Guest Artists Space Foundation announces ambitious 2025–26 programme exploring African art archives

Guest Artists Space (G.A.S.) Foundation and Yinka Shonibare Foundation have announced the 2025–26 edition of 'Re:assemblages', a programme focused on African and Afro-diasporic archives as sites for artistic inquiry and decolonial practice. Curated by Naima Hassan with contributions from Maryam Kazeem, Ann Marie Peña, and Jonn Gale, the initiative includes international convenings, symposia, fellowships, and micro-publications, anchored by a two-day symposium in Lagos during Lagos Art Week (4–5 November 2025). The programme draws on the Picton Archive at G.A.S.'s Lagos campus and is supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art, featuring four curatorial themes: Ecotones, The Short Century, Annotations, and The Living Archive. It also launches the African Arts Libraries Lab (AAL Lab), a pan-African network of libraries and publishers across Lagos, Dakar, Marrakesh, Cairo, Nairobi, Cape Town, and Limbe.

These Are the Winners of the 2026 Guggenheim Fellowship

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has announced its 2026 fellowship recipients, naming 223 individuals across 55 disciplines. The cohort includes 76 professionals from the visual arts, photography, and fine arts research sectors, featuring notable figures such as Sheida Soleimani, American Artist, Kenneth Tam, and Sonya Clark. This year's selection process was notably competitive, drawing 5,000 applicants—a significant increase from previous years.

Obama Presidential Center announces new work by Jeffrey Gibson, Rashid Johnson, Lorna Simpson.

The Obama Foundation has unveiled the final group of artists commissioned to create site-specific works for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. This prestigious roster includes Jeffrey Gibson, Rashid Johnson, Lorna Simpson, and Njideka Akunyili Crosby, whose works will be integrated into the 19.3-acre campus. The announcement completes the artistic vision for the center, which aims to blend public space with high-caliber contemporary art when it opens on June 19th.

fashion loewe craft prize 2026 announcement

The Loewe Foundation has announced the shortlist for the 2026 Loewe Craft Prize, selecting 30 finalists from over 5,100 submissions across 133 countries and regions. The winner will be revealed on May 12 at a ceremony in Singapore, receiving €50,000, with two special mentions earning €5,000 each. An exhibition of the finalists' work will be held at the National Gallery Singapore. New Loewe creative directors Jack McCullough and Lazaro Hernandez will join the jury for the first time. The nominated works span ceramics, woodwork, textiles, metal, glass, and more, with finalists hailing from 19 countries including Nigeria, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and the United States.

Artist Outraged After His Conservationist Mural in Dallas Is Painted Over to Allow for FIFA Promo

A giant mural by conservationist artist Robert Wyland, titled *Ocean Life* (1999), was painted over in Dallas to make way for a FIFA promotional mural. The piece was number 82 of Wyland's 100 "whaling wall" murals worldwide, covering two sides of the Texas Utilities Building. Crews began painting over the larger 164-by-82-foot section last week, while a smaller panel remains visible. Wyland and the Wyland Foundation have denied giving permission, calling the city's claim a lie. The building's owner, Slate Asset Management, allowed the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee to cover the mural. FIFA plans to unveil a new work by a local artist ahead of the 2026 World Cup, for which Dallas will host nine matches.

parties ifpda christies annual benefit

The IFPDA Foundation held its annual benefit at Christie's, celebrating printmaking with an evening of conversation and the second annual Studio Visit initiative. The event featured a discussion between artist Ana Benaroya and Leslie-Lohman Museum Associate Director Judy Giera on printmaking and queer contributions to the medium, with attendees including artists, curators, and collectors. The Studio Visit sale, offering access to artists' studios, runs through October 24.

grant william penn foundation support low income disabled museum goers philadelphia

The William Penn Foundation has awarded $7.6 million in grants to six Philadelphia-based cultural institutions to enhance accessibility for low-income families and individuals with disabilities. The funding is allocated based on the volume of visitors using the ACCESS card program, which provides deeply discounted admission to residents receiving public assistance or those with disabilities. Key recipients include the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and the Franklin Institute, along with Art-Reach, the organization managing the program.

trump cuts museums funding aam report

A new survey from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) reveals that one-third of American museums have lost government grants and contracts since President Donald Trump took office. Based on responses from 511 museum directors, the report documents funding cuts from federal agencies including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These losses have forced museums to defer infrastructure improvements, cancel programming for underserved communities, and lay off staff. Some institutions have taken legal action, and a court ruling in May halted further dismantling of the IMLS. The Mellon Foundation has offered emergency grants, but two-thirds of surveyed museums have been unable to replace lost funding, with a median grant loss of $30,000.

national museum of damascus heist missing artifacts search

The National Museum of Damascus temporarily closed this week after a theft of artifacts from its classical department. Six gold ingots and six Hellenistic marble statues were reportedly stolen, with a broken door discovered Monday morning. Several employees and guards were detained and interrogated before being released. Damascus police chief Brig. Gen. Osama Atkeh confirmed the theft and stated an investigation is underway. The museum had only reopened in January after being closed since December 7, 2024, when anti-Assad forces approached the capital.

trump aims to eliminate the national endowment for the humanities

The Trump administration's 2026 budget proposal seeks to eliminate the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The proposal follows recent cuts that have already halted 2025 funding, slashed $65 million from the NEH's $210 million budget, and fired roughly 65% of its staff. A lawsuit filed by three humanities-focused organizations aims to reverse the cuts, and a judge has issued a temporary restraining order to block the dismantling of the IMLS. The Mellon Foundation has provided $15 million in emergency funding to state humanities councils to prevent closures.

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.

‘It doesn’t put walls around everything’: behind the plans for Manila’s new contemporary art centre

The Ayala Foundation has announced the development of the Kontempo Center for Contemporary Art in Manila, appointing Reuben Keehan as its inaugural artistic director. Designed by architect Kulapat Yantrasast of WHY Architecture in collaboration with Lor Calma & Partners, the center will be located on the site of a former racetrack in Circuit Makati. The facility will prioritize exhibitions, commissions, and public programming over a permanent collection, featuring three large galleries and extensive green space for public art installations.

Australia’s first National Centre for Environmental Art to open in Gariwerd/Grampians

The Wama Foundation has announced the launch of the National Centre for Environmental Art in Halls Gap, Victoria, set to open this winter. It will be Australia's first gallery dedicated solely to environmental art, located at the foothills of the Gariwerd/Grampians National Park. The inaugural exhibition will feature a major work by artist Jacobus Capone, titled 'End & Being', and the gallery will eventually form part of a larger art and ecology precinct.

To make up for NEH grants cancelled by Trump, Mellon Foundation gives $15m to US humanities organisations

The Mellon Foundation has announced $15 million in emergency funding for humanities councils in all 50 US states and six territories, after the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cancelled approximately $65 million in grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The NEH cuts, which affected over 6,600 local organizations, were redirected toward presidential priorities including a planned patriotic sculpture park called the "National Garden of American Heroes" and a new "Celebrate America!" grant program for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The Mellon Foundation's president, Elizabeth Alexander, stated the funds aim to preserve the operational integrity of museums, libraries, and historical societies nationwide.

Impressively harmonious artistic manifesto propels Storywork: The Prints of Marie Watt from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation exhibition at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts

The Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) is hosting "Storywork: The Prints of Marie Watt from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation," an exhibition running through June 21. It features over 60 works by Marie Watt, an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation's Turtle Clan, including prints, monumental blanket stacks, hanging textiles, and small-scale sculptures. The show is drawn from the collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer, a top 200 collector recognized by ARTNews, whose foundation has supported more than 180 exhibitions and loaned works to over 130 museums at no cost.

MAYA WATANABE IN A GROUP EXHIBITION AT THE HOSPEDALETTO COMPLEX IN VENICE

The In Between Art Film Foundation has announced "Canicula," the final installment of its "Trilogy of Uncertainties," set to open at the Ospedaletto Complex during the 2026 Venice Biennale. Curated by Alessandro Rabottini and Leonardo Bigazzi, the exhibition features eight international artists, including Peruvian video artist Maya Watanabe, whose work investigates memory and the politics of representation. The show utilizes the unique architecture of the Ospedaletto’s church and music hall to create immersive environments exploring themes of environmental and political pressure.

The Claire Fontaine collective and Ugo La Pietra open the new season of the Fondazione La Rocca in Pescara

Il collettivo Claire Fontaine e Ugo la Pietra aprono la nuova stagione della Fondazione La Rocca di Pescara

The Fondazione La Rocca in Pescara has announced its upcoming exhibition program for 2026-2027, including a solo show by Ugo La Pietra (June–October 2026) and a solo exhibition by the feminist conceptual collective Claire Fontaine (December 2026–March 2027). The foundation has also appointed Simone Ciglia as its new Chief Curator, who will work alongside the presidency to shape future artistic research. The season opens with La Pietra's 'Alla finestra,' curated by Giacinto Di Pietrantonio, featuring around seventy works exploring the window as a threshold. Claire Fontaine's 'Manuale d’uso,' curated by Ciglia, is conceived as an exhibition-essay based on Anita Chari's monograph. Additionally, the foundation launches 'FLR Incontra,' a public program of interdisciplinary talks and performances.

The world's largest, heaviest, and most expensive art book arrives in Venice as a donation to the Biblioteca Marciana

Il libro d’arte più grande, più pesante e più costoso al mondo arriva a Venezia. In donazione alla Biblioteca Marciana

The Alberto Peruzzo Foundation has donated a copy of "Modern Art – Revolution and Painting" to the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice. Described as the world’s largest, heaviest, and most expensive art book, the volume weighs 35 kilograms and measures 70 x 100 centimeters. It features 544 hand-bound pages with 25-color lithographs reproducing over 250 masterpieces from the 19th and 20th centuries, including works by Picasso, Chagall, and Fontana.

Yves Klein Research Grant 2026: A Funded Residency for Emerging Scholars

The Yves Klein Foundation has launched its first Research Grant for 2026, offering a CHF 6,000 stipend and a one-week funded residency in Paris to emerging scholars under 35 who hold a PhD or postdoctoral degree. The program invites original research projects that deepen understanding of Yves Klein’s work, ideas, and legacy, with access to archives and scholarly guidance provided. Applications are due by 15 June 2026, with selection based on originality, scientific quality, and feasibility.

ford foundation heather gerken next president

The Ford Foundation has appointed Heather Gerken, dean of Yale Law School, as its next president. She will succeed Darren Walker and become the 11th president of the foundation, as well as the second woman to lead the organization in its nearly 90-year history. Gerken will officially assume the role on November 1, following a national search launched after Walker announced his departure after 12 years.

world press photo foundation suspends the terror of war attribution

The World Press Photo Foundation has suspended the authorship attribution of the iconic 1972 photograph 'The Terror of War' (also known as 'Napalm Girl') from Associated Press photographer Nick Út. The decision follows new research presented in the documentary 'The Stringer' (January 2025) by the VII Foundation, which suggests that the image was more likely captured by stringer Nguyễn Thành Nghệ or Huỳnh Công Phúc. An independent investigation by forensic analysts and media experts, along with separate inquiries by AP and World Press Photo, found insufficient evidence to definitively confirm the original credit, leading to the suspension until authorship can be conclusively determined.

Russia’s Venice Pavilion Will Be Closed to Public for Duration of Biennale

Russia's pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale will be closed to the public for the duration of the exhibition, from May 9 to November 22, following escalating controversy over the country's participation. The group show, titled “The tree is rooted in the sky,” will only be open to press and industry insiders during the preview days (May 5–8). The move comes after the International Criminal Court accused Russia of crimes against humanity, leading the Biennale to bar Russia and Israel from competing for awards. Italian culture minister Alessandro Giuli has also boycotted the preview and opening ceremony in protest.

Knight Foundation Names 2026 Recipients of Its $50,000 Art + Tech Fellowships

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has announced the five recipients of its 2026 Arts + Tech Fellowships. Administered by United States Artists, the program awards $50,000 in unrestricted funds to artists LIZN’BOW, Miguel Novelo, Rhonda Holbertson, Taeyoon Choi, and Wesley Taylor. These creators, based in California, Detroit, and Miami, utilize diverse technologies including computer vision, game engines, and custom code to explore the intersection of digital systems and human experience.

Hanwha Culture Foundation hosts Lim Young-Joo solo show in New York

The Hanwha Culture Foundation is hosting a solo exhibition by artist Lim Young-Joo, titled 'The Late故', from May 15 to July 25 at Space Zero One in New York. The show features video and installation works that reinterpret themes of faith, anxiety, life, and death, including a centerpiece piece that reconfigures her previous major works and research from her residency. Lim Young-Joo won the 2025 Frieze Artist Award and was selected for the Korea Artist Prize by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.

Sharjah Biennial 2027 dates, artists and theme revealed

Sharjah Art Foundation has announced details for the 17th edition of the Sharjah Biennial, titled “What remains, sits restive,” running from January 21 to June 13, 2027. The large-scale contemporary art event will feature 109 participants across multiple sites in the emirate, including Sharjah City, Al Dhaid, Khor Fakkan, and Kalba. Confirmed artists include Anri Sala, Hassan Khan, Ibrahim Mahama, Oscar Murillo, Zina Saro-Wiwa, and Angela Ferreira. The biennial will be curated by Angela Harutyunyan and Paula Nascimento, each presenting separate sections under a shared theme examining how past political and cultural histories shape present-day realities through time, memory, and space.

A selective history of the moving image comes to downtown Los Angeles

The Julia Stoschek Foundation has launched its first major U.S. exhibition at the historic Variety Arts Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Curated by Udo Kittelmann, the show features over 40 time-based works ranging from early cinematic pioneers like Georges Méliès and Alice Guy-Blaché to contemporary icons such as Arthur Jafa and Doug Aitken. The exhibition utilizes the labyrinthine spaces of the 1924 Italianate theater to create a dialogue between the history of Hollywood and the evolution of media art.

NSU Art Museum Receives $1.5 Million Gift for Exhibitions

The Jerry Taylor and Nancy Bryant Foundation has donated $1.5 million to NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale to fund exhibition development and educational programming. The gift will provide an ongoing income stream to support the museum's exhibitions, which are central to its regional and national distinction. Philanthropists Jerry Taylor and Nancy Bryant, who established their foundation in 1999, have a long history of supporting Nova Southeastern University and the museum, including a $5 million donation for a trading floor at the university's business school.

Kochi Biennale co-founder Bose Krishnamachari steps down as president

Bose Krishnamachari, co-founder of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale in India, has stepped down as president of the Kochi Biennale Foundation and as a board trustee after 14 years, citing pressing family reasons. His departure will not affect the ongoing sixth edition, titled "For the Time Being," which opened last month and runs until March 31. Krishnamachari founded the biennial in 2012 in Fort Kochi, Kerala, alongside fellow artist Riyas Komu, who left in 2018 amid sexual harassment allegations.

Towering ambition: the Swiss artist Not Vital's Alpine playground

Swiss artist Not Vital, known for his multidisciplinary practice and SCARCH hybrids, owns Schloss Tarasp, an 11th-century castle in the Engadin region of Switzerland, which he bought in 2016. The castle is part of a foundation he established that also includes Parkin Sent, a sculpture park he acquired in 1998, and the 17th-century Planta House Ardez. Vital's installations in the park, such as "Punt dals asens (Donkey Bridge)" (2001) and "JOSÜJO (Disappearing House)" (2007), invite visitors to explore nature, while at the castle he installed "House to Watch the Sunset" (2018), a tower-like sculpture that challenges architectural logic.

Taiwan Strips National Prize from Sakuliu Pavavaljung After Sexual Assault Conviction

Taiwan’s National Culture and Arts Foundation has revoked the National Award for Arts from Indigenous Paiwan artist Sakuliu Pavavaljung, following his conviction for sexual assault. The Supreme Court upheld a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for forcible sexual intercourse involving a female student in 2021. Pavavaljung, who received the award in 2018, must return the NTD 1 million prize. The case gained traction after artist Kuo Yu Ping disclosed it on social media in December 2021, leading to additional victims coming forward. His planned exhibition for Taiwan at the 59th Venice Biennale was canceled in 2022.