Art News. Vasari Codex

article policy schedule Mar 26, 2026 visibility 14 link 6 artists

toppled monuments reappear

Statues of contested historical figures are being reinstalled across the United States, signaling a reversal of the monument removals sparked by the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. A replica of a Christopher Columbus statue, originally toppled in Baltimore, was recently mounted on the White House grounds near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Other planned returns include a monument to Caesar Rodney, a slave-owning Founding Father, which is set to be displayed in Washington’s Freedom Plaza this summer.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Mar 23, 2026 visibility 18 link 2 artists

christopher columbus statue white house grounds

A replica of a Christopher Columbus statue was installed on the White House grounds under the direction of the Trump administration. The sculpture is a reproduction of a monument that was toppled and thrown into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor by protesters during the 2020 racial justice movements. Created by artist Will Hemsley using scans of the original fragments, the project was previously funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and has now been placed near the West Wing as part of preparations for the 250th anniversary of American independence.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Apr 22, 2026 visibility 23 link 4 artists

The National Gallery of Art Embraces New Role as Lending Library, Thanks to a Big Gift That Sends Artwork to Other Museums

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., has received a $116 million donation from the Mitchell P. Rales Family Foundation to fund its 'Across the Nation' lending program. The gift, the largest programming-related donation in the museum's history, will support shipping, installation, and other costs associated with sending artworks on two-year loans to smaller regional museums across the United States, from Alaska to Florida.

newspaper Smithsonian Magazine open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Jan 8, 2026 visibility 19 link 4 artists

Trump administration puts renewed pressure on Smithsonian to turn over materials for review

The Trump administration has given the Smithsonian Institution a deadline of January 13 to turn over materials related to a review of programming at eight of its museums, as outlined in a December 18 letter from White House officials Vince Haley and Russell Vought. The review stems from a March 2025 executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," which accused the Smithsonian of promoting a "divisive, race-centered ideology." Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch noted that some requested materials are not readily available and will require significant effort to compile, while the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Art Museum Directors have expressed confidence in the Smithsonian's commitment to professional standards.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Oct 24, 2025 visibility 10 link 3 artists

Baltimore Museum of Art receives $10m gift to support education initiatives

The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) has received a $10 million gift from the Stoneridge Foundation, founded by philanthropists Amy and Marc Meadows, to support its art education department. This is the largest single donation in the museum's history. The funds will expand educational initiatives including transportation for school visits, free family activities, a two-year pass system for students, teaching apprenticeships for undergraduates from nearby universities like the Maryland Institute College of Art, and new educator positions. The gift also supports a series of events exploring museums as civic organizations and fostering diversity in the field.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Sep 4, 2025 visibility 17 link 5 artists

Smithsonian leader asserts ‘authority over our programming’ in letters to staff and Trump White House

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III sent letters to the White House and staff asserting the institution's independence after President Donald Trump ordered a comprehensive review of eight Smithsonian museums. The review, initiated by an August 12 White House letter, targets exhibitions, collections, and programming for alleged bias and divisive content. Bunch stated the Smithsonian is conducting its own internal review to ensure nonpartisan, factual programming, emphasizing that the institution retains authority over its content. The letters follow Trump's social media attack on the Smithsonian and an earlier executive order directing Vice President J.D. Vance to remove what the administration calls 'race-centred ideology.'

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule May 15, 2025 visibility 10

Walters’ Latin American art exhibit lost $70K in Trump cuts. It’s opening anyway.

The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore is opening its inaugural installation of Latin American art despite losing $70,000 in federal funding due to cuts by the Trump administration. The lost funds represented 6% of the $1,160,000 installation cost, and the museum had little opportunity to raise replacement money. The exhibition features an earthenware burial urn and other works, proceeding as planned despite the financial shortfall.

newspaper Baltimore Sun open_in_new Read original