Chanel Renews Financial Support of Centre Pompidou During Long-Term Renovation

Chanel has renewed its financial partnership with Paris's Centre Pompidou, extending their collaboration through another five-year agreement. The luxury fashion house will continue supporting the museum's operations, acquisitions, and exhibitions, despite the Pompidou being closed until 2030 for a major renovation costing over $500 million. Chanel previously sponsored the museum's acquisition of 21 artworks by 15 contemporary Chinese artists in 2024 and supported the related exhibition “目 China: A New Generation of Artists.” The renewed investment aims to bolster access, scholarship, and preservation of public knowledge.

British Museum did not remove Palestine from labels due to pressure campaign, museum sources say—as backlash continues

Over 200 cultural figures, including musician Brian Eno and writer Laleh Khalili, have signed an open letter condemning the British Museum for allegedly removing the word "Palestine" from labels in its Ancient Levant gallery. The letter, published in March, accuses the museum of historical revisionism and links the action to pressure from the advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel, while also criticizing the museum's broader ties to Israel.

trump lonnie bunch meeting smithsonian

President Donald Trump had lunch with Lonnie G. Bunch III, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, on Thursday, according to the New York Times. This meeting comes amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the Smithsonian, including a White House list denouncing specific artworks—such as a painting of refugees at the US-Mexico border and Amy Sherald’s portrait of a Black trans woman as the Statue of Liberty—and an executive order claiming the institution has been influenced by “divisive, race-centered ideology.” Trump has also called for a legal review of Smithsonian displays, though his authority over the institution is unclear. The lunch was described as “productive and cordial” by a White House spokesperson, but no details of the discussion were released.

neh stipends trump

The Trump administration is moving to eliminate the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) while simultaneously cutting its funding and reshaping its priorities. In early May, the NEH announced $9.55 million for 68 projects, a sharp drop from $26.2 million for 238 projects the previous year. The number of Summer Stipends was slashed from nearly 100 to just 18, with total funding cut by three-fourths to $144,000. Only one Media Project grant was awarded, down from ten. The administration has also sought to lay off NEH workers, cancel grants, and divert funds to a National Garden of American Heroes, a presidential pet project.

national endowment for humanities sculpture garden trump

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced a new grant program to fund statues for President Trump’s National Garden of American Heroes, a sculpture garden first proposed in 2021. The garden will feature life-size statues of 250 notable Americans, with a location still to be determined. Selected artists, who must be U.S. citizens, can receive up to $200,000 per statue, which must be made of traditional materials like marble or bronze and depict figures in a realistic style. The application deadline is July 1, and the project is jointly funded by the NEH and the National Endowment for the Arts with a total of $34 million, drawn from federal grants originally allocated to other cultural programs but later canceled by the administration.

national constitution center director resigns

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.

british museum explains removal palestinian wall texts

The British Museum has disputed a Telegraph report claiming it removed the word 'Palestinian' from wall texts under pressure from the pro-Israel group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). The museum stated that while some text was changed last year, using 'Canaanite descent' for a specific historical period, it continues to use 'Palestinian' as a cultural identifier where appropriate and that the changes predated the UKLFI letter. Museum director Nicholas Cullinan denied the changes were a response to the group's complaint, expressing frustration over the situation.

british museum palestine backlash

The British Museum has revised labels for ancient Middle Eastern artifacts in its Levant and Egypt galleries, removing the term 'Palestine' from descriptions of ancient civilizations. The institution states the changes are part of an ongoing review, driven by audience feedback and a recognition that the term is no longer historically neutral due to contemporary political sensitivities.

perez art museum miami gift 7 million caribbean cultural institute

The Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) has announced two major gifts totaling $7 million for its Caribbean Cultural Institute (CCI). The Mellon Foundation contributed an additional $2 million, while the Green Family Foundation (GFF) donated $5 million, leading to the institute's renaming as the Green Family Foundation Caribbean Cultural Institute. The funds will support operating expenses and the endowment of the CCI, which was originally established in 2019 with a $1 million Mellon grant. The Green Family Foundation, founded by Steven J. Green and Dorothea Green, has deep philanthropic roots in Miami, including ties to Florida International University and local art initiatives. Current CCI fellows include artist M. Florine Démosthène, writer Rianna Jade Parker, and anthropologist Celia Irina González.

Chanel Will Launch New Culture Fund Fellowship With the Guggenheim

Chanel will launch an annual, one-year fellowship in fall 2026 in collaboration with the Guggenheim. The Chanel Culture Fund Fellowship will host a fellow in New York and at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, targeting MA and PhD-level scholars dedicated to collection studies and curatorial research. The program complements existing Guggenheim fellowship and internship programs, aiming to nurture emerging talent in modern and contemporary art curation.

A new wing to solve the problems of the Galleria Borghese in Rome. Beautiful challenge, tedious controversy

Una nuova ala per risolvere i problemi della Galleria Borghese a Roma. Bella sfida, stucchevoli polemiche

The Galleria Borghese in Rome, one of Italy's most extraordinary museums, faces significant accessibility and capacity issues due to its historic 17th-century structure. The museum is difficult for visitors with disabilities, overcrowded, and forces visitors to book far in advance—often waiting over a month for a time slot—while many masterpieces remain in storage. In 2025, the engineering firm Proger offered to sponsor a feasibility study for a new wing, contributing nearly 900,000 euros to fund an international architecture competition and a technical-economic feasibility plan. The study, currently underway, aims to explore whether a new annex can be built within the protected Villa Borghese park to create new entrances, exhibition spaces, and services.

More than 200 cultural figures sign statement criticising international response to destruction of Iran’s heritage

More than 200 international scholars and cultural heritage professionals have signed a joint statement condemning the United States and Israel for inflicting "irreversible damage" on Iran’s cultural heritage. The group, which includes academics from leading global institutions, alleges that recent military strikes have damaged over 130 UNESCO-registered monuments and museums, including the Senate Palace in Tehran and sites in Isfahan. They argue these actions violate the 1954 Hague Convention and criticize international bodies like UNESCO for failing to issue a sufficiently forceful response.

museum of fine arts boston slashes jobs as financial woes deepen

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has laid off 33 employees and eliminated 23 vacant positions, a 10% overall staff reduction, to address a projected $13 million budget deficit. The cuts affect a range of roles, including three endowed curatorial positions, and have sparked renewed tensions with the museum's unionized workforce, which is seeking to bargain over the decision.

security threats force londons va to remove prophet muhammad artwork

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London removed an image of an artwork depicting the Prophet Muhammad from its website due to security concerns following the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack. The artwork, a poster made by an Iranian artist around 1990, remains in the museum's collection and is available to scholars by appointment. The decision has drawn criticism from experts who view it as self-censorship that could undermine the study of Islamic art.

trump fires national council on the humanities

The White House fired the vast majority of the National Council on the Humanities, the advisory body for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), on Wednesday during a government shutdown. A letter from Mary Sprowls of the Presidential Personnel Office informed council members that their positions were terminated effective immediately. Only four members remain—all white men—despite a statutory requirement for equitable representation of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. The council typically comprises 26 scholars and humanities leaders appointed for six-year terms, and its meetings require at least 14 members. The dismissals come as the NEH has already faced severe cuts, including a two-thirds staff reduction in June and a proposal to eliminate the agency entirely in the 2026 budget.

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.

east tennessee state university cancels exhibition political art

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) has canceled its annual juried exhibition of politically-themed art, "The Fletcher Exhibit of Social and Politically Engaged Art," at the Reece Museum. The show, established in 2013 in memory of ETSU art student Fletcher Dyer, featured works that criticized conservative figures including Charlie Kirk, Mitch McConnell, and Mike Johnson. The cancellation follows backlash from the ETSU chapter of Turning Point USA and Republican officials in Tennessee. Dyer's family, who endowed a scholarship for politically engaged art students, expressed feelings of betrayal, with the university stating its goals "no longer coincided" with theirs but refusing to provide written explanation.

mark bauerlein trump arts funding

Mark Bauerlein, a conservative professor and contributing editor to First Things, published an op-ed in the New York Times arguing against cuts to government arts funding while simultaneously attacking progressive scholars and NEH grants he deems wasteful. He suggests that instead of slashing the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Trump administration should repurpose it to promote conservative cultural values, citing examples like funding for a curriculum on race and comics or a database of a historic gay travel guide as wasteful.

An Urgent Call From Artists and Curators of the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia 2026

A group of seventy-four artists and curators participating in the 61st Venice Biennale have issued an urgent letter to the institution's leadership, including director Pietrangelo Buttafuoco. The signatories are protesting the decision to relocate the Israeli Pavilion to the Arsenale, placing it in close proximity to the central exhibition, "In Minor Keys," which was conceived by the late curator Koyo Kouoh. The group argues that this relocation violates Kouoh’s curatorial vision of radical solidarity and introduces a threatening military and police presence into the exhibition space.

Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund marks first decade

The Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund has announced support for 15 new exhibitions as it celebrates its tenth anniversary. This grant initiative provides regional and smaller UK museums with the necessary funding to cover logistical costs—such as insurance, transport, and security—required to borrow major works from national collections. Notable upcoming projects for 2026 include the return of John Constable’s 'The Hay Wain' to Suffolk and Joseph Wright of Derby’s 'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump' to the artist's hometown for the first time in eight decades.

Getty’s Black Visual Arts Archives receives additional $1.8m in funding

The Getty Foundation has awarded an additional $1.8 million to its Black Visual Arts Archives initiative, bringing total funding to $4.5 million across 20 awards. The program supports institutions in processing, digitizing, preserving, and activating archival collections related to Black artists and arts organizations in the US. Grantees include Afro Charities, the Auburn Avenue Research Library, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Charles H. Wright Museum, Morgan State University, the South Side Community Art Center, the University of Chicago’s South Side Home Movie Project, and the David C. Driskell Center. Notable discoveries include footage of the original Wall of Respect mural from the South Side Home Movie Project.

Metropolitan Museum receives $23m to endow internship programme

On 30 April, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced a $23m pledge from the Rubio Butterfield Foundation, led by newly elected trustee Jennifer Rubio and her husband Stewart Butterfield, to permanently endow the museum's internship program. The internships, offered for nearly 30 years with 100 participants annually, have only been paid since 2021. The article also explores broader trends in museum philanthropy, featuring insights from former directors Gary Vikan, Gary Tinterow, and Maxwell Anderson on how donors are often guided to fund endowments for curatorial positions, operations, or awards rather than art acquisitions.

(BPRW) Getty Awards $1.8M to Increase Access to Black Visual Arts Archives

The Getty Foundation has awarded $1.8 million in grants to eight institutions through its Black Visual Arts Archives initiative, a multi-year program aimed at increasing access to archival collections related to Black artists and arts organizations. The grants will support processing, digitization, and public programming at venues including Afro Charities, Auburn Avenue Research Library, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Charles H. Wright Museum, Morgan State University, South Side Community Art Center, the University of Chicago's South Side Home Movie Project, and the David C. Driskell Center. This brings Getty's total funding for the initiative to $4.5 million since 2022, supporting 20 grants nationwide.

An open letter to La Biennale di Venezia calls out inaction in the face of global atrocities

A group of 74 artists and curators invited to the 61st Venice Biennale have issued an open letter to the institution's president, Pietrangelo Buttafuoco. The signatories are protesting the decision to relocate the Israeli Pavilion to the Arsenale, placing it in close proximity to the central exhibition 'In Minor Keys' curated by the late Koyo Kouoh. The letter demands the exclusion of official delegations from countries accused of war crimes—specifically Israel, Russia, and the United States—and accuses the Biennale of complicity through its silence on global atrocities.

Artists and scholars respond to White House’s list of Smithsonian grievances

Over the weekend, artists, scholars, and concerned citizens responded to the White House's list of objectionable Smithsonian Institution exhibits and texts, released under the heading 'President Trump Is Right About the Smithsonian.' The list includes bullet points targeting exhibits on white culture, LGBTQ+ history, Afrofuturism, and works by artists such as Ibram X. Kendi, Ayana V. Jackson, Hugo Crosthwaite, Rigoberto A. Gonzalez, and Amy Sherald. Those singled out defended their work, with some comparing the administration's actions to Jim Crow-era censorship or Nazi Germany's 'degenerate art' campaigns, while others expressed pride in being included and vowed to continue making political art.

Can you mount an art exhibition about race in the age of Trump?

The article reports on the exhibition "The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture" at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC, which challenges visitors to reconsider how American sculpture has reinforced racist social orders. The show features 82 works from 1792 to 2023, including John Rogers’ 1864 sculpture "The Wounded Scout, a Friend in the Swamp," and includes interpretive prompts about race as a human invention and a tool of power. President Donald Trump issued an executive order condemning the exhibition for promoting "divisive narratives," and Vice President JD Vance, who sits on the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents, has been tasked with stopping government funding for exhibits that do not align with a celebratory national agenda. The Smithsonian has begun a review of content across its museums, raising concerns about future candid discussions of race and history.

Urgent Request from Participating Artists and Curators of the 61st Venice Biennale

第61回ヴェネツィア・ビエンナーレ参加アーティストおよびキュレーターによる緊急要請

A group of 73 artists and curators participating in the 61st Venice Biennale, including Yoshiko Shimada and Bubu de la Madeleine, have issued an urgent demand to the Biennale's board to revoke Israel's participation. The collective specifically objects to the decision to relocate the Israeli pavilion to the Arsenale, arguing that its presence contradicts the curatorial vision of Artistic Director Koyo Kouoh, which emphasizes the dignity of all life. They contend that the military and police presence required for the pavilion introduces an atmosphere of violence and fear that undermines the exhibition's integrity.

What is Art Allowed to Do?

Was darf die Kunst?

German Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer has sparked a heated debate over artistic freedom after excluding three bookstores from the German Bookstore Prize due to undisclosed intelligence reports. The controversy has escalated into a broader confrontation with cultural institutions, highlighted by the Berlin Volksbühne's public criticism and Weimer's subsequent refusal to participate in a scheduled panel discussion. This incident follows a string of high-profile disputes regarding political expression in the arts, particularly concerning the Berlinale and documenta fifteen.

syracuse university pauses admission for 20 undergraduate majors

Syracuse University has paused admission for 20 undergraduate majors, including fine arts and digital humanities, in its College of Arts and Sciences as of late August 2025. The decision, announced at the first senate meeting of the 2025–26 academic year, has sparked faculty concern over a lack of input and perceived targeting of humanities programs. Vice Chancellor and Provost Lois Agnew instructed deans to conduct an academic portfolio review using nine-year enrollment data and financial metrics, leading to preliminary recommendations. The pause, expected to last one year, affects majors with 10 or fewer students, though classes will still be offered and graduate programs remain unaffected.

the authors guild sues neh doge

A class action lawsuit was filed Monday by the Authors Guild, independent scholars, and writers against the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and officials within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for terminating millions in committed grants from Congressional funds. The lawsuit argues these actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the separation of powers, and freedom of expression, exceeding agencies' congressionally granted authority. It seeks to stop mass grant terminations, restore funds, and require the NEH to operate according to Congress's intent to preserve multicultural artistic heritage and support new ideas. The grants were canceled following extreme cuts by DOGE under the Trump administration, affecting recipients under programs like the Public Scholar and Fellowship initiatives.