Mona has lost $408m but David Walsh is 'completely happy'

Mona (Museum of Old and New Art) in Hobart, Tasmania, has accumulated $408 million in losses since opening in 2011, with $63 million lost in 2023-24 alone. Founder David Walsh, who is completing a $100 million expansion, stated he is "completely happy with the finances" and never intended the museum to be profitable. Walsh outlined potential cost-saving measures like raising ticket prices and scaling back festivals, but said he won't implement them himself, leaving that to future leadership.

‘When you’re working with clay, you’re working with the earth’: Studio’s new exhibition offers ‘Clay as Care’

The Clay Studio in Philadelphia has opened a new exhibition titled "Clay as Care: Ceramic Art and Wellbeing," which explores the therapeutic and restorative benefits of working with ceramics. The show features four artists—Adebunmi Gbadebo, Jennifer Ling Datchuk, Ehren Tool, and Maia Chao—each using clay to address personal healing journeys, from fertility struggles to military trauma. The exhibition includes interactive elements like communal clay for visitors and is part of a research project in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania Center for Neuroaesthetics, Jefferson University Art Therapy Department, and Drexel University Art Psychotherapy team, collecting data on the show's impact on wellness.

DE AZAMBUJA S FOUNDATION INTERVENTION AND REFLECTION AT LA CASA ENCENDIDA

La Casa Encendida in Madrid has opened "Fundación," a site-specific sculptural installation by Brazilian artist Marlon de Azambuja. The work transforms one of the building's central towers into a walk-through sculpture, curated by Bruno Leitão. Using materials and gestures that modify existing architecture, the installation explores the concept of "founding" as a search for foundational knowledge, questioning divisions between reason and sensation while positioning the exhibition space as an experiential environment. The piece is on view until September 27, 2026.

miart 2026 Opens in Milan: First Shots of the Fair Celebrating 30 Years in a Brand New Space

A Milano ha inaugurato miart 2026: i primi scatti della fiera che compie 30 anni e debutta in uno spazio tutto nuovo

The 30th edition of miart, Milan’s modern and contemporary art fair, has opened at its new venue in the South Wing of Allianz MiCo. Under the final year of Nicola Ricciardi’s direction, the fair features 160 galleries from 24 countries organized around the theme "New Directions," inspired by the jazz innovations of John Coltrane. The layout has transitioned from a single-floor format to a three-level experience, incorporating sections such as Emergent for experimental works and the new Established Anthology, which focuses on non-linear art history.

$100M Brandywine Conservancy expansion aims to ‘completely reimagine’ visitor experience

The Brandywine Conservancy in Chadds Ford, Delaware County, has announced a $100 million expansion plan aimed at transforming the visitor experience. The project will increase exhibition capacity by 80% and open 10 miles of new trails on the campus, significantly expanding the institution's footprint and public offerings.

Museum of Islamic Art Hosts Empire of Light Exhibit Through May 2026

The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, is hosting the 'Empire of Light: Visions and Voices of Afghanistan' exhibition, running through May 30, 2026. The show features rare Afghan artifacts, illuminated manuscripts, and contemporary works, curated by Nicoletta Fazio, and is partnered with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The museum, designed by I.M. Pei and opened in 2008, also offers weekend bazaars at MIA Park, enhancing the visitor experience with local crafts and jewelry.

MedStar Health And St. Mary’s Arts Council Showcase Art Exhibition By Local Artists

MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital and the St. Mary’s County Arts Council have unveiled the third installment of their rotating art exhibition in the hospital’s emergency department in Leonardtown, Maryland. The latest exhibit features handsewn art quilts by Washington, D.C. artist Andrea “Andi” Cullins, whose collection “Second Life Quilter” includes intricate fabric mosaics. The quilts will be on display through January 2026, following earlier exhibits of traditional paintings as part of a philanthropy-led initiative to create a more welcoming environment.

Utilizing unstructured data to predict the art museum visitor numbers using deep learning approaches

This research paper proposes an AI-based predictive model that uses deep learning and text mining techniques to forecast visitor numbers at art museums. The study employs eight deep learning algorithms—including RNN, LSTM, and Transformer—to analyze unstructured textual data from museum websites, visitor comments, and social media, integrating a Balanced Scorecard framework with four strategic perspectives: social value, visitor experience, exhibition management, and art education.

Turin experiments with a robot guide in one of its historic palaces

Turin expérimente un robot-guide dans l’un de ses palais historiques

The Palazzo Madama in Turin, Italy, has introduced R1, a humanoid robot guide developed by the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Genoa, to accompany visitors through the historic palace. Since late March, R1 has been testing its ability to navigate the building's constrained interiors, interact with diverse audiences, and provide explanations about artworks, artists, and the palace's history. The robot uses infrared cameras, lasers, pressure sensors, and a LED matrix to move, avoid obstacles, and communicate, with over 80% of users reporting positive interactions during the six-week trial. Previous tests occurred in 2022 and May 2024.

After nearly a year of renovations, MOCAD reopens with major upgrades, new exhibitions and a renewed commitment to Detroit’s contemporary art scene. See link below ⬇️ 📸 Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press

After nearly a year of renovations, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) has reopened with major upgrades to its facilities and a slate of new exhibitions. The renovations include improvements to gallery spaces, infrastructure, and accessibility, aimed at enhancing the visitor experience and supporting larger, more ambitious presentations.

Philadelphia Art Museum Introduces Pay What You Wish Friday Nights for Final Three Weeks of Dreamworld: Surrealism at 100

The Philadelphia Art Museum has introduced Pay What You Wish Friday Nights for the final three weeks of its exhibition "Dreamworld: Surrealism at 100." The program, running through the exhibition's close, includes extended evening hours, live music, and themed "surreal" beverages, offering visitors flexible admission to the critically acclaimed show.

Museum Art Handing Market Analysis By Application, Type,

A market research report projects the Museum Art Handing Market will grow from $11.83 billion in 2026 to $30.44 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 12.54%. The sector covers professional services for transferring, installing, and deinstalling artworks in museums, including condition assessments, conservation, transportation, and security. Growth is driven by rising demand across industrial, commercial, and technology-oriented applications, increased investments in cultural infrastructure, and the expansion of international traveling exhibitions.

Panagyurishte Art Gallery gets Optimal Audio upgrade

Panagyurishte Art Gallery in Bulgaria has upgraded its audio system with an Optimal Audio solution. The installation aims to enhance the visitor experience by providing high-quality sound throughout the gallery spaces, supporting both permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.