The appalling mediocrity of the chosen project for the 'Grande Colonnade' of the Louvre

L'effarante médiocrité du projet retenu pour la « Grande Colonnade » du Louvre

The French Ministry of Culture has announced the winning team for the 'Grande Colonnade' project at the Louvre, selecting STUDIOS Architecture Paris and Selldorf Architects. The ministry's press release, described as self-congratulatory and written in trendy bureaucratic language, celebrates the choice as a major advancement. However, the article criticizes the lack of transparency, noting that only three exterior visuals have been released, and argues that the project is unfunded and threatens necessary renovations at the museum, as previously highlighted by the Cour des Comptes and parliamentary representatives.

Louvre Museum to Install Locks on Doors After Heist

The Louvre Museum announced it will install locks on its doors for the first time in its history, following a brazen heist last fall where robbers stole priceless items in under seven minutes. The new "state-of-the-art entry inhibition protocol" will involve locking doors and windows after hours, with visitors being checked for bobby pins and paper clips, deemed the greatest security threats.

Victoria & Albert Museum to expand Gilbert Galleries to explore looting and provenance

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London will revamp its Gilbert Galleries, dedicated to the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection, expanding from four to seven galleries. Set to open in March, the redesigned space by Citizens Design Bureau will include a new room focused on Nazi and Soviet looting and provenance research. Highlights include 200 gold boxes, micro-mosaics, and two silver-gilt gates looted from Kyiv’s Pechersk Lavra monastery after the Russian Revolution, acquired by William Randolph Hearst in 1935. The expansion is part of the V&A’s Future Plan development programme, funded by the Gilbert Trust for the Arts and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

GMCVB’s Art of Black Miami rolls out major programming for 2025 Miami Art Week

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) has announced a full slate of programming for its Art of Black Miami (AOBM) initiative during 2025 Miami Art Week, marking the program's 11th year. The lineup includes exhibitions, performances, film screenings, culinary experiences, and artist talks, with highlights such as Asser Saint-Val's "Yellow Elder" sculpture in Coconut Grove and events at venues across neighborhoods including Historic Overtown, Little Haiti, and Little Havana. Featured events include the Peter London Global Dance Company, Woody De Othello's exhibition, the Point Comfort Art Fair, and the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami's Art of Transformation program.

Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB pays tribute to local Hispanic cultures in a year-long celebration

The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has launched ¡ARTE VIVA!, a yearlong celebration honoring the Hispanic cultures that make up nearly 30% of the region's population. The 2025-2026 season includes Día de los Muertos events at venues like the Marco Island Center for the Arts, Naples Botanical Garden, and Artis—Naples, featuring Calaveras sculptures by Ricardo Soltero, photography by Lizette Morales, and performances by Ballet Folklorica Jaliscience. Visual arts highlights include a Joan Miró exhibition at Naples Art Institute, a permanent collection show at The Baker Museum, and a public art installation by Michelle Tricca at Lipman Farms. Musical programming features Gulfshore Opera's Carmen, Latin Grammy nominee Leslie Cartaya, and Opera Naples Festival under Ramón Tebar.

Art Macao 2025 opens this summer Sparking citywide artistic resonance through an everyday question

Art Macao 2025, the Macao International Art Biennale, will run from July to October 2025, featuring nearly 30 exhibitions across six sections. Chief curator Feng Boyi has themed the Main Exhibition around the everyday question "Hey, what brings you here?", showcasing nearly 80 works by 46 artists from 13 countries at the Macao Museum of Art. The event is organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and co-organized by major casino-resort operators including Galaxy Entertainment Group, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM, Sands China Ltd., SJM Resorts, and Wynn Resorts Macau.

Renowned art critic Feng Boyi has been appointed curator of Art Macao 2025

Chinese art curator and critic Feng Boyi has been appointed chief curator of Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2025, as announced by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC). The biennale opens on 19 July and runs for three months, featuring six sections including the Main Exhibition, Public Art Exhibition, and City Pavilion. Participating artists include Xu Bing, Ann Hamilton, Gregor Schneider, Bart Hess, and Kasia Molga, with the theme “Hey, what brings you here?”

uk art dealers fined money laundering

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a new round of fines against UK art market participants for anti-money laundering (AML) compliance failures, covering October 2024 to March 2025. Notable penalties include £158,679 levied against London-based DYS44 Art Gallery Limited, whose director is Old Masters dealer Cesare Lampronti, for procedural violations such as lacking risk assessments, policies, staff training, and due diligence. Other fines include Atlas Gallery (£28,500) for failing to report material business changes. Over 80 penalties were issued in this six-month period, compared to 61 in the previous 20 months, signaling a sharp enforcement uptick.

Experimental Funding Schemes and Militant Analysis: The Experience of CERFI

The Center for Institutional Studies, Research, and Training (CERFI), a research cooperative co-founded by Félix Guattari in the wake of May 1968, sought to merge militant political practice with institutional psychotherapy. By adopting a model of 'analytical self-management,' the group utilized rotational roles and collective research to avoid the hierarchies and alienation typical of traditional academic and political organizations. This experimental structure was heavily influenced by the 'grid' system used at the La Borde psychiatric clinic, aiming to turn administrative labor into a tool for subjective liberation.

Iran has not withdrawn from 2026 Venice Biennale, pavilion commissioner says

Iran has denied withdrawing from the 2026 Venice Biennale, despite the Biennale's announcement that the country would not participate. Aydin Mahdizadeh Tehrani, director-general of visual arts at Iran's ministry of culture and Islamic guidance and the country's pavilion commissioner, stated that Iran requested more time rather than submitting a withdrawal. He cited the US-Israel war with Iran, political and economic challenges, and a sharp currency devaluation that tripled projected costs as reasons for the delay. Iran proposed a shorter two-to-three-month participation, which was rejected, but has since sent a letter insisting on opening its pavilion even after the opening. The foreign ministry has intervened to support Iran's participation, and a final response from the Biennale is expected soon.

woodmere art museum drops lawsuit against trump administration

Woodmere Art Museum in Philadelphia dropped its lawsuit against the Trump administration after the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) reinstated a $750,000 grant that had been unlawfully terminated. The museum had been preparing to go to court on September 12 when it received a Letter of Reinstatement on September 4, stating the termination review process was complete. The grant, awarded in 2024 through the IMLS’s “Save America’s Treasures” program, was intended to revamp the museum’s catalog system and digitize works for an exhibition honoring the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding. Woodmere had already received about $195,000 of the grant and entered into several contracts before the termination.

institute of museum and library services staff leave doge

The entire staff of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in Washington, D.C., was placed on administrative leave by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), effective immediately. Between 55 and 70 employees received a letter informing them of the leave with full pay and benefits for 90 days, requiring them to turn in government property and disabling their email accounts. This follows President Donald Trump’s executive order calling for the elimination of the IMLS within seven days as part of a broader reduction of federal bureaucracy. The agency, established in 1996, awarded approximately $266.7 million in grants last year to museums and libraries across all 50 states.

‘It was the cheapest possible art form I could imagine’: Sophia Al-Maria performs stand-up for Frieze London

Sophia Al-Maria, winner of the 2025 Frieze London Artist Award, is performing a stand-up routine titled *Wall-Based Work* (2025) daily at the fair. Her act blends humor and serious topics, from art world bureaucracy and the Gaza conflict to being mansplained to by Robert De Niro, and includes karaoke and an editioned work benefiting the LGBTQ+ asylum charity Micro Rainbow.

Philadelphia museum sues Trump administration over lost federal funding

The Woodmere, a museum in Philadelphia, sued the Trump administration after an executive order revoked a $750,000 federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The museum had already received roughly $195,000 of the funds, but the order targeting "unnecessary" federal bureaucracy cut the remainder. On September 4, the IMLS reinstated the full grant, leading to the dismissal of the lawsuit, which had been scheduled for a first hearing on September 12. The grant, part of the Save America's Treasures program, was intended for conservation, catalog updates, and digitization projects.

“Art Macao” public artwork Time Tower jointly created by artists from China, Japan and South Korean commemorates the cultural bonds and spiritual connections among East Asian cities

The "Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2025" has unveiled a new public artwork titled "Time Tower" at the Macao Cultural Centre Plaza. Created collaboratively by artists Guan Huaibin (China), Hirotoshi Sakaguchi (Japan), and Kim Sang-yeon (South Korea), the piece commemorates Macao's designation as a "Culture City of East Asia" this year. The biennale features over 30 exhibitions across six sections, including the "Public Art Exhibition" themed "Waves & Ways," which integrates art into Macao's urban fabric. Additionally, the Community Co-Creation and Mutual-Aid Project at San Mei On Building has launched residencies with artists like Jason Ho, Wang Ying, Shen Jialu, and Zhang Xiao, engaging local residents through interactive works.

A Celebration of Art, Identity, and Collaboration

Malta inaugurated a groundbreaking art exhibition, 'Colours in Europe with Maltese Reflections,' on August 1, 2025, at the Skoda Showroom in Ħaż-Żebbuġ. The show features 42 hand-painted mannequins created by 37 artists from Malta, Gozo, and across the European Union, blending fashion with fine art. The opening ceremony was led by Josephine Ebejer Grech on behalf of Catwalk Productions International, founded by Paul Chetcuti, who received a certificate from Malta Records for hosting the largest collection of Maltese-painted mannequins under one artistic concept. Artist Joseph Barbara also spoke at the event, which runs until August 30, 2025.

Trump seeks to defund Institute of American Indian Arts

President Donald Trump's proposed 2026 federal budget seeks to eliminate all federal funding for the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), the only four-year school dedicated to contemporary Indigenous arts. IAIA relies on federal funding for 75% of its operational costs and received $13 million in the prior two fiscal years; the budget also cuts over $500 million from the Bureau of Indian Education, which supports 37 tribal colleges including IAIA.

46 artists to be involved in Art Macao Biennale: IC

The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) of Macau announced that the 2025 Art Macao Biennale will open on July 19, featuring 46 artists from four Chinese regions (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan) and 12 foreign countries. The event includes 30 exhibitions across six segments, with a main venue at the Macao Museum of Art, and will run through October 19. Chief curator Feng Boyi introduced the theme “Hey, what brings you here?” focusing on Macau’s local history and global presence. The budget is 4.5 million patacas, and 27% of participating artists are from Macau.

New rules on importing cultural artefacts create headaches at Tefaf Maastricht

The implementation of new EU regulations on the import of cultural goods over 250 years old is causing significant disruption at TEFAF Maastricht. Dealers and collectors are facing administrative hurdles, including difficulties obtaining mandatory EORI numbers and inconsistent enforcement by customs officials. These rules, which require extensive documentation for items originating outside the EU, have led to seized shipments and a general crisis of confidence among international exhibitors.

A Document in Motion: ArtWorld Passports head to the Venice Biennale.

Zimbabwean artist Richard Mudariki has created 'ArtWorld Passport,' a participatory artwork debuting at the Venice Biennale 2026. The piece functions as a social sculpture and performance, where passport holders collect stamps, signatures, and drawings from artists, exhibitions, and pavilions across the Biennale, transforming the bureaucratic tool of travel into a speculative exploration of access and authorship.

Keith Jacobshagen retrospective opens May 16 at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art

The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, Missouri, will host a retrospective exhibition titled "The Shape of the Prairie" for American landscape painter Keith Jacobshagen, opening May 16 and running through August 16. The show spans 50 years of Jacobshagen's career, featuring rarely exhibited sketchbook pages alongside finished oil and watercolor paintings that capture the skies and plains of his Nebraska home.

Monthlong celebration dedicated to museums, raising awareness of culture and the arts to kick off in May

South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced a monthlong celebration called "2026 Museum Week," running from late April to May 31, 2026, to coincide with International Museum Day on May 18. A total of 310 museums will participate under the theme "Museums uniting a divided world," with programs divided into three sections: Museum X Encounter (highlighting stories behind artifacts), Museum X Enjoy (special exhibitions and performances), and Museum X Stroll (expanding cultural access beyond Seoul). The event is hosted by the ministry and ICOM Korea, organized by the Korean Museum Association.

Despite red tape from US sanctions, Tehran-based gallery champions Iranian art at The Armory Show

Tehran-based O Gallery is participating in The Armory Show in New York for the first time, but US sanctions imposed in 2019 have forced the fair to remove the gallery's Tehran location from its website and refrain from promoting its presence. The gallery's name was briefly removed from the exhibitor list before being reinstated, and its location is only noted on signage at the Javits Center. Founder Orkideh Daroodi, a US citizen living in California, describes the participation as a milestone after years of work, despite challenges including currency devaluation, shipping costs, and bureaucratic hurdles. Two other Iranian galleries—Sarai and Dastan Gallery—are also exhibiting, listed online as having multiple locations.

Adam Art Gallery Autumn Exhibition Focuses On The Voice - Scoop

Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery has announced its autumn exhibition, "Peal the Bells," featuring five projects that explore the human voice as a medium for collective action, lament, and political critique. The group show includes paintings, sonic installations, and moving image works by artists Noor Abed, Anoushka Akel, Qianye and Qianhe Lin, Maree Sheehan, and Mo H. Zareei. The exhibition investigates how speech and listening function in an era of digital chatter and bureaucratic evasion, highlighting the voice as a vital index of contemporary social dynamics.

Adirondack Paddlefest, art exhibits and other regional events

The article announces a series of regional events in the Adirondacks, including the Adirondack Paddlefest, the Gloversville Downtown Art Walk, a writing workshop with bestselling author Kate Fagan, an artist reception for Robert Coppen's exhibit "Upstate New York in Paintings" at the Old Forge Library, a touring production of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's "Happy End" presented by Seagle Festival and partners, and the Ausable River Two-Fly Challenge fishing tournament. These events span mid-May 2025 and are open to the public.

Skateboard Art Exhibit to display 80 students’ artwork

The Tioga Arts Council, in partnership with the Floyd Hooker Foundation and the Tioga County Youth Bureau, is hosting a Skateboard Art Exhibition at Owego Free Academy featuring artwork from 80 students. Artist Mark Rivard, through his program Do Rad Things, will lead seminars from April 27-30 covering motivational speaking, art entrepreneurship, and skateboard design, culminating in a public exhibition on May 1 at the Tioga Arts Council in Owego, New York.

Hood River art exhibit highlights local Black artists in immersive setting - Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, Oregon, is hosting "Black Infinity House," an immersive exhibition curated by August Oaks that showcases the work of over 30 Black Oregonian artists. Moving away from traditional white-cube gallery aesthetics, the installation is divided into three domestic-themed environments—a studio, a living room, and a porch—where visitors are encouraged to interact with the space by sitting on furniture, listening to records, and reading poetry.

Mind of the Masters in collaboration with WASCA and NK Art Space set to exhibit The Spirit of Coffee

Mind of the Masters, in collaboration with the West African Specialty Coffee Association (WASCA) and NK Art Space, is hosting an art exhibition titled “The Spirit of Coffee” at The Spotlight Hub in Victoria Island, Lagos, from November 29 to December 12, 2025. The exhibition features 20 artworks curated by Mind of the Masters and NK Art Space, created by professional artist Lenrie Preks, whose works such as “The Spirit of Coffee,” “Coffee Blitz,” and “Flavour of Coffee” explore coffee culture through ritual, memory, and geometric abstraction.

6 curatorial projects picked for Art Macao 2025

The Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macau has announced the six winning curatorial proposals selected for the 'Local Curatorial Project' of Art Macao 2025, the Macao International Art Biennale. Chosen from 34 submissions by a panel of international and local experts, the projects include 'Genetic Duration' by Guilherme Ung Vai Meng, 'After Oriental Garden' by Cheong Weng Lam, 'The Sea of Languages: Macao Language Research Programme' by He Yanjun and Zhang Ke, 'A Speakable Position for Women' by Cheong Cheng Wa and Wang Jing, 'Beneath the Wetware Peninsula' by Daisy Di Wang and Wong Mei Teng, and 'Jacone’s Tower' by Feng Yan and Ng Sio Ieng. These proposals will be exhibited during Art Macao 2025 and are shortlisted for the chance to represent Macau at the 61st Venice Biennale Collateral Event.

12,000 Years Ago, Native Americans Were Playing Games of Chance with Handmade Dice

Archaeologists have discovered that Native Americans were engaging in games of chance using handmade dice as far back as 12,000 years ago, during the Late Pleistocene. A new study by researcher Robert Madden reveals that these artifacts, found in sites across Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, predate the previously oldest known dice from Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley by over 6,000 years. These early dice, often made of bone and decorated with pigments, were used by the hunter-gatherer Folsom culture.