The process for awarding the title of Italian Capital of Culture should be rethought. Here's why.

Il processo per assegnare il titolo di Capitale Italiana della Cultura andrebbe ripensato. Ecco perché

An analysis of the selection process for Italy's "Capital of Culture" title reveals a consistent pattern: cities chosen for the prestigious designation are almost exclusively administered by political coalitions aligned with the national government in power at the time of selection. The sole exceptions were Bergamo and Brescia, which were jointly awarded the title via a special parliamentary decree in recognition of their suffering during the pandemic, bypassing the standard procedure. This political alignment has persisted across different legislatures and changes in government.

ART AFRICA to host 2nd NEW FUTURES ARTS COLLABORATIVE 2026, in Cape Town, South Africa.

ART AFRICA has announced an open call for the second edition of its NEW FUTURES ARTS COLLABORATIVE, scheduled for 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. The residency, titled "De-composition, Extraction and Regeneration," invites artists to collectively explore themes of extractivism, ecological crisis, and social justice, using artistic practice as a tool for transformation and regeneration.

Holding Us Together: Images of Care, Continuity, and Black Life

The exhibition 'Kinship & Community' has opened, drawing from the Texas African American Photography Archive to present a living archive of everyday gestures and images of Black life. The show positions photography as both a witness to and a participant in the formation of community memory, focusing on themes of care and continuity.

Dancing the Revolution: The Exhibition

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago has opened 'Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Reggaetón,' a major exhibition exploring dance as a political language. It features over forty artists working across installation, video, sculpture, and sound, tracing the cultural trajectories of dancehall and reggaetón from the Caribbean diaspora to global contexts.

Fellowship Open Call – Shaping Africa’s Curatorial Futures

Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) and the University of the Western Cape (UWC) have launched an open call for their fully funded 2027 Museum Fellowship Programme. The year-long initiative offers emerging African art professionals a combination of practical museum training and postgraduate academic study, aiming to develop the next generation of curators, researchers, and arts professionals on the continent.

Reframing Leadership – Photography Open Call

Unpublished Africa has launched an open call for African photographers to submit work exploring the theme of leadership in their local contexts. The initiative seeks visual narratives that reflect everyday, creative, and collective expressions of leadership across the continent's diverse communities and environments.

Lights, Funding, Action – Film Grant Open Call

The Sharjah Art Foundation has launched the ninth cycle of its Short Film Production Grant 2026, issuing an open call for applications from filmmakers worldwide. The grant provides financial support, with a total fund of AED 120,000 (approx. USD 30,000), for the completion of short films of 50 minutes or less across all genres. Selected projects may also premiere at a future edition of the Sharjah Film Platform festival.

ART CRITICISM: CLARITY OR MORAL AUTHORITARIANISM?

CRÍTICA DE ARTE: ¿CLARIDAD O AUTORITARISMO MORAL?

The article is a critical essay examining the state of contemporary art production in Mexico, arguing it has become a privatized field designed to please wealthy elites and foreign collectors. It contends that art has shifted from being partly publicly funded to being driven by the market and private initiative, leading to a culture of self-censorship, precarity, and a desperate ambition for visibility and sales.

Refreshing Turn to Craft at AIPAD’s Photography Show

The AIPAD Photography Show, a major fair dedicated to fine art photography, took a refreshing turn by emphasizing craft and handmade processes. The event featured a notable shift away from purely digital and commercial photography, highlighting works that incorporate traditional techniques such as cyanotypes, photogravures, and hand-applied color. Galleries presented pieces that blurred the line between photography and other media, including mixed-media works and artist books, reflecting a growing interest in the tactile and artisanal aspects of the medium.

Off-campus galleries in Dallas and Denton step in as UNT art students boycott school spaces

University of North Texas (UNT) art students are boycotting on-campus exhibition spaces, prompting off-campus galleries in Dallas and Denton to step in and provide alternative venues for their work. The boycott stems from student grievances over institutional policies and conditions within the university's art program, leading to a grassroots shift in where student art is displayed.

Celebrating local talent: Art4Life's successful art exhibition

Art4Life, a wellness and mentoring non-profit organisation, held a community art exhibition at the Coniston Park Recreation Hall in Steenberg on Saturday, April 11. Founder Kenneth Alexander said a wide range of artworks were on display, showcasing talent from all ages, and emphasized that the event was about the community coming together.

New Leamington Spa art gallery to spotlight South Asian artists

A new art gallery in Leamington Spa is set to open with a focus on South Asian artists. The inaugural exhibition will feature paintings and works from eight local and national artists, including Amrit Singh Sandhu, Simran Kaur Panesar, and Rati Devi Sivyer. Sandhu, who also appears as an expert on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow, has worked in the art industry for 12 years and previously exhibited in London, New York, Paris, and Mumbai.

South West artists have come together for a new exhibition

A new group exhibition titled "Echoes of the Earth" has opened at the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries, featuring works by 12 artists from Western Australia's South West region. The show explores the artists' personal and collective experiences with the local environment, including themes of coastal erosion, bushfire recovery, and Indigenous connection to Country.

A Year in Harlem: Residency Open Call for 2026–27

The Studio Museum in Harlem has launched an open call for applications to its 2026–27 Artist-in-Residence programme. The year-long residency, running from November 2026 to October 2027, offers a $50,000 stipend, private studio space, curatorial mentorship, and culminates in a public exhibition for a small cohort of selected artists. The programme is specifically geared toward supporting artists of African and Afro-Latinx descent.

International Quilt Museum to host artist Wada, professor Dudley

The International Quilt Museum is hosting a special event titled 'An Evening of Boro' on April 24, featuring artist Yoshiko Wada and professor Sandra Dudley. The event includes a reception for the exhibition 'Boro: The Hidden and the Visible in Japanese Mended Textiles,' a lecture by Dudley, and a guided tour of the exhibition led by Wada, who served as guest curator. The event will be livestreamed for remote attendees.

Warin Lab stages retrospective of 28 art exhibits

Warin Lab, a Bangkok-based art space, is staging a retrospective exhibition that brings together 28 of its past art exhibits. The show offers a comprehensive overview of the gallery's curatorial history, featuring works from various artists who have shown at the venue since its founding.

Gallery: Nuart Aberdeen 2026 launches opening weekend with guided street art tours

The article announces the opening weekend of Nuart Aberdeen 2026, a street art festival in Aberdeen, Scotland. The event features guided tours that showcase murals and street art installations throughout the city, aiming to engage both locals and visitors with public art.

IFAC provides pathway to folk art show in Mumbai through ‘Harshit’ exhibition

Dubai-based Indian Folk Art Corridor (IFAC) held its first-ever exhibition in Mumbai, titled 'Harshit — Experience the Joy of Indian Arts' (April 6–11). The show featured 30 artists—15 from the UAE and 15 from India—curated by IFAC founder Vidisha Pandey. It showcased diverse Indian folk and tribal art forms including Kalighat, Madhubani, Sohrai, Bhil, Warli, Pichwai, Miniature, Jogi, Manjusha, and Tholu art. Dignitaries such as Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar, singer Anup Jalota, and actress Sadhna Singh attended. Several artworks were acquired, including a Tholu piece by Shelar and two works by Shoma Banerjee purchased by Jalota; Pandey's works were placed at the Ministry of Culture in Mumbai.

Sarasota Student Art Takes Center Stage: 71st Annual Spring Art Show Showcases 1,500 Young Artists

Art Center Sarasota is hosting the 71st Annual North Sarasota County Schools Spring Art Show from April 28 to May 9, 2026, featuring over 1,500 student artists from kindergarten through 12th grade. The exhibition includes paintings, sculptures, mixed media, photography, and experimental works, with a High School Awards Ceremony awarding more than $20,000 in scholarships and prizes. The show is organized by coordinators Angela Hartvigsen and Debra Markley, and coincides with Art Center Sarasota's 100th anniversary.

A Village Becomes a Gallery – Mountshannon Arts Festival

The Mountshannon Arts Festival transforms the Irish village of Mountshannon into an open-air gallery, featuring artworks displayed throughout public spaces, homes, and businesses. The festival brings together local and international artists, turning the entire village into a curated exhibition space for the duration of the event.

Salt, memory and ocean currents: Parvathi Nayar’s solo exhibition

Senior contemporary artist Parvathi Nayar's solo exhibition explores the interconnectedness of human histories and natural forces, focusing on themes of salt, memory, and ocean currents. The show features works that examine how human narratives are shaped by and inseparable from environmental elements, as described in a review by Deepa Natarajan Lobo.

High Art, Paris Gallery That Spun Emerging Artists Into Stars, Closes After 12 Years

High Art, a Parisian gallery known for launching the careers of emerging artists, has closed its doors after 12 years of operation. The gallery, which gained a reputation for identifying and nurturing young talent before they achieved international fame, shuttered for reasons not fully detailed in the announcement.

“ Where Arts Flourish, Culture Blossoms”: Renowned Film Director and Artist B. Narsing Rao at ‘Charcoal...

A charcoal art exhibition titled "Charcoal Stories" by young prodigy Ricky Tej from Nagarkurnool district was inaugurated at Lamakaan in Hyderabad. Renowned film director and artist B. Narsing Rao attended as Chief Guest, praising Tej's realistic charcoal drawings and mythological themes. Other speakers included journalist Sri Venkateshwar Rao, editorial cartoonist Sri Narsim, and Group-1 Officer Ms. Sahithi, who emphasized the importance of encouraging artistic talents alongside academics. The exhibition was organized by BALACHELIMI children's magazine and remains open to the public until 6pm on April 26, 2025.

Art Exhibition to conclude this evening

A two-day art exhibition featuring 12 artists from across Karnataka is concluding this evening at Suchitra Art Gallery in Kalamandira premises. The exhibition was inaugurated by Karnataka Lalithkala Academy former Chairman Dr. M.S. Murthy, with senior artist S.M. Jambukeshwara, Dr. Vithala Reddy, Chulaki Parameshwara, and Dr. Kundagola also present at the opening.

Art by adults with learning disabilities exhibited

Artwork created by adults with learning disabilities is now on display at Hull's Streetlife Museum in an exhibition titled 'Regeneration,' running until 5 July. The show is organized by CASE Training Services, a charity that helps people with disabilities gain new skills and engage in social activities. The exhibition features sculpture, video, photography, paintings, and portraits, along with interactive 'talking tiles' that visitors can press to learn more about the pieces. Creative arts teacher Pete Vernon and museum curator Frankie Hodson both emphasized the importance of giving these artists a public platform to share their work.

“2026 DART SeniorThesis Show,” through August 30

The 2026 DART Senior Thesis Show is on display at the University of Dubuque's Bisignano Art Gallery through August 30, featuring capstone projects from four graduating digital art and design majors. The exhibition includes Ty Eggers' children's book "A Monster Under My Bed!" about OCD, Elaina Marburger's series "Psyche of the Mortal Body," and Mason Sterken's sports-media-inspired video and poster project "UNO!" alongside other works in illustration, motion design, and digital painting.

Annual Student Art Exhibitions on Display at the Zuccaire Gallery

The Zuccaire Gallery at Staller Center is hosting two annual student art exhibitions: the Senior Show (April 29 to May 22) and the URECA Art Exhibition (April 29 to May 13). The Senior Show features works by graduating studio art majors and minors and digital art minors, including paintings, sculpture, ceramics, prints, photographs, digital media, and mixed-media installations. The URECA Art Exhibition highlights outstanding undergraduate artwork selected by Department of Art faculty, with juried awards presented by the Division of Student Affairs and Gallery North. An artist reception is scheduled for April 29.

Opening Reception of Anastasia Travieso-Diaz Solo Art Exhibition

Studio Russo Gallery, in collaboration with Artvocate, is hosting the opening reception of "Disintegration Regeneration," a solo exhibition by artist Anastasia Travieso-Diaz. The show features works that explore themes of rupture and renewal, using layered compositions and material experimentation to examine cycles of loss, resilience, and transformation.

Red Sea Museum Hosts Contemporary Art Exhibition to Showcase Marine Biodiversity

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), an Aramco initiative, is participating in Milan Design Week 2026 (April 20-26) by presenting the exhibition “Default is Not Universal” at the Isola Design Festival. The exhibition features works by eight designers from the Middle East and North Africa, including seven interactive stations that use artificial intelligence to collect visitor data and map cognitive patterns shaped by cultural influences. After its debut in Milan, the exhibition will travel to Saudi Arabia as the anchor international exhibition of Ithra Design Week later this year.

ALG Fine Art presents Lisa Moriarty: "Breathing Space" opening reception

ALG Fine Art in Dallas presents "Breathing Space," a solo exhibition by new resident artist Lisa Moriarty. The show features encaustic works built from hundreds of hand-cut elements of silk, organza, and paper, layered with wax to explore themes of memory, stillness, and the restorative power of nature. The exhibition runs through June 17, with a free opening reception.