

Guatemala’s Museo de Arte Colonial shut down by authorities

Guatemalan authorities, acting on a court order, raided and closed the Museo de Arte Colonial in Antigua, forcing the emergency relocation of 287 artworks from their home of 89 years. The collection, including fragile 17th- to 19th-century paintings and sculptures, is now in temporary storage in Guatemala City, though six large-scale works deemed too delicate to move remain in the shuttered, unsecured building.

ancient rock art australia woodside energy burrup peninsula 1234744046

The Australian government has conditionally approved a 40-year extension for Woodside Energy's North West Shelf gas plant on the Burrup Peninsula (Murujuga), home to an estimated one million petroglyphs dating back 50,000 years. Environment Minister Murray Watt announced the decision on May 28 after a six-year review, imposing strict conditions on air emissions and cultural heritage management, though the specific conditions remain confidential. Archaeologist Benjamin Smith of the University of Western Australia has warned that pollutants from the extended operations pose a grave risk to the rock art, which includes the world's earliest depictions of human faces.

The New School Plans to Lay Off 15% of Staff By June

The New School in New York City plans to lay off 15 percent of its full-time faculty and staff by June. This follows a months-long conflict with faculty and a reported $48 million deficit, with the university previously offering voluntary separation packages to 40% of staff.

I’m an NYU Contract Professor. This Is Why We Plan to Strike.

Contract faculty at New York University, represented by the union Contract Faculty United - UAW, have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike after 15 months of contentious bargaining. The union, comprising over 900 professors, accuses the NYU administration of violating labor law and failing to address core demands regarding job security, pay, and academic freedom.

Aumenti salariali e welfare per i lavori della cultura. È stato firmato il nuovo Contratto Nazionale di Lavoro. L’intervista

A new national labor contract for Italy's cultural sector has been signed. The Federculture National Labor Contract, finalized on April 30, 2026, includes a 7.5% increase in minimum wages (effective December 1, 2024), doubled welfare contributions for healthcare, and a simplified job classification system. The agreement was reached between Federculture and major unions including FP CGIL, CISL FP, UIL FPL, and UIL PA, with negotiations for the 2025-2027 term set to resume on May 26.