‘Research powerhouse’: Abu Dhabi's Zayed National Museum confirms 2025 opening

Abu Dhabi's Zayed National Museum, designed by Foster + Partners on Saadiyat Island, will open in December 2025. The museum will feature star exhibits including the world's oldest natural pearl (the 8,000-year-old Abu Dhabi Pearl) and an 1,100-year-old Blue Qur'an. Centered on the life of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the UAE, its galleries explore his values such as religious tolerance and trace the country's history from ancient times to the present. The museum aims to become a research powerhouse, supported by a dedicated research fund and collaborations with institutions like the British Museum.

Tate launches US-style endowment fund, with aim of raising £150m by 2030

Tate has launched the Tate Future Fund, a US-style endowment fund aiming to raise £150 million by 2030 to secure its long-term financial future. More than £43 million has already been raised, announced at a fundraising gala in Tate Modern's Turbine Hall marking the museum's 25th anniversary, attended by artists Steve McQueen and Tracey Emin. Tate director Maria Balshaw explained that the fund will sit separately, managed by the Tate Foundation, with only the interest drawn annually to support artistic creativity, groundbreaking exhibitions, collection building, research, and public benefit programs like school and family learning.

New museum of contemporary art, designed by David Chipperfield Architects, to open in Slovenian mountains

A new museum of contemporary art, Muzej Lah, will open in the Slovenian town of Bled next summer. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, the 5,000 sq. m building will house the Fundacija Lah art collection, built over 30 years by Slovenia’s sixth richest family, Igor and Mojca Lah. The collection includes over 800 post-war works by artists such as Anselm Kiefer, William Kentridge, and Zoran Mušič, as well as pieces from the political art collective Neue Slowenische Kunst (NSK). The museum will feature galleries, a library, research centre, restaurant, and spaces for performances and educational initiatives.

‘Halo effect’ of powerful art dealers’ collections boosts Sotheby’s sale

Sotheby's held a successful three-part evening auction in New York on May 15, 2025, achieving a total of $154.2 million in hammer sales ($186.1 million with fees), within its pre-sale estimate. The sale included 12 lots from the estate of late dealer Barbara Gladstone, which sold 100% for $15.1 million, and 15 works from the collection of Daniella Luxembourg, which brought $33.6 million. The main event, Sotheby's The Now and Contemporary evening auction, featured 41 lots—including works from the Dorothy and Roy Lichtenstein collection and three deaccessioned by US museums—and achieved a 93% sell-through rate, hammering $105.4 million. A standout was Andy Warhol's 'Flowers' (1964) from the Gladstone estate, which sold for $3.1 million hammer, more than double its high estimate.

Marina Abramović’s Historic Venice Biennale Exhibition Is a Full-Circle Moment

Marina Abramović has become the first living woman to be honored with a dedicated exhibition at the Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia, titled “Marina Abramović: Transforming Energy.” The show, which coincides with her 80th birthday, features works selected in dialogue with Renaissance masterpieces from the museum’s permanent collection, including pieces such as “The Lovers, Great Wall Walk,” “Balkan Baroque,” and “Pietà (Anima Mundi).” Abramović first visited the Venice Biennale at age 14 and later won the Golden Lion there in 1997; this exhibition marks a full-circle return to the city that inspired her.

Nelson-Atkins Museum picks architect for $160m expansion

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City has selected the New York-based firm Weiss Manfredi Architecture Landscape Urbanism to lead a $160–170 million campus expansion. The decision followed an international competition that drew 182 firms from 30 countries, with six finalists—including Kengo Kuma & Associates, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Selldorf Architects, Studio Gang, and Why Architecture—presenting concepts publicly. Weiss Manfredi's design places a new 61,000-square-foot wing to the southwest of the original 1933 Beaux-Arts building, mirroring the Steven Holl Architects addition from 2007, and features curved glass walls that open onto the sculpture park. The project aims to accommodate growing attendance, which has doubled since director Julián Zugazagoitia joined in 2010, reaching about 600,000 visitors annually.

Where are the Louvre Jewels?

Wo sind die Louvre-Juwelen?

Six months after a high-profile heist at the Louvre, investigators remain in pursuit of stolen jewelry valued at approximately €88 million. While four suspects are currently in custody, the bulk of the Second Empire-era treasures remains missing, leading to fears that the pieces may have been dismantled or melted down. The investigation has shifted focus toward how the thieves obtained a sensitive 2018 security audit that detailed vulnerabilities in the museum's defenses.

No money, more problems: 85% of US museums in urgent need of building repairs

A recent survey by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that approximately 85% of US museums face a costly backlog of maintenance or building repairs, with 77% having at least one structural issue that puts their collections at risk. Based on a survey of around 300 museums and 17 site visits, the report reveals that institutions across the country struggle to keep buildings updated and safe due to a lack of funding, with challenges especially pronounced in rural and remote locations where shipping materials and finding skilled workers is prohibitively expensive. Many museums are housed in historic homes or sites that are part of their collections, adding further complexity, and smaller museums often lack the budget to address major problems like new roofs or HVAC systems.

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The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston announced layoffs affecting approximately 30 staff members, a 6.3% reduction of its workforce, effective this Friday. The decision was communicated via an internal email obtained by WBUR, citing an unsustainable deficit and the need for financial restructuring. The MFA, Boston Union, which represents 16 of the affected employees, expressed concern and called for negotiations to avert layoffs and preserve workforce diversity. This follows a previous round of layoffs and early retirements in 2020.

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Louvre director Laurence des Cars defended the museum's security protocols in a New York Times interview following a recent robbery. She revealed that a comprehensive security review had already been initiated, including a master plan to add 100 cameras to the museum's perimeter, and that several companies had bid on the project before the theft occurred. However, she acknowledged that implementation has been slow due to the museum's scale and public procurement rules, with the full camera system not expected to be operational until the end of next year.

Painting from Elmhurst U. Collection Tours Prestigious Museums

Elmhurst University’s painting "Tree at Aledo" by Gertrude Abercrombie is currently on a national tour as part of the retrospective exhibition "Gertrude Abercrombie: The Whole World Is a Mystery." The work is presently on display at the Milwaukee Art Museum following stops at the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Colby College Museum of Art, with a final scheduled stop at the Norton Museum of Art through early 2027.

85% of All US Museums Need Repairs, Study Finds

A March survey by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that 85% of all US museums need repairs, with 77% having at least one structural issue endangering their collections. Federal funding does not cover construction-related expenses, and 73% of the roughly 11,900 museums surveyed reported building system or facility problems posing health or safety risks. The American Alliance of Museums noted the data aligns with years of reports from museums struggling with aging infrastructure and unpredictable funding.

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Kim Dulaney, former vice president of education and programs at Chicago's DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, has filed a whistleblower and retaliatory discharge lawsuit against the museum and its CEO, Perri Irmer. Dulaney alleges she was wrongfully terminated in October after repeatedly raising concerns about misuse of restricted funds, improper financial practices, and workplace misconduct to museum leadership, the board, and government agencies. The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court on December 1, seeks reinstatement, damages, and injunctive relief. The museum has denied the allegations, stating that Dulaney's termination followed a thorough review process and that it maintains strict financial controls.

Persistent low attendance and funding cuts are forcing US museums to think local

A federal judge ruled on December 3 that all grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) must be reinstated, offering relief to museum directors like Scott Stulen of the Seattle Art Museum, which lost $300,000–$400,000 in annual federal funding in 2025. The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) survey of 511 directors found that over half reported fewer visitors than in 2019, with 29% citing declines tied to weakened travel and economic uncertainty. However, some museums like the Toledo Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago have seen local attendance rise, offsetting losses in international tourism.

US museums urged to stop lobbying against Nazi loot restitution bill

US museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, are lobbying against a bipartisan bill that would strengthen the ability of Holocaust survivors and their families to reclaim Nazi-looted art. The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) paid $8,000 to oppose the bill, which eliminates technical legal defenses such as statutes of limitation and laches that museums have used to dismiss claims. New York Mayor Eric Adams and the World Jewish Restitution Organisation have publicly urged museums to drop their opposition, arguing that the stance contradicts the values of justice and accountability.

Un agent du Louvre devant le juge

A Louvre agent appeared before a judge. The article, published in Le Journal des Arts on May 2, 2026, covers multiple art world stories including the Whitney Biennial's perceived neutrality, the increasing complexity of art taxation in 2025, a resized project for Bourges 2028 by Yann Galut, a new contemporary gallery at Angers Cathedral, the abandonment of the Frigos artist site in Paris, and auctioneer Hubert L'Huillier's emergency sales.

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The Mütter Museum in Philadelphia, a medical history institution that has faced controversy over its handling of human remains, announced a new policy on August 19 for exhibiting its collection. The policy shifts focus toward the lives of patients and changes in medical history, developed through the two-year Postmortem Project involving focus groups and public meetings. The announcement follows backlash after former executive director Kate Quinn removed online exhibits in June 2023 as part of an ethical review, and subsequent staff departures.

Sherman Fund Acquires Work by Emerging Artists for US Museums

The Sherman Fund has acquired works by emerging artists for donation to US museums, supporting new talent and expanding institutional collections. The initiative focuses on acquiring pieces from lesser-known contemporary artists and placing them in public institutions to increase accessibility and representation.

The Rothschilds and Sèvres Porcelain: A Collector's Passion at the Heart of an Exhibition in Paris

Les Rothschild et la porcelaine de Sèvres : une passion de collectionneurs au cœur d’une exposition à Paris

An exhibition at the Galerie des Gobelins du Mobilier national in Paris explores the Rothschild family's centuries-long passion for Sèvres porcelain. Titled "Sèvres, une passion Rothschild. De la Villa Ephrussi à Paris," it traces how the banking dynasty collected, traded, and bequeathed these delicate objects from the Ancien Régime, with a centerpiece table setting featuring pieces lent by family members from Vienna, England, and beyond. The show also highlights Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, who amassed thousands of pieces and left them to the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and includes a section on the Nazi looting of Rothschild collections in 1940, during which 22 Sèvres pieces were acquired by the Musée de Sèvres.

Presenting the Condé M. Nast Galleries

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced the opening of the Condé M. Nast Galleries, a new exhibition space within the museum. The galleries are named after the late publishing magnate Condé Montrose Nast, founder of Condé Nast Publications.

8 Art Shows to See Before They Close

The New York Times has published a curated list of eight art exhibitions currently on view that are nearing their closing dates. The article provides recommendations for shows across various museums and galleries, highlighting key artists and themes to help readers plan their visits before the exhibitions end.

designboom radar: exhibitions to see around the world this april

Designboom has published its monthly 'Radar' feature, highlighting a curated selection of notable art and design exhibitions opening globally in April. The list serves as an international guide for enthusiasts and professionals, spanning various museums, galleries, and cultural institutions.

As the Nation’s Birthday Approaches, Museums Lead the Way

The New York Times article highlights how museums across the United States are taking a leading role in commemorating the nation's birthday, with special exhibitions, public programs, and curated displays that explore American history, identity, and cultural heritage. These institutions are using their collections and expertise to offer nuanced perspectives on the country's founding, often incorporating diverse voices and critical reflections alongside traditional patriotic narratives.

Museums Student Engagement Committee

Washington and Lee University (W&L) established the Museums Student Engagement Committee (MSEC) in December 2023 to strengthen ties between students and the W&L Art Museum and Galleries (AMG). The committee, composed of students from various class years, advises museum staff on programming, exhibitions, and events to make the museum more relevant and accessible. Officers include Avery Dennard, Hailey Neaman, Nora Kuhn, and Grace McCurdy, with advisors Isra El-beshir and Jessica Wager.

A Guide to U.S. Museums to See This Year

The New York Times has published a guide highlighting notable U.S. museums to visit this year, offering readers a curated selection of cultural institutions across the country. The article likely features a mix of major encyclopedic museums, contemporary art spaces, and specialized collections, providing travel-oriented recommendations for art enthusiasts and tourists alike.