Manchester Open exhibition to return in 2026 with ‘biggest celebration’ of local creative talent

The Manchester Open exhibition will return in 2026 for its fourth iteration, taking place at HOME Manchester from June 20 to September 6. The open-call show invites submissions from artists of all experience levels across eight categories including ceramics, painting, photography, and textiles. A new award honoring philanthropist Kate Voke will be introduced, and three artists will receive development packages managed by HOME and Castlefield Gallery. The application process is now open, with the selection panel to be announced in spring 2026.

Open Exhibitions 2025 begin at Ferens Art Gallery

Two annual open exhibitions open this week at Ferens Art Gallery in Hull, UK. The main Open Exhibition features over 300 artworks by amateur and professional local artists across painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textiles, and film, with some pieces for sale. Alongside it, the Young Artist Open Exhibition showcases 559 submissions from artists aged 15 and under, submitted by individuals, schools, and community groups. Both exhibitions run from October 10, 2025 to January 11, 2026, with a public programme including artist talks.

Hailsham Festival announces return of arts trail at local business venues

The Hailsham Festival in East Sussex, UK, announces the return of its Artist and Makers Trail from September 6th to 21st, featuring over 30 arts and culture events. The trail will showcase work by local artists and makers across eight business venues in and around Hailsham town centre, including Demelza, Haywards Carpets, Dippy Doodahs, Gallery North, Callenders, Angela Marden, Woodside Annexe, and Class in Glass. Participating artists include Kay Ford, Linda Mauldon, Linda Goldsmith, Jazz Dixon, Valerie Evans, David Armitage, Sarah Lawson, Graham Binks, Jodie Drew, Joan Guile, Maureen Bishop, Lesley Dromgoole, Janet Terry, Jennifer Bisset, Tina Applegate, Sylvia Huggair, and Jo Crittenden. Gallery North will also host free family events and a children's art exhibition sponsored by Lightning Fibre.

University fine art museum to showcase MFA thesis exhibition

The Western Carolina University (WCU) Fine Art Museum is presenting the 2025 MFA Thesis Exhibition, running from April 8 through May 2, 2025. The show features work by four graduating Master of Fine Art students from WCU’s School of Art and Design: Daniel Simone, Yuwen Renjie, Jeannie Regan, and Joey Martin. Their works span alternative printmaking, social practice, material experimentation, and narrative painting, addressing themes of identity, cross-cultural experience, community engagement, and environmental challenges.

Festival of Cats brings cat-inspired art to Thanet

The Festival of Cats, a community arts festival celebrating feline-themed art, is returning to Margate, Kent, from May 1-4. Featuring exhibitions, events, and workshops across fine art, poetry, film, performance, and craft, the festival showcases work from 100 local artists. Originally launched in 2018 as a satellite event for Turner Contemporary's "Journeys with The Waste Land" exhibition, it was inspired by T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and has since grown into a Thanet-wide event attracting thousands of visitors.

At the Detroit Institute of Arts, an Attempt to Make Connections

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is launching a new initiative aimed at fostering deeper connections between its collection and the diverse communities it serves. The museum is implementing programs that reinterpret artworks through contemporary social and cultural lenses, including collaborations with local artists and community organizations to make the institution more accessible and relevant.

The Guest of La Tribune de l'Art No. 29: Alexis Corbière and Alexandre Portier

L'invité de La Tribune de l'Art n° 29 : Alexis Corbière et Alexandre Portier

This podcast episode of L'invité de La Tribune de l'Art features two guests: Alexis Corbière, the rapporteur, and Alexandre Portier, the president of the Commission d'enquête sur la protection du patrimoine national et la sécurisation des musées. Recorded at the Assemblée nationale, the discussion delves into the commission's findings on protecting national heritage and securing museums, following up on a previous article published by La Tribune de l'Art.

Four Latin American Voices Around the Montevideo Curatorial Intensive

CUATRO VOCES LATINOAMERICANAS EN TORNO AL INTENSIVO CURATORIAL DE MONTEVIDEO

Independent Curators International (ICI) held the Montevideo Curatorial Intensive in March 2026, in partnership with the ESTE ARTE fair and the Faculty of Arts at the University of the Republic (Udelar). This was the first time the program took place in Uruguay, bringing together twelve emerging curators from Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, and the United States for eight days of seminars, debates, and mentorship. Led by independent curator Marina Reyes Franco, the intensive included visits to local cultural spaces such as CasaMario, SUBTE, and the Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo, as well as a trip to Punta del Este to tour galleries and artist studios. The program featured presentations by international faculty including Ionit Behar, Victoria Noorthoorn, Maya Juracán, and Keyna Eleison, and concluded with a public symposium at the Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales (MNAV).

culture politics bryan stevenson equal justice

Bryan Stevenson, civil rights attorney and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), opened Montgomery Square in Alabama on the anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March. The new public space commemorates the acts of courage that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, focusing on the Civil Rights era and the role of Montgomery's Black community, including lesser-known figures like Linda Blackmon Lowry and Sheyann Webb. Stevenson discusses the square as part of EJI's broader network of sites—including the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice—which aim to deepen public understanding of America's history of racial inequality and mass incarceration.

The Exhibition Before The Exhibition: Art In The Making

Puke Ariki museum in New Plymouth, New Zealand, is hosting TUKU: Open Studio | Emerging Māori Artists, a collaborative project where senior artist Wharehoka Smith mentors early-career artists Jodie Tipa and Dwayne Duthie in creating eight manaia (spiritual guardian figures) in a public studio setting. Running from today through 12 July, the open studio prepares the museum's Temporary Gallery for the upcoming Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award exhibition, which opens on 25 July and features 40 tūpuna portraits. Visitors can watch the artists at work, engage with their creative process, and participate in free public events including workshops and talks.

Sacramento art exhibit puts a SMASH!-ing spotlight on piñata culture

A new art exhibition titled 'SMASH! A Piñata Exhibition' has opened at Prism Art Gallery in Midtown, Sacramento, curated by Bridgett Rex and Vianne De Santiago. Running through May 30, the show features piñatas created by amateurs, professional makers, and multidisciplinary artists, exploring the cultural and emotional significance of piñatas beyond their role as party decorations. The exhibition will conclude with a public smashing of selected piñatas. Artists such as Andres Alvarez and Gilbert Rangel contributed works that incorporate personal and cultural narratives, using materials like corn husks and tissue paper to reflect on heritage, memory, and community.

Printmakers carve their place at Art Museum of Southeast Texas

The Art Museum of Southeast Texas is hosting a new exhibition focused on printmaking, highlighting the work of contemporary printmakers who are carving out a distinct space in the art world. The show brings together a range of techniques and styles, from traditional woodcuts to experimental mixed-media prints, demonstrating the enduring relevance and innovation within the medium.

Art of Manga Exhibition Heads to Brooklyn Museum in October

The "Art of Manga" exhibition, organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, will make its East Coast debut at the Brooklyn Museum in New York from October 3, 2026, to January 31, 2027. Featuring over 600 pieces of art, the show highlights works from renowned manga artists including Hirohiko Araki, Rumiko Takahashi, Gengoroh Tagame, Jiro Taniguchi, Kazumi Yamashita, and Fumi Yoshinaga. The exhibition previously ran at the de Young Museum in San Francisco from September 2025 to January 2026.

Curator shares Figge exhibition highlights and visit planning tips

Vanessa Sage, a curator at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa, appeared on the local TV show Quad Cities Live to promote the museum's current exhibitions and offer practical advice for visitors. She discussed highlights of the shows on view, what makes them meaningful, and how to navigate multiple exhibitions without feeling overwhelmed, including recommendations on where to start and how much time to allocate.

The National Museum of Mexican Art’s Special Mission

The National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA) in Chicago was founded in 1987 by a group of public school educators, led by Carlos Tortolero, to address a lack of Mexican history and culture in the curriculum. It has grown into a 48,000-square-foot institution with a collection of over 20,000 objects, spanning from Pre-Columbian times to the present, and was the first Latino museum in the U.S. to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

Do you hate art museums? Why (and how) to take a 2nd look

Do you hate art museums? Why (and how) to take a 2nd look

The traditional art museum experience often leads to exhaustion and a sense of alienation due to the overwhelming abundance of artworks and the pressure to see everything quickly. This phenomenon, which affects even visitors to world-class institutions like the Vatican or the Uffizi, stems from a 'problem of abundance' rather than a lack of appreciation for the art itself. The author suggests that smaller, more intimate spaces and a slower approach to viewing would make art more accessible and less intimidating for the general public.

Teen Arts New Jersey presents "Creative Change Makers" art exhibition in Long Branch

Teen Arts New Jersey has launched "Creative Change Makers," a group exhibition at the Long Branch Arts & Cultural Center featuring works by high school students from across the state. The showcase focuses on the theme of sustainable art, with visual, performing, and literary submissions exploring environmental issues, animal ecosystems, and community health. Selected top performers will receive honorariums during the New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival in June 2026.

Ellen Noël Art Museum hosting free Community Art Day

The Ellen Noël Art Museum in Odessa, Texas, is hosting its annual Community Art Day, a free public event designed to engage the local population through hands-on creativity. The program features a variety of art-making stations, live demonstrations, and guided tours of current exhibitions, aiming to make the museum's resources accessible to families and individuals of all ages.

‘Melodies of the Diaspora’ art exhibition celebrates Black History Month | City of Bellevue

The City of Bellevue, in partnership with MG2, Onyx Fine Arts Collective, and Elevate, presents 'Melodies of the Diaspora: Celebrating 100 Years of Black History Month,' an exhibition featuring works by Pacific Northwest Black artists. The show runs throughout February at Bellevue Arts Museum and Bellevue City Hall, with an opening reception on Feb. 1. Curated by Jay Taylor, Fancy Vargas, and Jerry Lee, the exhibit includes paintings, photography, sculptures, textiles, and fashion, offering a chronological journey of Black art.

Topkapı Palace opens new Tile Art Gallery in Mabeyn section

Topkapı Palace in Istanbul has opened a new Tile Art Gallery in its Mabeyn section, featuring a restored historic passage that connects the Mabeyn area with the Harem-i Hümayun. The gallery, called the Mabeyn Yolu (Route) Tile Art Gallery, showcases the stylistic and technical evolution of Ottoman tile art from Iznik to Kütahya, displaying tiles that were previously kept in storage. National Palaces President Professor Yasin Yıldız announced that the project took nearly three years and includes tiles bearing the names of Ottoman sultans from Osman Gazi to Sultan Selim II, as well as couplets from the 11th-century poem "Qasida al-Munfarija."

Submissions open for ‘Out of the Box’ juried art exhibit at Laredo College

Laredo College has opened submissions for its 'Out of the Box' juried art exhibit, inviting local artists to submit unconventional, experimental, and bold works across all mediums. The submission period runs from December 29 to January 16, with artist notifications on January 20, and an opening reception scheduled for February 6 at the Martha Fenstermaker Memorial Visual Arts Gallery. Up to 30 artworks will be selected for the final show.

Travel back in time on an immersive journey through Italy’s rich mosaics at Miami’s Frost Art Museum

The Frost Art Museum at Florida International University in Miami has opened "MOSAICO: Italian Code of a Timeless Art," an exhibition featuring ancient Italian mosaics, including fragments from a ship belonging to Roman emperor Caligula and 11th-century stone slabs from the tombs of Saints Benedict and Scholastica. These artifacts, on view in the US for the first time, are loaned from the Capitoline Museums in Rome and are presented alongside immersive digital projections by Magister Art that recreate sites like the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Basilica of San Vitale. The exhibition is organized by region, highlighting Unesco World Heritage sites and spanning techniques from the Hellenistic period to Roman opus sectile.

Rijksmuseum to host study exploring potential benefits of art for people with Parkinson’s

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is participating in an 18-month scientific study, funded by a $200,000 research prize from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, to investigate whether viewing art can reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The study will compare three groups: people with Parkinson’s who experience the Rijksmuseum’s collection via digital tours and low-sensory evenings, those who actively make art, and a control group with no art engagement. The research builds on a pilot study showing that creative arts therapy reduced anxiety, stress, and tremors, and even decreased hospital visits.

Event Recap: Groundbreaker Private Tour of Seattle Art Museum

Asia Society Seattle hosted a private tour of a major exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) on June 2, 2025. The two-hour walkthrough was led by Dr. Ping Foong, SAM's Foster Foundation Curator of Chinese Art, who curated the exhibition. The event was exclusive to invited guests, partners, and Asia Society Seattle Advisory Council members, and notably featured the museum's first bilingual tour in Mandarin Chinese.

New videos of African cultural sites add contemporary context to Rockefeller Wing’s historical artefacts at the Met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s newly reopened Michael C. Rockefeller Wing features a series of short documentaries by Ethiopian American filmmaker Sosena Solomon, commissioned to add contemporary context to the wing’s historical artifacts from Africa, Oceania, and the ancient Americas. Solomon spent two years traveling to 12 sites across sub-Saharan Africa, creating videos that highlight royal burial grounds in Uganda, ancient rock paintings in Botswana, bronze casters in Benin City, and the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and Tigray in Ethiopia. Three of the videos are displayed on screens in the wing, while others are accessible via QR codes and online.

Calling all artists and makers – submissions now open for a special Stockport Centenary Open Exhibition

Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery is celebrating its centenary by launching a special Centenary Open Exhibition, inviting artists and makers from the Stockport area to submit one artwork each. Submissions are open for 2D, 3D, video, or digital works in various media, with entries accepted on a first-come, first-served basis from June 12–15, 2025. The exhibition will run from June 22 to August 22, 2025, and the public will vote for their favorite pieces, with winners announced in August. Additionally, the Michael Hartley Rose Award, presented by Stockport Art Guild, will recognize an artist aged 17–25.

Glimpses of the Final Frontier at the American Museum of Natural History

The New York Times reports on a new exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History that offers visitors a look at space exploration and cosmic phenomena. The show features artifacts, models, and immersive displays that highlight humanity's journey into the final frontier, blending scientific discovery with visual spectacle.

[Century Highlights] The Formosa Era Exhibition at Tainan Art Museum – A Journey Through 100 Years of Modern Taiwanese Art

The Tainan Art Museum has opened "The Formosa Era – The Enlightenment of Modern and Contemporary Taiwanese Art," a major exhibition spanning a century of Taiwanese art history. Featuring national treasures and significant works by artists such as Chen Cheng-po, Huang Tu-shui, and Chang Dai-chien, the show is organized into eight thematic sections that trace Taiwan's artistic evolution from the Dutch colonial period through Japanese rule to the post-war era. Highlights include an immersive audio-visual installation that transforms iconic paintings into panoramic, interactive experiences using high-resolution projections and motion sensors.

Living In Color: Vibrant textile art exhibition coming to Grand Central District

The Werk Gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida, is hosting "Living In Color," a textile and fiber art exhibition organized by the Tampa Bay Surface Design Guild. Featuring over 100 local artists, the show opens with a free reception on May 8, 2026, and runs throughout the month at the gallery, which also houses The Object Lab gift shop.

Jackson Art Studio & Gallery 3rd Annual Open Studio Art Sale

Jackson Art Studio & Gallery in Jackson, New Hampshire, is hosting its 3rd annual Open Studio Art Sale from Friday, May 1, through Sunday, May 3. The sale features over 500 original works from award-winning New England artists, including oil paintings, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, woodblock prints, and mixed media. Items such as plein air studies, demonstration pieces, older artwork, and orphaned paintings are offered at significant discounts. Featured works include "Jackson Falls" by gallery owner Melanie Levitt and "Spring Haze" by nationally recognized artist George Van Hook.