fita campaign group threatens leicester university trans inclusive museum guidelines

A campaign group called Freedom in the Arts (FITA) has threatened to sue the University of Leicester in the UK over its “Trans-Inclusive Culture” guidelines for museums and galleries, demanding their removal. The guidelines, published two years ago by the university’s Research Center for Museums and Galleries (RCMG), aim to help cultural institutions create inclusive spaces for transgender people. FITA, co-founded by choreographer Rosie Kay and former Arts Council England staffer Denise Fahmy, argues the guidance misrepresents the legal definition of “sex” under the Equality Act 2010, following a UK Supreme Court ruling that “woman” and “sex” refer only to biological women and biological sex. The group claims the guidelines could encourage unlawful policies, such as allowing toilet access based on gender identity, and discriminate against staff with gender-critical beliefs.

Rosewood Arts Center 32nd Annual The View Juried Landscape Exhibition

Rosewood Arts Center in Kettering, Ohio, has announced the opening of its 32nd annual The View Juried Landscape Exhibition, running from June 8 through July 18, 2026. The exhibition features 48 works selected by juror Rebecca Foley from 308 submissions by 114 Ohio-based artists, with awards totaling $1,100. A free public reception and awards presentation will take place on July 18.

Student artists shine in RAM exhibition

Artworks by Palestinian artists killed in war displayed in Scottish exhibition

An exhibition at POD! community art gallery in Dundee, Scotland, features works by three Palestinian artists: Maysa Yousef, who is alive and exhibiting, and two others—Dorgham Qreaiqea and Heba Zaqout—who were killed in Israel's military campaign in Gaza. The display also includes artwork by children in Gaza who participated in art therapy workshops led by Yousef, who describes art as a means of survival and resistance amid ongoing violence and trauma.

Graduating Seniors, LSAA Artists' Works on Display

Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum is hosting two concurrent exhibitions. The first is the NMU School of Art & Design Senior Exhibition, featuring capstone projects from graduating seniors across various media, with a closing ceremony on May 1. The second is "Celebrating Legacy: Lake Superior Art Association in the Permanent Collection," a group show marking the LSAA's 75th anniversary by displaying works by past and present members from the museum's holdings.

Sertoma Arts Center Gallery Exhibitions

The Sertoma Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, is hosting a series of exhibitions throughout 2025 and 2026, featuring a wide array of local and regional artists. The current exhibition is the 47th annual Sertoma Parks Artists Association (SPAA) show, featuring over 30 artists, running from February to April 2026. Upcoming shows include a May-June 2026 exhibition highlighting artists like Adam Cooley and Natacha Sochat, and the center regularly presents themed exhibits such as its annual Student, Instructor, and Patron exhibition.

Local Notes: Art Exhibition, Line Dancing Classes, Set Dancing Classes

The group exhibition ‘Bándearg’ (Pink) is set to open at Books At One in Louisburgh, County Mayo, featuring the work of five female artists based in Ireland. The show explores the color pink as both a physical medium and a complex cultural symbol, showcasing a diverse range of artistic approaches including the bold, hard-edge op art of Elphin-based artist Nickie Harrington.

Blue Sky Gallery Celebrates 50 Years of Photography in Portland

Blue Sky Gallery, a cornerstone of Portland’s photography scene, is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2025. Founded in 1975 by five artists who pooled their unemployment checks to open a tiny storefront, the non-profit collective has since showcased over 1,000 photographers and expanded into a major space in the city's Pearl District. The milestone year includes a series of decade-focused exhibitions and a rooftop gala to honor its history as one of the oldest artist-run photography galleries in the United States.

Donald Trump Endorses Steve Hilton for California Governor

99CENT art exhibition

President Donald Trump has officially endorsed former Fox News host Steve Hilton for the California governorship. Hilton, who previously served as an advisor to UK Prime Minister David Cameron, is campaigning on a platform of repairing the state's relationship with the federal government and has adopted the "Make California Great Again" slogan. This endorsement positions Hilton as a primary front-runner among Republican voters, potentially consolidating the GOP base in a crowded field that includes Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and several prominent Democrats.

Gold by Serakai Studio’s ‘Certainly’ exhibition leans into unpredictability

Gold by Serakai Studio has launched its inaugural exhibition, "Certainly," in Hong Kong’s Wong Chuk Hang district. Curated by Tobias Berger, the former head of art at Tai Kwun, the show features 50 works by 11 diverse artists that explore themes of unpredictability and experimentation. The exhibition takes its conceptual cue from La Monte Young’s 1960 Fluxus score, "Draw a straight line and follow it," using the impossibility of that task as a metaphor for navigating global instability.

Gold by Serakai Studio’s ‘Certainly’ exhibition leans into unpredictability

Serakai Studio has launched its inaugural exhibition, "Certainly," at its new Wong Chuk Hang space, Gold, in Hong Kong. Curated by Tobias Berger, the show features 50 works by 11 international artists and takes its conceptual cue from La Monte Young’s 1960 Fluxus score, "Draw a straight line and follow it." The exhibition explores the impossibility of perfection and the necessity of embracing unpredictability and experimentation in a volatile global climate.

Opening reception for Spring Art Show this Friday at Tahoe Art League Gallery

The Tahoe Art League Gallery is hosting an opening reception for its Spring Art Show this Friday, February 27, in South Lake Tahoe. The event features works from 21 local artists and includes a live violin performance by participating artist Mel Smothers. The exhibition is free to the public and will remain on display through May 24.

Two exhibits trace the origins of the Sarasota Artist Colony

Two exhibitions in Sarasota trace the origins of the Sarasota Artist Colony, which flourished between 1945 and 1965. One is at Ringling College of Art and Design, titled “Origins: Sarasota Artist Colony, 1945-1965,” co-curated by Tim Jaeger and Bill Hartman. The other is at the downtown offices of Michael Saunders & Co. The Ringling College show features 36 works by colony artists, including Jon Corbino, Ben Stahl, Syd Solomon, and Craig Rubadoux, and places them in the context of post-World War II America, when the GI Bill and cheap rents attracted hundreds of artists to the small beach community.

One of most famous illustrations of Burns' Tam o' Shanter set for auction

Alexander Goudie's painting *The First Drink*, a key illustration from his celebrated series based on Robert Burns' poem *Tam o' Shanter*, will be auctioned at McTear’s Scottish Contemporary Art Auction in Glasgow on February 26. The oil painting, estimated at £10,000–£20,000, depicts the poem's protagonist resting beside his horse Meg and is being sold by an anonymous vendor who has owned it since it was commissioned in the late 1990s.

We've brought a new fine art gallery to Sunderland city centre to celebrate local creativity

A collective of 26 local artists has opened a new fine art gallery called Twenty-Four North East in Sunderland city centre, transforming the former Sweet Home Alabama shop on Fawcett Street. The gallery launched with a busy opening night attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Sunderland, featuring works ranging from screw art by Darren Timby to SAFC fan scenes by Chris Cummings and pieces by Dr Ron Lawson, creator of the Molly sculpture. The gallery operates Tuesday to Saturday, selling original fine art from £90, prints, and cards, and plans to host workshops.

IMA Gala and Benefit Auction 2025 at The Calile Hotel

The Institute of Modern Art (IMA) in Brisbane is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a gala and benefit auction on October 15, 2025, at The Calile Hotel. The black-tie event with a surrealist twist will feature a seated banquet, avant-garde performances, and a live auction of contemporary works by leading Australian artists, including newly crowned Archibald Prize winner Julie Fragar, Sam Cranstoun, Richard Bell, and Craig & Karl. Online bidding opens on October 15, and a raffle for luxury prizes from Brisbane brands is also available.

A new open-air art gallery is being created at 8 Marvila, and you can watch the murals being created live

A new open-air urban art gallery called "Walls That Matter – 8 Take Over" is being created at 8 Marvila in Lisbon, Portugal. The project, curated and produced by Because Art Matters, features murals by artists including RAM, Mário Belém, Gonçalo MAR, Jacqueline de Montaigne, L7 Matrix, Patrícia Mariano, Rita Ravasco, Arm Collective, Binau, Burry, and Buermans. The murals are being painted live from October through November, allowing visitors to watch the artworks come to life in real time. The gallery is free and open to the public at Praça David Leandro da Silva 8, with extended hours on weekends.

‘Grit’ exhibition highlights artists’ perseverance at Echo Contemporary

A new group exhibition titled 'Grit' opened at Echo Contemporary Art in Atlanta's Echo Street West, featuring works by local artists in painting, illustration, sculpture, installation, tech-driven pieces, and a quilt by Evereman. Co-curated by Alfonso Alday Vergara of Alday Hunken Gallery, Melanie Shaw of ArtShare, and Kyle McNeill (BignPasty), the show explores the theme of perseverance in art-making. The opening night reception drew a crowd, and the week-long exhibition includes artist talks, live music, and a panel discussion with Hayley Smith of SCOPE Art Show and Plushette Ellis of Artistic Logistics.

LOOK HERE Highlights the Work of Progressive Art Studios Nationwide

The Center for Creative Works (CCW) and Haverford College's Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery have partnered to present LOOK HERE, a multisensory exhibition highlighting the work of neurodivergent artists. The show features six CCW artists—Kelly Brown, Cindy Gosselin, Clyde Henry, Tim Quinn, Brandon Spicer-Crawley, and Allen Yu—and is curated by Jennifer Gilbert alongside CCW artists Mary T. Bevlock and Paige Donovan. The exhibition includes accessible design elements such as braille, ASL videos, touch panels, sensory backpacks, and tours led by neurodivergent artists. Two satellite exhibitions, LOOK THERE at Haverford's VCAM gallery and LOOK EVERYWHERE at Philadelphia's Atelier Gallery, run concurrently, along with the sixth annual Creating Community Symposium, which brings together progressive art studios from across the US.

Nordic Echoes: Tradition in Contemporary Art

“Nordic Echoes: Tradition in Contemporary Art” is a traveling exhibition opening October 4, 2025, at the South Dakota Art Museum and running through January 3, 2026. Curated by Sally Yerkovich, it features 55 works by 24 artists from the Upper Midwest, including Bill Amundson, Sonja Peterson, and Tara Austin. The show examines how Nordic folk arts—such as weaving, carving, and blacksmithing—inspire contemporary painting, textiles, and metalwork, presenting tradition as a living, evolving practice.

Giant spider on Belfry tower heralds opening weekend of Brusk art gallery in Bruges

A giant spider sculpture by Compagnie La Machine, titled *La Grande Araignée*, has been installed on the Belfry of Bruges to herald the opening weekend of the new Brusk art gallery. The weekend festivities also include a highline act by Belgian collective Lyapunov, a tightrope walk between the Belfry and the Church of Our Lady, and a tape art installation by Numen/For Use inside the gallery. The public can explore the building before its official opening in May 2026.

Ullapool-based Art Week set to return across Wester Ross

An Talla Solais (ATS) gallery in Ullapool is bringing back its Art Week from September 5 to 14, 2025, featuring over 150 artists across venues in Wester Ross. The program includes the Artist’s Studio Trail, the Members Show, pop-up exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, a film premiere of 'Scoraig Violin', and a community ceramics project. Highlights include a tribute to late Glasgow Girl Florence Jamieson through her daughter Becky Thomson’s open studio, and new work by artist-in-residence Nina Edge at Ullapool Museum.

Sydney Fringe Festival launches 2025 program

Sydney Fringe Festival has announced its full 2025 program, featuring over 460 events and more than 2,900 artists across four precincts and ten festival hubs this September. Highlights include the immersive theatre experience 'When Night Comes' by Broad Encounters, internationally acclaimed shows by storytelling duo Wright & Grainger, the return of the Queer and First Nations Hubs, and the reopening of the Eternity Playhouse as the home of the Off Broadway Hub. The festival kicks off with a free street party at The Rocks on 4 September, and includes SIDESHOW performances, the Cabaret Hub at Marrickville Town Hall, and a new group exhibition by Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative.

Galleria brings unique approach with flowing, weaving of art

The Viera Voice reports on a local gallery, Galleria, which is introducing a distinctive artistic approach centered on flowing forms and weaving techniques. The article highlights how this gallery is bringing a unique perspective to the local art scene through its focus on these dynamic, textile-inspired methods.

News Briefs: 12th Art in the Village beats the heat; major support for local historical society; Sears School names new asst. principal

The 12th annual Art in the Village, organized by the North Shore Art League, took place June 21-22 in Hubbard Woods Park, featuring a juried exhibition of artists from across the U.S. The event included live portrait painting by faculty member Lisa DePinto, a silent auction, and a raffle with donations from local businesses. Professional artists Bill Marvin and Corey Postiglione served as judges, awarding first place to Jenny Henley of Satsuma, Florida. Separately, the Winnetka Historical Society raised $132,000 at its annual gala honoring the late Jim Hansen, and Jeff Rosen was named assistant principal at The Joseph Sears School.

Sanford doctor's travel photography displayed in airport art exhibition

Dr. David Clardy, a cardiologist at Sanford Health in Fargo, has his travel photography displayed above the baggage claim area at Hector International Airport. The exhibition, installed on June 17, 2025, pairs landscape and portrait images from his travels to Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Peru. Clardy, who began taking photography seriously in 1999 and resumed in 2016 after a break, participated in workshops with National Geographic photographers and now shares his work through the airport's ArtWORKS program, which places local art in public spaces.

Art in the Atrium Opens 33rd Annual Exhibit in Morris County

The 33rd annual Art in the Atrium (ATA) exhibit, titled “Another Slice of Sweet Potato Pie,” opened on June 19, 2025, at the Morris County Administration and Records Building in Morristown, New Jersey. The show features over 75 Black and Afro-Latino artists and serves as the signature event of the Juneteenth Arts Celebration, a three-day series co-organized with the Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morris Arts, and Morris Museum. Curated by Onnie Strother, the exhibit pays homage to the late Russell Murray, an original ATA curator and founding member of the Newark Art Colony, whose namesake painting greets visitors. The public reception included remarks from Morris County Commissioner John Krickus, who highlighted county support for Juneteenth as a holiday and for educational initiatives like the College Promise programs.

Local Notes: Alex is Student of the Year at Ballina school

This article from Ballina, Ireland, reports on local community events and recognitions. Alex Healy was named Student of the Year at St Muredach's College annual awards night. Upcoming events include a Sketch & Spin life drawing workshop for teens as part of Cruinniú na nÓg, a national day of free creativity for children, led by artist Mary Callaghan and featuring drag artist Miss Neon Love. Other events announced are the Gathering of the Boats on the River Moy during the Ballina Salmon Festival, a call for volunteers for the Ballina Fringe Festival, and a free DJ workshop for teens at Ballina Arts Centre.

New Kensington Art Gallery to open Eddie Adams photography exhibit May 8

Penn State New Kensington Art Gallery will open "Eddie Adams: Vietnam" on May 8, featuring over 50 photographs by the late Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist. The exhibit includes his iconic "Saigon Execution" (1968) and "Boat of No Smiles" (1979), with a reception on May 28 featuring Adams' widow Alyssa Adams and former Associated Press photo editor Hal Buell. The free show runs through August 27.

Ferg Unmasks Darold Brown the Painter

Rapper Ferg, also known as Darold Brown, has opened his SoHo loft to reveal his debut solo painting exhibition, "CHOSEN." The show, curated by Anne-Laure Lemaitre and Larry Warsh of No More Rulers, features a body of work that includes figuration, abstraction, and mixed media, all rooted in personal memory and family influence. The exhibition grew out of Ferg's decision to paint the cover art for his album "DAROLD" himself, marking his first self-portrait and a return to the visual art he practiced as a teen.