Louvre and Grand Palais among French museums closed due to nationwide strikes

On Thursday, September 18, several major French museums and cultural venues closed due to a one-day strike against budget austerity. Affected institutions include the Musée du Louvre, Château de Versailles, Grand Palais, Musée d’Orsay (where visitors were allowed in freely), Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Panthéon, and Musée Picasso. The strike, supported by the CGT union, also led to closures at dozens of other monuments and institutions across the country, with demonstrators protesting outside the office of Culture Minister Rachida Dati. Separately, the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux is closed for two years for renovations, and the planned loan of the Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum has been postponed due to the strikes, raising concerns about the embroidery's fragility.

Alberta Foundation for the Arts opens first gallery in Calgary

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) opened its first-ever gallery in Calgary on September 10, 2025, called the AFA art house, located on the second floor of the Edison building. The space, previously used as a temporary gallery by the Glenbow Museum during its renovation, will host rotating exhibitions from the AFA’s 10,000-piece collection, including the opening show "New Views" featuring 50 works purchased in the last decade. The gallery also allows Alberta artists to display and sell their art, and will feature a solo exhibition by Samantha Williams-Chapelsky, the 2024-25 AFA Alberta Artist in Residence, beginning in October.

Museums Are Under Fire. Silence Isn’t an Option

James Steward, director of the Princeton University Art Museum, argues that museums are under coordinated attack in a polarized political climate. He cites threats including scrutiny of the Smithsonian Institution for its narratives, pressure on directors who uphold diversity and inclusion principles, and immigration agents targeting museums serving communities of color. Steward calls on museum leaders to resist the impulse to remain silent and instead double down on their role as spaces for dialogue, debate, and the holding of contradictory ideas.

York Library hosts Dustan Knight’s 'Creative Joy' art exhibition

York Public Library in York, Maine, is hosting 'Creative Joy,' a solo exhibition of works by artist Dustan Knight, running from September 4 through October 31, 2025. Knight, who holds an MFA from Pratt Institute and an MA in art history from Boston University, has over 40 years of creative exploration and a three-decade teaching career at institutions including the New Hampshire Institute of Art and Maine College of Art. The exhibition features her expressive, abstract landscapes inspired by New England's coastal light, alongside narrative and playful works, and includes a reception with the artist on September 16.

More than 150 US arts organisations pledge to resist political pressure

More than 150 US arts organizations and over 320 artists and cultural workers have signed a public statement affirming their commitment to resisting political pressure. Organized by the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and the Vera List Center for Art and Politics (VLC) at the New School, the statement does not explicitly name President Donald Trump or his administration's actions, but was precipitated by Trump's pressure campaigns against the Smithsonian Institution and the Kennedy Center, as well as deep cuts to the NEA, NEH, and IMLS. Signatories include institutions from both Democratic- and Republican-controlled states, such as the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts in New York and Diverseworks in Houston, Texas.

Before You Now: Jessica Wimbley

The Vincent Price Art Museum is hosting 'Before You Now: Capturing the Self in Portraiture,' an exhibition drawn from LACMA's collection that explores self-portraiture through over 50 contemporary American artists working in photography, prints, drawings, video, and installation. The show includes a video series featuring artists like Jessica Wimbley, who discusses her work 'Cabinet Portrait: Wife Portrait' (2022), a large-scale reimagining of a 19th-century cabinet card bridal portrait that centers Blackness in American material culture by depicting herself in a non-traditional black wedding dress. The exhibition runs through August 30, 2025, with a related collage workshop led by Kalli Arte Collective on August 23.

Tens of thousands sign petition to stop loan of ‘extremely fragile’ Bayeux Tapestry to UK

Nearly 50,000 people have signed a petition to block the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum, citing warnings from textile restorers that moving the 1,000-year-old embroidered linen could cause irreparable damage. The petition, launched by art historian Didier Rykner, opposes the planned exhibition in London from September 2026 to July 2027, which coincides with the closure of the Bayeux Tapestry Museum in Normandy for renovations. The loan was announced in July by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Prominent French cultural figures, including former museum director Isabelle Attard, have voiced strong concerns, and Rykner hopes to ally with British opponents of the exchange, which would also send Anglo-Saxon and Medieval treasures from the British Museum to France.

Can Hauser & Wirth's new Palo Alto space achieve what its rivals failed to?

Hauser & Wirth announced on July 30 that it will open a new location in Palo Alto, California, in spring 2025. The 2,600-square-foot space, located in a former post office on Hamilton Avenue near Stanford University and tech giants like Meta and Google, will be the Swiss mega-gallery's 17th location worldwide and its third in California, joining two existing spaces in Los Angeles. The gallery's president, Marc Payot, cited the Bay Area's dedicated collector community and museums as key reasons for the expansion.

August 2025 Opportunities: Open Calls, Residencies, and Grants for Artists

The article compiles a list of open calls, residencies, and grants for artists with deadlines in August through October 2025. Opportunities include the Wave Hill Sunroom Project Space in New York City, Sculpture by the Sea in Cottesloe, Australia, the Hunt Museum Open Submission Exhibition in Ireland, New Voices 2026 at Print Center New York, and the Moons, Castles, Trees exhibition for The Wrong Biennale in Copenhagen. Grant opportunities include the Ellis-Beauregard Project Grants in Maine, the Seattle Art Museum Betty Bowen Award for Northwest artists, and the Hornsby Art Prize in Australia, among others.

Ferris State alumni, faculty, and students recognized among leading regional artists in 2025 West Michigan Area Show

Ferris State University's Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD) alumni, faculty, and students have been recognized in the 2025 West Michigan Area Show, a juried exhibition hosted by the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. The 64th annual competition drew nearly 500 entries from 14 Michigan counties, with 64 selected for inclusion. Eleven pieces by artists with KCAD connections were featured, and three received distinguished awards from juror Hubert Massey, a Detroit-based artist and educator. Notable winners include Lee Ann Frame, who won the Ward H. and Cora E. Nay Director’s Purchase Prize and the Southwest Michigan Printmakers Excellence in Printmaking Award, and Tatsuki Hakoyama, who received The Martin Maddox Prize for Imaginative Realism. Other participants include professor emeritus Jay Constantine, alumni Beth Purdy and Jackson Wrede, and students Sydney Donath and Kaylee Dirkmaat.

Newly designed gallery for Applied Arts of Europe opening at Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago will open the newly designed Eloise W. Martin Galleries for the Applied Arts of Europe on July 11, 2025. The 4,500-square-foot space will display over 300 objects from the museum's collections of furniture, silver, ceramics, and glass dating from 1600 to 1900, with 40% more objects on view than previously. Highlights include a carved chair made by Indian artisans for a European merchant, rare Chinese porcelain vases mounted in gilded bronze, and a neo-Gothic sideboard by William Burges. The galleries, designed by Barcelona-based architects Barozzi Veiga, follow a chronological narrative exploring design, craftsmanship, and commerce amid geopolitical shifts and colonialism.

Bayeux Tapestry to return to UK for first time in almost 1,000 years

The Bayeux Tapestry will be loaned to the British Museum in London for display from September 2026 to July 2027, marking its first return to the UK in nearly 1,000 years. The agreement was announced by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron during a state visit, as part of a broader cultural partnership that also includes the loan of Sutton Hoo treasures and the Lewis chessmen to French institutions.

Louvre forced to close after staff walk out protesting overcrowding

Staff at the Musée du Louvre, the world's most visited museum, walked off the job on Monday morning, forcing an unscheduled closure. Thousands of visitors with pre-booked tickets were left waiting outside I. M. Pei’s glass pyramid in 27°C heat as gallery attendants, ticket agents, and security personnel gathered in the auditorium to protest overcrowded galleries and worsening visiting conditions. The walkout lasted a few hours; management representatives met with staff, and the museum reopened around 2:30pm. It was the second walkout this year.

Fort Worth’s Como public art project showcased at international exhibition

A public art installation from Fort Worth, Texas, titled "Do Something Good For Your Neighbor," has been selected for display at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia in Venice, Italy. The weathered steel pavilion, located on Lake Como in Fort Worth's historic Como neighborhood, was designed by Matt Niebuhr and David Dahlquist of the Art Studio at RDG Planning & Design. Built in 2021 and owned by Fort Worth Public Art, it is one of 54 projects featured in the exhibition "PORCH: An Architecture of Generosity," commissioned by the U.S. State Department and organized by the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas, in partnership with DesignConnects and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The installation honors community leaders William H. Wilburn, Sr. and Amon G. Carter Sr., and features custom carved benches with phrases from a historic local newspaper.

CAM Raleigh to pause exhibitions amid financial and cultural challenges for small, local museums

The Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) in Raleigh, North Carolina, announced it will temporarily pause exhibitions and in-house programming starting June 15, 2025, as part of a strategic effort to reassess its role and operations. The museum cited rising operational costs, shifting donor trends, and increasingly competitive funding as challenges facing small museums nationwide. While the main galleries close, CAM will continue offsite programming and host the annual Raleigh Fine Arts Society’s NC Artists Exhibition in September. Two current exhibitions—'Look to the West' and 'Skin of the City' featuring works by Rigoberto Mena—remain on view through June 15.

Sámi art has gained visibility in Norway—but when will it get a museum of its own?

Sámi artists from Norway are gaining international recognition, with milestones including the rebranding of the Nordic Pavilion as the Sámi Pavilion at the 2022 Venice Biennale, a major mural by Outi Pieski in Oslo, and a forthcoming Hyundai commission by Maret Anne Sara at Tate Modern. Despite this visibility, decades of advocacy have failed to establish a dedicated Sámi art museum; thousands of works purchased with government funds remain in storage. The Norwegian parliament's recent truth and reconciliation report acknowledged historical injustices, but activists like Synnøve Persen and scholars like Katrine Rugeldal argue that existing institutions are insufficient and that a museum must be built on Sámi terms, potentially nomadic or pan-Nordic.

Cayman Art Week returns with new events

Cayman Art Week returns for its fifth edition from 20-25 May 2025, featuring over 40 events including pop-up exhibitions, studio visits, and extended gallery hours across all three Cayman Islands. New additions this year include the CAW Little Cayman Bike Around and CAW East curated bus tours. The National Gallery is hosting three distinct exhibitions: 'TimeBack' with archival photographs, 'Evolutions: Continuity & Change in Caymanian Art', and 'From the Mind's Eye' exploring dreams and the subconscious. The event was founded in 2021 to stimulate the commercial art market and support artists post-COVID-19.

Behind the Uniform Art Exhibition

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities gallery in Washington, D.C., is hosting "Behind the Uniform," an exhibition featuring artwork by 125 artists, including several Capitol Hill veterans. Curated by Kasse Andrews-Weller, an Army and Air Force veteran, and co-curated by Moira McGuire, the show presents works that express wartime experiences and personal stories, with many artists using art as a means of healing from trauma. Highlights include a large quilt by the Treasured Piece Makers, led by Anne Crouch, made from uniform fabric and mission logos, and a painting by Jeremiah Foxwell honoring his bomb-disposal partner Kevin Powell.

Detroit Art Institutions Resist Political Challenges to Diversity

Detroit art institutions, including the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, are actively resisting political pressures and legislative challenges aimed at rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The article details how these organizations are reaffirming their commitments to diverse programming, hiring practices, and community engagement despite a broader political climate that has targeted DEI efforts in the arts and education sectors.

Whitney Biennial Between Cuteness and Panic

Whitney-Biennale zwischen Niedlichkeit und Panik

The Whitney Museum of American Art has unveiled its latest Biennial, a sprawling survey of contemporary art that navigates the tension between playful aesthetics and existential dread. Curators have embraced an expanded definition of American art, incorporating global perspectives and diverse media to reflect a nation grappling with political instability and social change. The exhibition oscillates between moments of "cuteness" and "panic," utilizing strong visual narratives to address the complexities of the current era.

« La Dame à la licorne » : le portrait idéal du divin Raphaël

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is hosting the first-ever exhibition dedicated to Raphael in the United States, running until June 28. The show brings together over 200 works by the celebrated Renaissance master, including the enigmatic portrait *La Dame à la licorne* (1505–1506), which exemplifies Raphael's signature qualities of grace, light, and harmony.

At the Grand Palais, the Paris Book Festival Puts Comics in the Spotlight

Au Grand Palais, le Festival du livre de Paris met la bande dessinée à l’honneur

The Festival du livre de Paris returns to the Grand Palais from April 17 to 19, 2026, marking a continued transformation from a massive trade fair into a curated cultural event. This year’s edition features 450 publishers and places a significant emphasis on comic books (BD), highlighted by two thematic exhibitions on the Balcon d’Honneur and a dedicated youth village. The program also includes a culinary-themed nocturne and the "Cabaret Extra!" performance series produced in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou.

Saodat Ismailova at Portikus

Portikus in Frankfurt is presenting a solo exhibition by Saodat Ismailova, featuring new and existing works. The show includes video installations, photographs, and other media that explore themes of memory, spirituality, and Central Asian cultural heritage.

Gallery openings and exhibits in Central Oregon this week

Central Oregon’s art scene is hosting a diverse array of exhibitions this week across Bend, Sisters, Sunriver, and Redmond. Notable highlights include Jana Charl’s mixed-media showcase "This is not a Love Story" at Art Adventure Gallery, Hilary Baker’s moth-themed "Prophets" at the High Desert Museum, and a collection of literary-inspired quilts at the Deschutes Historical Museum. The offerings span various mediums, from nomadic woven macramé and custom jewelry to volcanic science explorations and historic cartography.

Mischief’s Genius Ads for NPR Provoke Urgent Questions About the Right to Information

In mid-2025, the Trump administration rescinded $9 billion in public media funding, including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CBP), which subsequently voted to dissolve. While NPR stated its mission would continue unchanged, the cuts disproportionately impacted rural member stations that relied on CBP for about 13% of their revenue, threatening local access to public media.

Andy Warhol exhibition at Saint Laurent Rive Droite turns Paris boutique into pop art gallery

Since April 23, 2026, the Saint Laurent Rive Droite boutique in Paris has been hosting an exhibition dedicated to Andy Warhol titled “Objets banals”. Curated by Anthony Vaccarello, the show features a selection of Polaroids and 35 mm photographs taken from the 1960s onward, revealing a more intimate and personal dimension of the pop art master. The installation is immersive and minimalist, with photographs interacting with Saint Laurent collections, design pieces, and exclusive objects, blurring the boundaries between commerce, museum, and artistic manifesto. All works on display are available for sale, distinguishing the boutique from a traditional museum.

See yourself within Andy Warhol's 'On Repeat' at Zimmerli Art Museum

The Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University's College Avenue campus is hosting 'Andy Warhol: On Repeat,' an exhibition running through July 31st. The show features Warhol's Polaroids, Polacolor prints, 'Crosses' series (1982), and 'Screen Tests'—silent, looping film portraits that place visitors in an immersive, repetitive visual environment. An interactive element allows guests to sit before a camera and become part of the artwork, echoing Warhol's exploration of identity under observation.

A Museum Show Like No Other Aschaffenburg’s ‘Bavarian Nice’ Becomes the Stage for a Powerful Ukraine-Europe Art Collaboration Amid Global Conflict!

Aschaffenburg, Germany, is hosting a landmark exhibition titled 'A European Collection' at the Christian Schad Museum, opening April 30, 2026. The show features 73 European masterpieces from the 15th to 19th centuries, loaned from the Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum in Kyiv, Ukraine. Works by Peter Paul Rubens, Bernardo Bellotto, and Claude-Joseph Vernet are included, alongside a contemporary piece by Ukrainian artist Maria Kulikovska juxtaposed with Antonio Canova's sculpture 'La Pace'. This is the first comprehensive presentation of these Ukrainian-held works in Germany.

At Maya Gallery, a Benefit Sale Becomes a Map of Israeli Contemporary Art

Maya Gallery in New York is hosting a benefit sale that features works by over 50 Israeli contemporary artists, including prominent names like Michal Rovner and Sigalit Landau. The sale aims to raise funds for the gallery's programming and to support Israeli artists amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Michigan’s largest‑ever Chihuly exhibition marks long-awaited return to Meijer Gardens

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is hosting its largest-ever exhibition of glass artist Dale Chihuly, titled "CHIHULY: Radiant Forms." Opening May 2 and running through November 1, 2026, the show marks Chihuly's first exhibition at the venue since 2010 and spans the 158-acre campus, including a new concentration of works in the Japanese Garden. The indoor gallery presents a chronological survey of Chihuly's 50-year career, featuring early baskets and cylinders, Venetian-inspired goblets, and iconic sea forms in open-air aquariums.