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A memorial to 'Victims of Communism' in Ottawa, Canada, will no longer be inscribed with the names of individuals after a government report found that more than half of the proposed 550 names were linked to Nazism or fascist groups. The decision, announced by the Department of Canadian Heritage, follows concerns raised by Jewish groups and Canadian media outlets like Ricochet and The Maple. Instead, the Wall of Remembrance will feature only thematic content reflecting the memorial's broader commemorative and educational purpose. The memorial, first approved in 2009, has a budget of about $5.4 million, with $4.36 million from public funds, and faced earlier criticism over its design.

miami beach free water taxi program 1234763931

Miami Beach is launching a free water taxi program for the second year, starting December 1, to shuttle passengers between the island and mainland every ten to fifteen minutes, with connecting shuttles to the Convention Center and Collins Avenue. The initiative comes as severe traffic congestion during Miami Art Week has driven some exhibitors away from NADA’s inland fairgrounds, with dealers reporting that collectors often abandon trips midway due to gridlock.

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India has announced that emerging artists from its Indigenous tribes will represent the country at the 2026 Venice Biennale, marking the nation's first national pavilion since 2019. The news was delivered by Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at a conference on conservation and tribal arts, highlighting a renewed government focus on Indigenous artistic heritage.

Artist Gabrielle Goliath’s attempt to reinstate cancelled Venice Biennale pavilion dismissed by court

A South African high court has dismissed an urgent application by artist Gabrielle Goliath and curator Ingrid Masondo to reinstate their cancelled pavilion for the 2026 Venice Biennale. The project was scrapped by Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie after Goliath refused to remove a segment of her work 'Elegy' that referenced Hiba Abu Nada, a Palestinian poet killed in an Israeli airstrike. The minister labeled the content "highly divisive" and "polarizing."

South African artist Gabrielle Goliath to approach high court over cancelled Venice Biennale pavilion

South African artist Gabrielle Goliath and curator Ingrid Masondo are taking urgent legal action against South Africa's sport, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie after he cancelled their project for the country's Venice Biennale pavilion. The pair were selected in December 2025 to present a new iteration of Goliath's decade-long project *Elegy*, which addresses femicide and the murder of LGBTQI+ people, and was also set to include references to the Ovaherero and Nama genocide in Namibia and the death of Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada. McKenzie, leader of the right-wing Patriotic Alliance party, described the Abu Nada-related content as "highly divisive" and cancelled the project on 2 January, just days before the submission deadline. The legal team, led by Adila Hassim, will file an application at the high court in Pretoria by 22 January, arguing that McKenzie's interference is unconstitutional.

Children of Ruth: Artists Choosing Judaism

The Heller Museum at Hebrew Union College in New York presents “Children of Ruth: Artists Choosing Judaism,” an international group exhibition featuring 17 artists who converted to Judaism. Curated by Nancy Mantell and Susan H. Picker, the show includes works by artists from New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Norway, the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States, exploring their diverse spiritual journeys through various media. Featured artists include Tetsuya Noda, whose print “Diary: June 11, 1971: Bet Din for Conversion” depicts his conversion ceremony; Yona Verwer, whose “Immersion VIII” portrays her mikvah experience; and Carolyn Carson, whose “Daughters of Ruth” addresses antisemitism and belonging.

A Holy Week procession, white pelicans and apricot blossoms: photos of the day – Tuesday

The Guardian's picture editors curated a selection of global photographs for Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The images include a Holy Week procession by the Trabajo y Luz brotherhood in Granada, Spain; white pelicans at Lake Çavuşçu in Turkey; apricot blossoms in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan; and scenes from California, Lebanon, India, Israel, Ukraine, the West Bank, and France, capturing moments of nature, conflict, displacement, and commemoration.

Week in wildlife: a flying rodent, a duty-free possum and an emerald viper

This article is a photographic roundup of notable wildlife encounters and discoveries from around the world. It features images including an award-winning photo of an Iberian lynx in Spain, a brushtail possum found in an Australian airport toy store, an Arctic fox in Canada, and a newly discovered emerald pit viper in Cambodia.

CookieRun to open art exhibition featuring high-quality works and media displays

CookieRun: Kingdom, the mobile game franchise, is opening a new art exhibition titled "Legacy of the Kingdom" at the Ara Art Center in Insa-dong, Jongno District, central Seoul, running from Friday through April 23. The exhibition features 10 high-quality collaborative artworks by Korea's master artisans, including lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl (najeon chilgi) by Sohn Dae-hyun, a buncheong vase by Park Sang-jin, and gold-leaf work by Kim Gi-ho, alongside interactive media art by Nerdy Artist Union. Visitors can use special wristbands to trigger projections and visual effects. Devsisters CEO Cho Kil-hyeon announced plans to expand the exhibition to the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada, Taiwan, and Thailand, given that 70% of players are from outside Korea.

Royal Ontario Museum picks Nicholas R. Bell as next leader

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) has appointed Nicholas R. Bell as its next director and chief executive, effective July 6. Bell, a Vancouver native, succeeds Joshua Basseches, who led the Toronto institution for a decade. Bell joins the ROM from the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, where he was recognized for overseeing a major $200 million renovation and implementing a free admission policy.

2025 Sobey Art Award exhibition opening tonight

The 2025 Sobey Art Award exhibition is opening tonight at the National Gallery of Canada. The Sobey Art Award is Canada's most prestigious prize for contemporary visual artists under 40, and this year's exhibition will showcase the work of the shortlisted artists, highlighting the breadth of contemporary Canadian art.

Art lovers gather at Contemporary Calgary for glittering Look Gala 2025

Contemporary Calgary hosted its annual Look Gala 2025, a fundraising event featuring an art auction that showcased works by artists from across Canada. The gala drew art lovers to the venue for an evening of celebration and support for the institution.

A new art exhibit is set to open at the Cooperative Gallery 213

Local artist Regina Losinger, a retired SUNY Broome administrator, opens her exhibition "Follow the Water" at Cooperative Gallery 213 in Binghamton, New York, on First Friday. The show features 50 works of painting and photography inspired by her kayaking and canoeing trips in the Adirondacks, Florida, and Canada, alongside her boat and paddling maps. Losinger, who returned to art after retiring a decade ago, will greet visitors during the opening reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Sadequain Art Exhibition opens in Mississauga, celebrates Pakistan's cultural heritage

The Sadequain Art Exhibition opened on Monday in Mississauga, Canada, for a three-day event celebrating Pakistan’s cultural heritage. Organized by the Sadequain Foundation USA in collaboration with media partners, the exhibition was inaugurated by Muhammad Saleem Khan and features Islamic calligraphy, drawings, paintings, Urdu poetry, and wall carvings by the renowned artist Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi. Attendees included Ontario MPP Sheref Sabawy and participants from the Aga Khan Academy Toronto.

Prairie photography and Fantastical Art featured at EAGM

Two exhibitions are currently on view at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM) in Saskatchewan, Canada. One features prairie landscape and wildlife photography by Nicola Dare, while the other presents colorful, fantastical sculptures and drawings by Kristin Teetaert in a show titled "A Selection of Specimens." Both exhibitions run through the end of May, offering visitors contrasting artistic experiences from realistic nature imagery to imaginative, biomorphic forms.

Order of Canada Artist Tom Wilson Tehohàhake Joins Toronto’s Nicholas Metivier Gallery

The Nicholas Metivier Gallery in Toronto has officially announced the representation of Tom Wilson Tehohàhake, a multidisciplinary artist, musician, and Order of Canada appointee. Wilson’s latest paintings are set to make their debut with the gallery at the upcoming Dallas Art Fair in April 2026. His work is characterized by vibrant, intricate patterns that incorporate elements of Mohawk beadwork and excerpts from his own literary writings.

Immersive art exhibition coming to Salmon Arm showcases lived experience of Sixties Scoop survivor

The Salmon Arm Art Gallery is set to host "A.R.E.N.A. babies," an immersive installation by local artist Scott Kwah that explores the trauma and resilience of Sixties Scoop survivors. The exhibition's centerpiece features 18 hand-cast concrete figures seated on vintage chairs, utilizing childlike voices to create a sensory space for reflecting on the forced adoption of Indigenous children into non-Indigenous families.

Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood

Starbucks Japan is launching a new concept store, the Starbucks Cafe & Art Gallery Yanaka Gotenzaka, in Tokyo’s historic Yanaka district on March 28. Housed in a two-story wooden building designed by a local architectural firm, the space will function as both a coffee shop and a rotating gallery dedicated to showcasing young, emerging talent through themed and public exhibitions. The inaugural show features works by Karin Hosono, Shotaro Sanada, and Yu Sora, with select pieces available for purchase.

Following controversy, all names will be left off Canadian monument to ‘victims of communism’

Canada's monument to the victims of communism in Ottawa, officially opened a year ago, will no longer include individual names on its Wall of Remembrance after a federal government report revealed that many of the unvetted "victims" had ties to Nazi or fascist groups. Originally designed by architect Paul Raff to feature 553 entries, the Department of Canadian Heritage reversed its decision following alarms raised by Jewish groups and independent media outlets like Ricochet and The Maple, which found that more than half of the 550 names should be removed. The department stated that the wall will now feature only thematic content aligned with Canadian values of democracy and human rights.

Legacy of Artist Gerry Squires Celebrated with New Gallery Opening

The Gerry Squires RCA Memorial Gallery is opening today in Holyrood, Newfoundland and Labrador, housed within the Holyrood Heritage Society Museum and Gift Shop. The gallery honors Gerry Squires, a celebrated artist from the province who was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1999, and who lived in Holyrood from the early 1980s until his death. Premier John Hogan is expected to attend the grand opening.

Art Fairs to See in the New York City Area in May

The New York Times has published a guide to art fairs taking place in the New York City area during May. The article lists several major and smaller fairs, including Frieze New York, NADA New York, and the Independent Art Fair, providing details on dates, locations, and featured galleries. It serves as a practical resource for collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts planning their May art-viewing schedule.

Cultural Observatories: Dinosaurs or Subjects Capable of Interpreting the Present?

Osservatori culturali. Dinosauri o soggetti in grado di interpretare il presente?

The Cultural Observatory of Canton Ticino has published a study on cultural observatories worldwide, including a map and list of surveyed organizations. The analysis reveals that cultural observatories are not a global phenomenon but are concentrated mainly in Europe and South America, with occasional presence in North America (especially Canada and Hispanic-oriented organizations in the US). Africa, Asia, and Oceania are almost entirely absent from the map. The study also highlights a high rate of inactive observatories: among the top 10 countries by active observatories, only Germany shows an effective activity ratio. Spain has 26 active observatories out of about 45 total, while Italy has 11 active out of over 20 inactive. The research defines observatories as non-profit organizations that combine cultural and statistical expertise to deepen and transfer knowledge about the cultural sector, and classifies as inactive those with no recent activity on web or social channels.

“La preistoria non è stata solo violenza, ma anche cura”. Intervista all’archeologa femminista Marga Sánchez Romero

Marga Sánchez Romero, a professor of Prehistory at the University of Granada and a leading voice in feminist archaeology in Spain, argues in an interview that prehistory has been misrepresented as a sequence of violence and hierarchies. She emphasizes that new questions are reshaping our understanding of the past, highlighting that care, cooperation, and solidarity were as crucial as conflict in human evolution. The conversation covers biases in archaeological interpretation, the famous Viking tomb of Birka, the origins of inequality, and the role of museums in creating more inclusive narratives.

Families, community gather as young artists share powerful messages at Quest

On May 1, an intergenerational art exhibition opened at Quest Art School and Gallery in Ontario, Canada, featuring works by female students and older women exploring resilience, healing, and community. Organized by Colibri - Francophone Women's Centre of Simcoe County in partnership with Quest and École secondaire Le Caron, the bilingual exhibit runs through the first week of May in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Themes include identity, belonging, self-expression, and feminist history, with textile art highlighting women's historical exclusion from the art world and their use of crafts for empowerment.

Sadeqain Art Exhibition opens in Canada, celebrating Pakistan’s artistic legacy

A three-day Sadeqain Art Exhibition has opened in Mississauga, Canada, inaugurated by Pakistan’s High Commissioner Muhammad Saleem Khan. Organized by the Sadeqain Foundation with local and media partners, the exhibition showcases the work of renowned Pakistani artist Syed Sadeqain Ahmed Naqvi (1930–1987), featuring Islamic calligraphy, paintings, drawings, wall carvings, and Urdu poetry. The event aims to introduce his artistic legacy to a wider international audience and is expected to attract art experts, students, and cultural enthusiasts.

Sadequain’s Legacy Comes Alive in Canada with Three Day Art Exhibition

Pakistan’s High Commission in Canada launched a three-day art exhibition in Mississauga celebrating the legacy of renowned artist Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi. Inaugurated by High Commissioner Muhammad Saleem, the exhibition features Sadequain’s paintings, murals, drawings, and Urdu poetry, organized by the Sadequain Foundation with local partners. Attendees include students from the Aga Khan Foundation Academy Toronto, and scholar Ashfaq Hussain will deliver a talk on the artist’s multifaceted legacy.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights’ planned exhibition on displacement of Palestinians sparks outpouring of support and criticism

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg announced plans for an exhibition titled 'Palestine Uprooted: Nakba, Past and Present,' scheduled to open in June 2026. The show will document the lived experience of the Nakba—the mass displacement of Palestinians beginning with the 1948 Arab-Israeli war—through video testimonials, objects, art, text, and photography, focusing on personal stories of Palestinian Canadians. The announcement has drawn both strong support and criticism, with museum CEO Isha Khan emphasizing the exhibition is not a historical retrospective or commentary on current Israel-Palestine relations.

Abbas Akhavan Transforms the Canada Pavilion Into a Greenhouse, Daring Viewers to Leave Behind Their Preconceptions

Artist Abbas Akhavan has transformed the Canada Pavilion at the Venice Biennale into a functioning greenhouse for his exhibition "Entre chien et loup." The pavilion now houses a 6,000-gallon pool containing giant Victoria water lilies, with modifications including grow lights, water misters, a new ventilation system, and structural reinforcements to support the 25-ton water tank. The installation evokes Victorian-era Wardian cases and London's Crystal Palace, but Akhavan emphasizes that his interest in the lilies began intuitively, not as a commentary on colonialism or empire. The project, developed with curator Kim Nguyen, involved collaboration with Kew Gardens and the Orto Botanico di Padova to cultivate the plants, and the outcome remains uncertain as the lilies may thrive or wither over the exhibition's six-month run.