cancelled nea grants for underserved audiences 2606683

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has updated its 2026 fiscal year grant guidelines, cancelling the Challenge America grants that targeted underserved communities and replacing them with a focus on projects celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States (America250). The changes, announced in response to executive orders by President Donald Trump, eliminate DEI-related funding and require applicants to have a five-year history of arts programming. Organizations that had applied for the $10,000 Challenge America grants must now resubmit under the broader Grants for Arts Projects category, with extended deadlines.

more italians take avantage of art for taxes scheme 131511

The Italian government has successfully revived a program allowing citizens to use cultural treasures, fine art, antique books, and villas to satisfy tax bills. Culture and Tourism Minister Dario Franceschini named a panel to tally the value of works offered for income and inheritance taxes, aiming to reinvigorate a scheme established in 1982 that previously attracted little interest. The program mirrors similar initiatives in other EU countries, notably Britain, where a comparable plan drew works worth $80.4 million in 2012–13.

french art world opposes proposal new taxes 1234761820

Two French parliamentarians, Jean-Paul Matteï and Philippe Juvin, have proposed a new tax regime on art as part of France's 2026 budget, which would make France the only major art market to impose a wealth tax on the mere possession of artworks. The French art world has strongly opposed the proposal, with 27 signatories including Art Basel, auctioneer Drouot, visual artists' rights organization ADAGP, the Association for the International Diffusion of French Art (ADIAF), and the Comité Professionel des Galeries d’Art (CPGA). Critics argue the tax is technically unenforceable, would drive collectors away, and harm the broader art ecosystem.

Victorien Bornéat : « De l’échec de la démocratisation culturelle est né un sentiment d’exclusion »

Victorien Bornéat has published a manifesto arguing that French cultural democratization policy, rooted in André Malraux's vision of making masterworks accessible to all, has failed. He cites budget cuts by regional presidents Laurent Wauquiez and Christelle Morançais, police raids on bookshops like Violette and Co, and statistical studies showing that working-class audiences still do not spontaneously attend theaters, museums, or opera. Bornéat contends that the policy's emphasis on direct confrontation with canonical works ignored the need for cultural codes and institutional literacy, creating an exclusion that politicians now exploit for electoral gain.

arts nonprofits artadia united states artists announce multi year partnership 1234767105

Two arts funding nonprofits, United States Artists (USA) and Artadia, have announced a multi-year partnership. The collaboration will revive Assembly, USA’s annual gathering of artists and fellows that launched in 2015 but paused during the pandemic, now expanded to include Artadia award winners. The first reimagined Assembly events are scheduled for 2026 and 2027, featuring workshops, panels, and networking for recent fellows and awardees from both organizations.

imls trump vision grant guidelines 2745461

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has issued new grant application guidelines that explicitly reference President Donald Trump's executive orders and his vision for U.S. culture. The guidelines encourage applicants to align with orders like "Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again," which mandates classical style for government buildings, and "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," which seeks to control exhibition content. The cover letter also points applicants to orders on combating antisemitism and anti-Christian bias, which appears to warn against pro-Palestinian applications.

trump aims to eliminate the national endowment for the humanities 1234740525

The Trump administration's 2026 budget proposal seeks to eliminate the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The proposal follows recent cuts that have already halted 2025 funding, slashed $65 million from the NEH's $210 million budget, and fired roughly 65% of its staff. A lawsuit filed by three humanities-focused organizations aims to reverse the cuts, and a judge has issued a temporary restraining order to block the dismantling of the IMLS. The Mellon Foundation has provided $15 million in emergency funding to state humanities councils to prevent closures.

Notre-Dame Stained Glass: The Fight Continues!

Vitraux de Notre-Dame : le combat continue !

The French government has authorized the removal and replacement of the 19th-century stained-glass windows designed by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in Notre-Dame Cathedral with new windows by contemporary artist Claire Tabouret. This decision, posted as a work permit on the cathedral, is being challenged in court by the heritage association Sites & Monuments, which argues the replacement is not a legitimate act of conservation or restoration.

nazca lines reduced reserve plan 2652342

Peru’s Ministry of Culture has announced a plan to shrink the Nazca Lines and Geoglyphs Archaeological Reserve from 2,175 square miles to 1,236 square miles—a reduction of more than 40 percent. The decision, formalized in a May 28 resolution, has drawn sharp criticism from archaeologists, environmentalists, and former officials, who argue it removes protections from areas where informal mining is expanding. Vice Minister Moira Novoa Silva cited economic development and community participation as motivations, but critics say the move violates Peru’s environmental impact assessment law and could damage the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Artists' Foundation Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

La Fondation des artistes célèbre ses 50 ans

The Fondation des artistes, a major independent French organization supporting visual artists, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Founded in 1976, it operates from the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild and the Nogent-sur-Marne estate, providing production grants, residencies, and support for elderly artists at the Maison nationale des artistes. Its anniversary program includes exhibitions, performances, and public events, with a key date on June 27 in Nogent-sur-Marne.

institute of museum and library services faces defunding 2026 1234744123

The proposed 2026 federal budget plans to defund the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), allocating only $6 million—down from its current $313 million—to close the agency. The cuts are part of a broader restructuring led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has already placed IMLS employees on administrative leave. Congress must approve the budget by October 1 and reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act by September 30 for the agency to survive, despite a temporary restraining order and a lawsuit by 20 state attorneys general.

Can the Costume Institute Survive Without the Met Gala?

The New York Times examines whether the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art can sustain its operations and influence without the Met Gala, its annual fundraising gala that generates millions of dollars and global media attention. The article explores the financial and cultural dependency of the institute on the star-studded event, which has become a major pop culture phenomenon, and considers alternative funding models and programming strategies that could ensure its future.

At the INHA, the summer closure of the library revives the debate

À l’INHA, la fermeture estivale de la bibliothèque ravive le sujet

The National Institute for Art History (INHA) in Paris is facing backlash over its decision to implement a permanent two-week summer closure of its library every August. Originally introduced as a temporary measure during the 2024 Olympics and subsequent renovations, the closure is now being formalized by the administration despite a change in leadership. Staff and researchers have launched a petition, arguing that August is a critical period for international scholars and students who rely on the library’s extensive collections.