warhol foundation fall 2025 grants

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts has announced its Fall 2025 grant recipients, awarding over $4 million to 57 arts organizations across 17 states, Washington, D.C., and two international locations. Grantees range from established institutions like the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and Independent Curators International to smaller artist-run spaces such as Mini Mart City Park in Seattle and Transformer in Washington, D.C. Twenty organizations are first-time recipients, including Path with Arts in Seattle and Access Gallery in Denver. Exhibition support covers solo shows for artists like Ching Ho Cheng, Gisela Colón, and Leilah Babirye, as well as group exhibitions such as “Telenovelas” at the Americas Society and the Counterpublic 2026 Triennial.

Paris Judge Rejects Bid to Suspend the Replacement of Notre-Dame’s Windows

A Paris judge has rejected a bid to suspend the removal of six 19th-century stained-glass windows by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc from Notre-Dame Cathedral, clearing the way for their replacement with contemporary works commissioned by the French government. The Paris Administrative Court ruled that the project does not constitute an irreversible alteration because the new windows, designed by artist Claire Tabouret and produced by glassmakers Simon-Marq, could be removed in the future, and the original windows will be preserved. The judge did not rule on the legality of the project, which had previously been vetoed by the National Commission of Patrimony and Architecture, leaving the door open for further legal challenges.

America’s Finest Renaissance Tapestry Set for Major Restoration

The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) has awarded its €25,000 Museum Restoration Fund to the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) for the conservation of *The Meeting of Dante and Virgil*, a mid-16th century Italian Renaissance tapestry. This is the first time TEFAF has funded a tapestry restoration since the initiative began in 2012. The wool and silk tapestry, made between 1547 and 1549 by the Florentine workshop of Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici and designed by Francesco Salviati, depicts the opening scene of Dante’s *The Divine Comedy*. It is the only early Medici tapestry held by a public collection outside Italy, standing 17 feet tall and eight feet wide. Due to structural weaknesses and light sensitivity, it has been largely in storage for 70 years. Conservation work by the Midwest Art Conservation Center will include wet cleaning, stabilization, and partial reweaving, along with a new display system. The tapestry is scheduled to return to public view at MIA on July 11.

Inside the Fight to Keep a Trove of Frida Kahlo Works from Leaving Mexico

The Gelman Collection, featuring 11 essential masterpieces by Frida Kahlo, is at the center of a heated legal and cultural dispute following news of its transfer from Mexico to Spain. Acquired by the Zambrano family and managed by the Banco Santander Foundation, the collection is slated for a multi-year residency at the new Faro Santander cultural hub. Critics and historians argue the move potentially violates Mexico’s strict heritage laws, which designate Kahlo’s works as national monuments subject to permanent export bans.

president trump plans presidential library skyscraper miami

President Donald Trump has unveiled a rendering for his planned presidential library in downtown Miami, envisioned as a 47-story skyscraper. The proposal features a gold entranceway, a 20-foot-tall golden statue of the former president, and a replica of the Oval Office, alongside a hotel and office space. The project is being designed by architecture firm Bermello Ajamil and is reportedly seeking to raise nearly $1 billion in donations to fund the construction on highly valuable waterfront land.

Claire Tabouret’s Stained-Glass Windows for Notre-Dame Divide French Society, with a Legal Threat Looming

French contemporary artist Claire Tabouret has been commissioned to create six new stained-glass windows for the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, replacing six existing 19th-century grisaille windows designed by architect Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc. The project, announced by President Emmanuel Macron and the Archbishop of Paris as a "contemporary gesture" following the 2019 fire, has sparked a major public and institutional controversy, with a petition against it gathering over 335,000 signatures.

trump kennedy center closure

President Donald Trump has initiated a controversial overhaul of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., renaming it the 'Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts' and appointing himself chairman. Following the dismissal of long-time president Deborah Rutter and the installation of a board led by Richard Grenell, the institution has pivoted toward conservative programming, leading to a 93% to 57% drop in ticket sales and high-profile boycotts from artists like Philip Glass. The center is now slated for a two-year closure starting after July 4 for major renovations, a move that has sparked alarm among preservationists and political figures.

british taxpayers to underwrite 1 billion loan to cover bayeux tapestry while its shown in the uk

France’s Bayeux Tapestry will be loaned to the British Museum in 2026, with the UK Treasury providing an indemnity guarantee of approximately £800 million ($1 billion) to cover potential damage or loss during transport and display. The guarantee, part of the UK government’s indemnity scheme, is a contingent liability—no upfront payment is required unless something goes wrong. The tapestry will travel by truck via the Channel Tunnel in a specially designed crate, displayed behind protective screening, and remain in London until July 2027. The loan is part of a broader cultural agreement between Britain and France, announced by President Emmanuel Macron during his July state visit to London.

txst black history 101 mobile museum visit aclu challenge

Texas State University (TXST) canceled a scheduled appearance of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum at its San Marcos campus for Black History Month 2026, prompting a First Amendment challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas. The museum's founder, Khalid El-Hakim, had been invited by a campus activities director on October 13, 2025, but the invitation was rescinded on October 28 after consultation with supervisors and leadership. The ACLU's letter to TXST president Kelly Damphousse cited a 2023 Texas Senate bill banning DEI programs at public universities and the state's political climate as reasons for the cancellation, though the university denied the DEI ban was the cause.

donald judd foundation marfa national historic sites

The Texas Historical Commission announced that buildings repurposed by minimalist artist Donald Judd in Marfa, Texas, have been added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Approved by the National Park Service in May 2025, the designation expands the existing Fort D.A. Russell Historic District to include 15 buildings and a large-scale installation, all altered or created by Judd between 1973 and his death in 1994. The properties are managed by the Chinati Foundation and the Judd Foundation, which operate as separate entities. This is the second Judd-linked historic district in Marfa, following the Central Marfa Historic District’s designation in 2022.

If fashion is art, why doesn’t CNZ fund it?

Creative New Zealand (CNZ) explicitly states on its website that it does not fund fashion design, classifying it as primarily part of the commercial creative industries. The article highlights the contradiction that while major institutions like The Dowse Art Museum, Auckland Art Gallery, and World of WearableArt treat fashion as art, CNZ denies funding to fashion designers, with rare exceptions for non-commercial, cross-cultural, or collaborative projects. Fashion designer Doris de Pont, founder of The New Zealand Fashion Museum, notes that even when her trust received CNZ support, it was for the art connection, not the fashion itself.

San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum Plans to Sell Building

The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco has announced plans to sell its iconic Daniel Libeskind-designed building in the Yerba Buena Gardens neighborhood. The institution has been closed to the public since December 2024, drastically reduced its staff and budget, and aims to use the sale to stabilize its finances, reduce debt, and ensure its long-term survival.

What If Every City Provided Artists With Free Supplies?

Materials for the Arts (MFTA), a program of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, provides free art supplies and tools to over 4,500 organizations, including public schools, nonprofits, and social justice groups. By diverting millions of pounds of materials from landfills—ranging from film production sets to high-end fabrics—the organization has reallocated over $40 million worth of goods to the creative community. The program's leadership is now advocating for an expansion of this model, envisioning dedicated reuse centers in every borough to meet the growing demand for accessible creative resources.

What will the future Louvre museum look like? The architects of the century's construction site have been chosen

À quoi ressemblera le futur musée du Louvre ? Les architectes du chantier du siècle désignés

On May 18, the French Ministry of Culture announced the winner of the international competition for the 'Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance' plan, championed by President Emmanuel Macron in January 2025. The winning consortium, led by Studios Architecture Paris and Selldorf Architects with landscape firm Base, will design a major renovation of the Louvre. The project includes a new entrance on the east side near Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois to relieve congestion at the pyramid, a belvedere overlooking vegetated moats, and a new 3,000-square-meter gallery dedicated to the Mona Lisa. Construction is not expected to begin before 2028.

National Gallery receives $116 million donation to send its collection around the U.S.

The National Gallery of Art has received a $116 million endowment from the Mitchell P. Rales Family Foundation to permanently fund its nationwide loan program, 'Across the Nation.' This gift, the largest to endow programming in the institution's history, was made to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Greece Creates New Art Crime Unit to Combat Forgery and Trafficking

Greece has enacted a comprehensive new law to combat art crime, establishing a specialized unit within the Ministry of Culture to target forgery, antiquities trafficking, and vandalism. The legislation introduces significantly harsher penalties, including fines up to €300,000 and prison sentences of up to 10 years, while expanding the scope of criminal activity to include the mere possession of forged works with intent to distribute.

UK National Gallery to recoup £2m a year after completing voluntary redundancy process

The National Gallery in London has successfully reached a target of £2 million in annual savings following a voluntary redundancy program and a recruitment freeze. Initiated in February to address a projected £8.2 million deficit, the voluntary exit scheme allowed the institution to avoid compulsory redundancies among its nearly 500 employees. While the gallery has met its initial savings goal, it must still find ways to bridge a remaining multi-million pound shortfall through non-staff cost reductions.

whitney museum breuer building landmarked sothebys

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has designated the former Whitney Museum building at 945 Madison Avenue as both an individual and interior landmark. Designed by Marcel Breuer and completed in 1966, the inverted ziggurat structure with raw concrete interior served as the Whitney's home until 2015, later housing the Metropolitan Museum of Art's contemporary art annex and the Frick Collection during its renovation. Sotheby's acquired the building in 2023 and plans to relocate its global headquarters there, with renovations led by Herzog & de Meuron. Preservationist groups pushed for landmark status amid concerns about commercial alterations, and the designation now legally protects the exterior and key interior elements like the lobby and main staircase.

mellon foundation state arts councils emergency grants

The Mellon Foundation is providing $15 million in emergency grants to the Federation of State Humanities Councils, which will distribute the funds to all 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils across the U.S. This comes after the Trump administration revoked $65 million in grants promised by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), redirected to the National Garden of American Heroes. The administration also terminated over 1,000 NEH grants and placed about 80 percent of NEH staff on paid administrative leave following a visit from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Many state councils now face potential closure or severe program cuts.

The Guardian view on a much-needed boost for the arts: rebuilding England’s cultural landscape

The V&A East Museum is set to open in Stratford, London, marking a significant milestone for the East Bank cultural quarter. This £135m project joins the V&A East Storehouse and other major institutions in a transformed area of East London, aiming to attract younger and more diverse audiences through accessible art and design collections.

where to go what to expect amid us government shutdown 2025

The United States government shutdown, which began on October 1 after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement, has forced the closure of numerous federally operated museums, historic sites, and national parks. While some outdoor monuments and parks remain accessible, many are understaffed and operating with limited services. In Washington, D.C., sites like the Library of Congress, National Archives Museum, and Washington Monument are closed, while Smithsonian-run institutions remain open only through October 11 using prior funds. In New York, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island remain open, but the lack of uniformity across agencies has created confusion for visitors.

new york city museums climate mobilization act

The New York City Council passed the Climate Mobilization Act, a sweeping piece of legislation designed to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large and mid-sized buildings. The law sets strict emissions reduction targets for 2024, 2030, 2040, and 2050, with the ultimate goal of an 80% reduction by 2050. Major cultural institutions like the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the New Museum, and the planned headquarters of Pace Gallery are among the buildings affected.

cvad unt canceled exhibition criticizing ice

The College of Visual Arts and Design Galleries at the University of North Texas abruptly canceled the solo exhibition "Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá (Not From Here, Not From There)" by artist Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez after it had been fully installed. The show, which includes works from his "I.C.E. Scream" series critically rebranding Immigration and Customs Enforcement as "Inhumane and Cruelty Enforcement," was removed without explanation, and gallery staff ceased communication with the artist.

university of north texas victor quinonez exhibition censorship

The University of North Texas (UNT) abruptly canceled and removed artist Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez's traveling solo exhibition "Ni de Aquí, Ni de Alla" from its CVAD Gallery, locking the gallery doors and drawing blinds over the windows. The university terminated the loan agreement with Boston University Art Galleries, which originated the show, and scrubbed all mentions of the exhibition from its website and social media without providing a reason to the artist.

british museum security pavilions conservationists

The British Museum's proposal to redesign its forecourt with two permanent security pavilions and a Mediterranean-style garden has drawn opposition from conservation groups. The Georgian Group and the Victorian Society argue the additions would disrupt the historic symmetry and formal setting of Robert Smirke's 19th-century Greek Revival building, urging Camden Council to reject the plan.

Minneapolis Artists Respond to ICE, DHS After Killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti

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Federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, led by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and ICE under Operation Metro Surge, have resulted in the deaths of two American citizens, poet Renee Good and nurse Alex Pretti, near major art institutions. The violence and subsequent shelter-in-place orders have directly impacted the local arts community, forcing school closures, remote learning, and causing widespread fear.

trump eyes park near jefferson memorial garden of heroes

The Trump administration is considering West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., as the site for its proposed “National Garden of American Heroes,” a sculpture garden featuring statues of American historical figures. According to anonymous sources cited by the Washington Post, the park—located near the Jefferson Memorial and memorials to Martin Luther King Jr. and Franklin D. Roosevelt—may require an exemption under the Commemorative Works Act if the southern tip is used. The project, first announced in January 2021, received $40 million in congressional funding through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, and the National Endowment for the Humanities launched a new grant program for statue design after canceling most of its existing grants.

what to know about the smithsonian

President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” targeting the Smithsonian Institution. The order tasks Vice President J.D. Vance with removing “improper ideology” from Smithsonian museums, supported by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and advisor Lindsey Halligan. Critics, including historian Raymond Arsenault, have described the move as totalitarian. The Smithsonian, a public-private partnership founded in 1846 with 21 museums and the National Zoo, faces potential loss of federal funding if it does not comply, echoing pressure applied to other institutions like Columbia University.

smithsonian white house national museum american history

The Smithsonian Institution is facing renewed scrutiny from the Trump administration, this time targeting the National Museum of American History's permanent exhibition "Entertainment Nation." Fox News reported that the White House has raised concerns about wall texts in the display, which opened in 2022 and explores the entertainment industry's impact on American pop culture. One text notes that Mickey Mouse's design has roots in blackface minstrelsy, while another describes pop star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez as sparking conversations about identity and Latinx influence. A 1923 circus poster is accompanied by a placard linking circuses to colonial impulses. White House lawyer Lindsey Halligan criticized the exhibition as framing American culture as "inherently violent, imperialist, or racist." The Smithsonian has stated it is reviewing content to ensure it meets its standards of unbiased scholarship.

eu sanctions russian museum crimea

The European Union has sanctioned the “Tauric Chersonese” State Museum-Preserve in Crimea, marking the first time the EU has targeted a Russian museum. The museum and its director, Elena Morozova, were included in the latest round of sanctions for allegedly undermining Ukrainian cultural heritage by promoting pro-Russian narratives and supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been accused of transforming into a historical park under Russian control since Crimea's annexation in 2014.