Creating Variety in Contemporary Rome: The Story of the Conventicola degli Ultramoderni on Sky Arte

Fare varietà nella Roma contemporanea: la storia della Conventicola degli Ultramoderni su Sky Arte

On Sunday, May 3, Sky Arte will premiere the documentary "Ultramoderni," which chronicles the rise of the Conventicola degli Ultramoderni, a unique artistic collective in Rome. Founded by Sior Mirkaccio and Madame de Freitas, who met in 2011, the group operates from a small hidden venue in the San Lorenzo district, blending music, cabaret, burlesque, and contemporary variety shows with a retro-futuristic aesthetic. The documentary, filmed in their Roman space, features interviews with the duo and excerpts from their performances, tracing how they built a diverse community of enthusiasts around their reinvention of past traditions.

Art can officially be a form of therapy. Interview with Undersecretary of Culture Lucia Borgonzoni, godmother of the project

L’arte può essere ufficialmente una forma di cura. Intervista al Sottosegretario alla Cultura Lucia Borgonzoni madrina del progetto

The Italian Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Health have signed a formal protocol recognizing art as a form of therapy and care. The agreement, championed by Undersecretary of State for Culture Lucia Borgonzoni, mandates that museums, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions play a central role in developing therapeutic pathways using art to improve individual and community well-being. Borgonzoni, who has advocated for this initiative for nearly a decade, traces its origin to a 2018 study at the Sanctuary of Vicoforte that measured cortisol levels in visitors before and after viewing frescoes, showing significant stress reduction.

New shows in the spotlight at museum’s New Look Weekend

The Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) will host its Spring New Look Weekend from May 15-17, 2026, celebrating the opening of two new exhibitions: “Gordon Coons: Gidibaajimomin / We Tell Stories” and “Myths & Legends of Minnesota: An Exhibition of the Minnesota Plein Air Collective.” The weekend features a Friday dinner at Nosh Scratch Kitchen with a marine-themed menu by Chef Greg Jaworski, and a full Saturday of programming including a Paint-Along Demonstration with Nelia Harper French, drop-in printmaking with Gordon Coons, a Meet the Artist tour, a plein air paint-out, and a social gathering. Both exhibitions run through August and September 2026.

Katara opens Contemporary Graphic Art Exhibition featuring 29 artists| Gulf Times

Katara Cultural Village Foundation has opened a Contemporary Graphic Art Exhibition featuring 29 artists from Qatar and abroad, displaying over 170 works that explore modern printmaking techniques. The exhibition runs until May 18 at Hall 18 in Katara, bringing together diverse generations and styles, with participating artists including Abdulrahman al-Muttawa, Haifa al-Khuzai, and Lina al-Ali, whose works draw on Qatari women's identity and heritage.

Katara Opens Contemporary Graphic Art Exhibition

Katara Cultural Village Foundation in Doha has opened a Contemporary Graphic Art Exhibition featuring 29 artists from Qatar and abroad, displaying over 170 works that explore modern printmaking techniques. The exhibition runs until May 18 at Hall 18 in Katara Cultural Village, bringing together artists from different generations to showcase diverse styles and schools within printmaking. Exhibition coordinator Abdulrahman Al Muttawa, along with artists Haifa Al Khuzai and Lina Al Ali, highlighted the exhibition's role in strengthening printmaking's presence in the art scene and celebrating Qatari cultural heritage.

Sadequain Art Exhibition opens in Mississauga, celebrates Pakistan's cultural heritage

The Sadequain Art Exhibition opened on Monday in Mississauga, Canada, for a three-day event celebrating Pakistan’s cultural heritage. Organized by the Sadequain Foundation USA in collaboration with media partners, the exhibition was inaugurated by Muhammad Saleem Khan and features Islamic calligraphy, drawings, paintings, Urdu poetry, and wall carvings by the renowned artist Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi. Attendees included Ontario MPP Sheref Sabawy and participants from the Aga Khan Academy Toronto.

MACRO / micro Members Exhibition Opens Friday At The AVA Main Gallery

AVA's annual members-only exhibition, MACRO / micro, opens this Friday, May 1st, at the AVA Main Gallery in Chattanooga. The thematic show explores scale in all its forms, featuring works that range from large-scale statements to intimate pieces, examining contrasts between the monumental and the microscopic. Concurrently, the gallery presents Cross-Pollination, a collaborative installation by four artists—Claire Vassort, Lisa Houser, Dixon Stetler, and Cody Havens—who work across silk, mosaics, 3D mixed media, and photography to create an immersive, cross-disciplinary dialogue.

In Berlin, a controversy over subsidies sweeps away the culture official

À Berlin, une polémique sur des subventions emporte l’élue à la Culture

Sarah Wedl-Wilson, Berlin's senator for culture, resigned after the Berlin Court of Auditors ruled that €2.6 million in public subsidies for 13 antisemitism-fighting projects were awarded illegally, bypassing regulatory checks and violating budget law. The controversy intensified when a parliamentary inquiry revealed that CDU politicians, including Christian Goiny and Dirk Stettner, pressured her to approve the funds immediately, coordinating with the Israeli embassy, despite warnings from state secretary Oliver Friederici, whom she later dismissed. Stefan Evers, the finance senator, has been appointed interim successor until Berlin's parliamentary elections in September.

A U.S. agency that funds culture wins a judicial reprieve

Une agence américaine qui finance la culture gagne un répit judiciaire

A U.S. federal court has blocked the Trump administration's attempt to cut funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a key agency supporting museums and libraries nationwide. The lawsuit was brought by the American Library Association (ALA) and the AFSCME union, with support from the legal organization Democracy Forward, arguing that the executive branch cannot unilaterally reduce programs authorized by Congress. The ruling temporarily halts the funding reductions, which were part of broader efforts to slash federal cultural spending during Donald Trump's second term.

I’M SO ATL Campaign to Turn Atlanta Into ‘Living Art Gallery’ Ahead of Summer 2026

The I’M SO ATL public art campaign is launching in May 2025 to transform Atlanta city parks into a "living, breathing art gallery" through large-scale installations, leading up to the ARTlanta Festival of Culture in Piedmont Park from August 7–9, 2026. Organized by spokesperson Yamileth Jaramillo, the initiative includes an open call for 1,000 artists, partnerships with Atlanta Parks and Recreation and other city agencies, and a social media campaign inviting residents to share what "I'm so ATL" means. Art will remain on display through November 2026.

Katara exhibition showcases 170 artworks by 29 artists

The Katara Cultural Village Foundation in Doha, Qatar, inaugurated the “Contemporary Graphic Art” exhibition on Monday evening, featuring 170 artworks by 29 artists from Qatar and various Arab and international countries. The exhibition showcases diverse modern printing techniques, including relief, intaglio, porous, flatbed, and monochrome printing, and will run until May 18 in Hall 18 at Katara.

Svolta per il Museo del Fumetto che chiuse a Milano: nuova sede in un’ex biblioteca di Monza

The Franco Fossati Foundation's Museo del Fumetto (Comics Museum), which was evicted from Milan due to a €180,000 debt to the city, has found a new permanent home in Monza. The Monza city council approved the foundation's proposal on April 30, paving the way for the renovation of a former library in the Cederna district, which has been abandoned for years. The archive of 500,000 pieces will be temporarily stored in Desio while the Monza building is refurbished with €850,000 from the municipality and additional funds from the foundation.

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.