Getty Center will close for a year to undergo major renovations

The Getty Center in Los Angeles will shutter for one year beginning March 15, 2027, to undergo its most significant renovation since opening in 1997. The $600 million to $800 million project focuses on infrastructure and visitor experience, including a total replacement of the campus's aging tram system, a redesign of the welcome hall, and the renovation of 27,000 square feet of gallery space. While the hilltop campus is closed, the Getty Villa will remain open, and a new permanent space will debut on Sepulveda Boulevard.

Louvre Faces €10M Loss After Decades-Long Ticket Fraud Busted

louvre faces e10m loss after decades long ticket fraud busted

A major fraud scheme involving counterfeit tickets and overbooked guided tours at the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles has been uncovered, leading to nine arrests and the seizure of over €1 million in cash and assets. The scheme, which reportedly operated for a decade, allowed guides to reuse tickets and conspire with museum employees to pocket sales, costing the Louvre an estimated €10 million in lost revenue.

mfa boston denies racial layoffs

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) has laid off 33 employees, approximately 6.3% of its staff, to address a projected $13 million structural deficit. Among those let go were the museum's only Black, Muslim, and Indigenous curators, leading to accusations that the cuts disproportionately targeted staff of color and undermined diversity initiatives.

jeffrey epstein metropolitan museum art costume institute

A newly released tranche of documents from the US Department of Justice reveals a $5,000 donation from Jeffrey Epstein's foundation, Enhanced Education, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Benefit (the Met Gala) in 2014. The check was part of millions of pages made public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

mfa boston layoffs

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston has laid off 57 employees, with an additional 56 staff members taking voluntary retirement. The cuts are a direct response to the severe financial impact of the museum's extended closure due to the public health crisis, which has led to massive losses in revenue from admissions, events, and retail.

us artists struggle with food and healthcare insecurity study

A national survey commissioned by the Mellon Foundation and conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago has produced a 102-page report on the livelihoods of 2,618 US artists across five disciplines—performing arts, visual arts, writing, craft arts, and other arts—broken into 37 subdisciplines. Key findings reveal that 34% of artists are fully self-employed, 50% are self-employed in their primary job, and 11% hold three or more jobs. More than 57% of artists report being worried about financial vulnerabilities, including food (22%), housing, medical costs (32%), or utilities, while 28% provide unpaid care for a loved one and 8% have served in the military.

grand egyptian museum ticketing policy

The Grand Egyptian Museum, which opened on November 4 after two decades of planning, faced immediate crowd control issues after overselling tickets. More than 27,000 tickets were sold against a daily limit of 20,000, leading to thousands of frustrated visitors being denied entry. Museum CEO Ahmed Ghoneim announced a shift to an online-only booking system and pledged to reassess policies. Controversy also erupted over claims of a ticketing quota favoring foreigners over Egyptians, which Ghoneim denied, stating the museum would ensure no group exceeds a 60-40 split seasonally.

uae to open massive museum in december that reflects historical trajectory of the country

The Zayed National Museum, a new mega museum designed by Foster + Partners, will open on Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island in December. Named after the UAE's first president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the museum will feature six permanent galleries spanning 300,000 years of history, displaying artifacts including a 1,000-year-old Qur'an, the world's oldest natural pearl (the 8,000-year-old Abu Dhabi Pearl), and objects from the Palaeolithic to Iron Age. It will also host loans from international institutions like the British Museum.

supreme court ruling advances trumps plan for mass layoffs of federal workers

The U.S. Supreme Court lifted a lower court order that had temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to lay off thousands of federal workers. The initial lawsuit was filed by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), 11 nonprofits, and local governments from states including California, Texas, and Illinois, challenging Executive Order 14210. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the sole dissenter, while liberal justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor sided with the conservative majority. The ruling allows mass firings and reorganizations at 19 federal agencies, including the State Department and Social Security Administration, to proceed, though a separate injunction protecting sub-agencies of Health and Human Services remains in place.

harvard cedes early images of enslaved americans legal settlement

Harvard University has transferred ownership of fifteen daguerreotypes from around 1850, considered the earliest surviving photographs of enslaved African Americans, to the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina. The settlement ends an eight-year legal dispute with Tamara Lanier, who claimed the images depict her ancestors, Renty and Delia, and argued they were taken without consent for the discredited biologist Louis Agassiz. The Massachusetts courts had previously ruled that ownership remained with the photographer, but allowed Lanier to pursue emotional distress claims over Harvard's continued use of the images in marketing materials.

mrbeasts ancient mexico temple stunt followed the rules but

YouTube megastar MrBeast (James Donaldson) released a video titled "I Survived 100 Hours in an Ancient Temple" on May 10, amassing over 55 million views in four days. Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) confirmed that the production had full permission from federal and state authorities to film at Mayan archaeological sites including Chichén Itzá, Calakmul, and Balamcanché, and that all shoots occurred in public areas without disrupting other visitors. However, INAH also pointed out several inaccuracies in the final cut: no drones were flown inside El Castillo, no helicopter descents occurred, no one spent the night at a site, and a funerary mask shown in the video was a contemporary reproduction, not an authentic artifact.

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.

The Whelm of Massive Group Shows, and My Tender Eyes

The article reflects on the overwhelming experience of massive group exhibitions, using examples like Lawndale's "The Big Show" (77 artists in 2025), "Hecho en Dallas" (66 artists), and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's 1999 MFA thesis show (around 150 artists). The author, a gallerist, recounts visiting two recent San Antonio shows—"A Postmodernist Says ¿Que?" at Centro de Artes and "Fan of a Fan 3" at C7 Space—which feature dozens of works hung salon-style, forcing viewers to make choices about where to focus attention.

Syracuse-born artist Peter McGough hand-painted Anne Hathaway’s Met Gala dress

Syracuse-born artist Peter McGough hand-painted a custom Michael Kors gown worn by Anne Hathaway to the 2026 Met Gala. The dress, a strapless black Mikado silk ball gown with a plunging neckline and high-leg slit, features intricate Grecian patterns inspired by the Met's urns and statues, including a goddess with a dove on the back. McGough, a former classmate of Michael Kors at the Fashion Institute of Technology, painted directly on the silk and wool gown over a week using three layers of fabric paint. The design aligns with the gala's 'Fashion Is Art' dress code and references John Keats' poem 'Ode on a Grecian Urn,' also tying into Hathaway's upcoming film 'The Odyssey.'

'Greater New York' Exhibit Gets Real at MoMA PS1

MoMA PS1 opened the sixth edition of its quinquennial exhibition 'Greater New York,' featuring over 50 artists from the New York area. The show, which debuted in 2000 as the first joint project between the Museum of Modern Art and P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, fills all floors of the Queens museum with works addressing local themes such as immigration, taxi drivers, massage parlors, rats, and bodega cats. Notable installations include 'Unfree Free Time' by fields harrington, which pays a delivery driver minimum wage for each hour his bike is displayed, and a mural by the Cevallos Brothers, known for their posters for local businesses.

INSIDE THE 2026 MET EXHIBITION ON FASHION AS ART

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2026 exhibition 'Costume Art' explores how standards of form, modesty, and exposure have evolved across history and cultures. The show is organized into sections examining the classical body, distorted bodies through corsets and bustles, and reclaimed bodies by designers like Rei Kawakubo, Duran Lantink, and Michaela Stark. Another section focuses on the 'Anatomical' and 'Mortal' bodies, highlighting universal experiences such as aging and mortality. Mannequins represent diverse body types—pregnant, plus-size, disabled, and non-conforming—modeled after real people including Sinéad Burke, Aariana Rose Philip, Aimee Mullins, and Yseult, with reflective steel faces designed by artist Samar Hejazi.

ArtWonk: Budgets, Brouhahas, and Beowolff

Boston Art Review (BAR), an independent publication focused on contemporary art in Boston, has published an article titled 'ArtWonk: Budgets, Brouhahas, and Beowolff' that appears to cover a mix of art-world financial issues, controversies, and a reference to a figure or concept named 'Beowolff.' The piece is part of BAR's ongoing coverage of the local and broader art scene, including weekly happenings and programs.

Early visitors share first impressions of LACMA’s sprawling new building

The David Geffen Galleries, the new $724-million building at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), opened to members, drawing thousands of visitors on its first day. The massive concrete structure, which has been a subject of public debate for its cost and design, finally allowed Angelenos and dedicated travelers to experience its spaces and inaugural installations firsthand.

DFW museums kick off World Cup fever with soccer-themed exhibitions

Several Dallas-Fort Worth cultural institutions are launching a series of soccer-themed exhibitions to coincide with the upcoming FIFA World Cup matches at AT&T Stadium. These showcases range from the Arlington Museum of Art’s multi-part historical exploration "More Than a Match" to the Latino Cultural Center’s solo exhibition of Mexican artist Jazzamoart, whose paintings translate the rhythm and emotion of the sport into expressive canvas works.

Review: “Boris Lurie: Nothing To Do But To Try” at the Holocaust Museum Houston

The Holocaust Museum Houston is currently hosting "Boris Lurie: Nothing To Do But To Try," an exhibition focusing on the early works of the Holocaust survivor and NO!art movement founder. Organized by the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the show highlights Lurie’s "War Series," featuring paintings, drawings, and never-before-seen ephemera created as a means of processing the trauma of his imprisonment in camps like Buchenwald. The works, ranging from the immediate post-war period to decades later, serve as a visceral record of memory and loss, including tributes to his family members murdered in the Rumbula Forest massacre.

Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation Releases First Posthumous Artist's CV

The Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation has released the first comprehensive posthumous CV for the pioneering American sculptor Richard Hunt. Drawing from digital archives and research, the document reveals a career far more expansive than previously recorded, documenting 193 solo exhibitions and over 350 group shows across seven decades. This release follows the 2022 acquisition of Hunt’s massive physical archive by the Getty Research Institute, which continues to process over 1,000 linear feet of historical material.

Workers at the Metropolitan Museum vote to form union

Workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art voted overwhelmingly to unionize with the United Auto Workers (UAW), with 542 in favor and 172 against, following nearly four years of organizing efforts. The election, overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, will see 100 challenged votes resolved through arbitration. The new union, part of UAW Local 2110, represents over 50 departments including conservators, curators, librarians, and digital staff, driven by concerns over job security, pay, and policy transparency.

Tiffany Shlain uses trees and technology to trace Jewish history in new exhibit

Tiffany Shlain, a multidisciplinary artist and founder of the Webby Awards, has opened a new exhibition titled "Ancient Wisdom for a Future Ecology: Trees, Time, and Technology" at the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art in San Francisco. The show, which debuted in October 2024 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles as part of a Getty Museum initiative, uses massive tree trunk slices—some weighing 10,000 pounds—to explore Jewish history, feminism, and existential questions. Shlain, known for her work blending feminism, technology, and Judaism, also co-created a video on the teenage brain with Goldie Hawn and recently screened her 2005 documentary short "The Tribe."

Lacma staff move to unionise as $720m new building nears completion

Staff at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Lacma) announced their intent to unionize as part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The new union, Lacma United, will represent over 300 museum employees across curatorial, visitor services, education, and publications departments. Workers cite fairer compensation, expanded benefits, and increased transparency as key motivations, and have requested voluntary recognition by November 5. The effort joins AFSCME Cultural Workers United District Council 36, which has supported union campaigns at other Los Angeles institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

How the Sienese painter Ambrogio Lorenzetti spoke truth to power

The article examines Ambrogio Lorenzetti's frescoes "Good and Bad Government" (1338-1339) in Siena's Sala dei Nove, arguing that the painter embedded a subtle critique of the ruling oligarchy. Jules Lubbock, a professor emeritus at the University of Essex, reinterprets the murals as a warning against repressive one-party rule, challenging the traditional view of Siena under the Nine as a golden age of good governance.

Manhattan’s New Museum to collaborate with Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo on artist commissions

The New Museum in Manhattan is partnering with Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, founded by Italian patron Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, to launch the New Futures Production Fund. This initiative will support the production and exhibition of new works by international artists, with Italian-born Diego Marcon as the first commissioned artist. Marcon's new work will debut in a solo exhibition at the New Museum next year before traveling to the foundation in Turin. The collaboration coincides with the New Museum's expansion, a seven-story addition designed by Rem Koolhaas and OMA's Shohei Shigematsu, which will double its exhibition space.

Banking family’s treasures go on show at Bath’s Holburne Museum

Nearly 200 Old Master treasures from the Schroder Collection, amassed by the late banker Bruno Schroder and his family over more than a century, will go on long-term display at the Holburne Museum in Bath, UK, starting 10 September. The collection includes silver, maiolica, and paintings by artists such as Lucas Cranach the Elder and Hans Holbein the Elder, many shown publicly for the first time. The loan was facilitated by Bruno’s daughter Leonie, who requested the works remain in the UK and be placed in a regional museum rather than London.

New Canadian art museum seeks to connect disparate disciplines and a university campus

Simon Fraser University (SFU) near Vancouver will open the Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum on September 20, its first purpose-built art museum. The inaugural exhibition, "Edge Effects," features 15 artists including Sameer Farooq, Liz Magor, Cindy Mochizuki, and Debra Sparrow, and reflects the interdisciplinary ethos of the original SFU campus designed by Arthur Erickson and Geoffrey Massey. The 12,000-square-foot building by Hariri Pontarini Architects and Iredale Architecture includes a research laboratory, art studio, courtyard, and salon, and will be admission-free.

Sicily's new anti-mafia museum honours ‘strength of the vulnerable over fear’

Sicily has inaugurated the Museum of the Present (Museo del Presente) inside Palermo's historic Palazzo Jung on 23 May, marking 33 years since the assassination of anti-Mafia judge Giovanni Falcone. The museum commemorates Mafia victims and confronts the ongoing threat of Cosa Nostra through personal artifacts, multimedia installations, and historical documentation, including items from Falcone and his colleague Paolo Borsellino. The opening was attended by Italy's interior, justice, and culture ministers, and entry remains free until 19 July.

Artist Tiff Massey's "Baby Bling" exhibit to become permanent collection at Detroit Institute of Arts

Detroit-based artist Tiff Massey's artwork "Baby Bling" (2023) has been acquired as a permanent collection piece by the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), following the success of her temporary exhibition "7 Mile + Livernois." The sculpture, made from steel beads, woven rope, and brass, reimagines childhood hair accessories known as "bobos" worn by Black women and girls, celebrating Black hair culture and identity. Massey, the youngest artist to have a solo exhibition at the DIA, saw her "7 Mile + Livernois" show attract over 220,000 visitors from May 2024 through May 2025. "Baby Bling" will be installed in the museum's newly reimagined Modern and Contemporary wing when it reopens in 2026.