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.

Best Art of 2025

The New York Times has published its annual roundup titled "Best Art of 2025," highlighting the most significant artworks, exhibitions, and artistic achievements of the year. The article curates a selection of standout pieces and shows that defined the visual art landscape in 2025, as chosen by the newspaper's critics and editors.

Drawings by teenage artist with autism on cover of national elementary school textbooks

Teenage artist An Dre, who is on the autism spectrum, has been selected to have his dinosaur illustrations featured on the covers of South Korea's 2026 state-issued elementary art textbooks for special education. His vibrant and dynamic depictions of prehistoric creatures will appear on the fifth-grade textbook and the teacher's guidebook, marking a rare instance of a student with developmental disabilities being chosen for such a national platform.

Water's Way: A Conversation with Brazilian Conceptual Artist Daniel de Paula About His Expo Chicago Debut

Brazilian conceptual artist Daniel de Paula is set to make his Expo Chicago debut with a solo presentation hosted by gallery Yehudi Hollander-Pappi. The installation features industrial thousand-liter water tanks filled with water from the San Francisco Bay, a site chosen for its symbolic and material convergence of neoliberal history and digital infrastructure. The water contains both the scattered ashes of economist Milton Friedman and chemical effluents from Silicon Valley data centers, creating a visceral link between economic theory and environmental reality.

Haslemere girl, 6, chosen by artist as national event winner

A six-year-old girl from Haslemere, England, was selected by a prominent artist as the winner of a national art event. Her artwork was chosen from a large pool of entries submitted by children across the country.

3 Batavia High seniors selected for prestigious statewide art exhibition in Chicago

Three seniors from Batavia High School—Amelia “Mimi” Patterson, Jane Lishamer, and Benjamin Wash—have been selected to feature their work in the 13th Annual High School Art Exhibition in Chicago. Hosted at the Bridgeport Art Center from March 14 through April 18, the event showcases approximately 1,000 student artists from over 125 Illinois high schools. In addition to the main exhibition, six other Batavia students were chosen for the Northern Regional Exhibition.

Laura Rathe Fine Art presents "Austin Bound" opening reception

Laura Rathe Fine Art is opening its first gallery location in Austin, Texas, with an inaugural exhibition titled "Austin Bound." The new space, situated at 907 W. 5th Street in Downtown Austin, marks a significant expansion for the gallery, which has operated in Texas for over 25 years.

Open Art Exhibition entries invited by Nantwich Museum

Nantwich Museum is inviting artists to submit up to three pieces of visual artwork on the theme of 'Heritage' for its 2026 Open Art Exhibition. The exhibition will run from March 31 to June 20, 2026, at the museum's Pillory Street venue, with selected works displayed in the Millennium Gallery. Submissions can include paintings, drawings, textiles, black-and-white photographs, or sculpture, and the deadline for applications is January 9, 2026. A cash prize will be awarded to the most popular artwork chosen by visitor votes, and all accepted pieces will receive a unique certificate.

Cultural Affairs Bureau calls for exhibition proposals for the Collateral Exhibitions of “Art Macao”

The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) of the Macao SAR Government has issued an open call for exhibition proposals for the Collateral Exhibitions of "Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2025." Local contemporary art professionals and organizations are invited to submit proposals for exhibitions that will run between July 19 and October 12, 2025, with venues chosen by the selected teams. The deadline for submissions is May 23, 2025, and proposals will be evaluated by Chief Curator Feng Boyi based on curatorial concept, quality, theme relevance, and feasibility.