Goldsmiths Art College Staffers Will Fight Proposed Cuts

Staff and faculty at Goldsmiths, University of London, are preparing for strike action in response to a restructuring plan titled "Future Goldsmiths." The initiative aims to save £22 million by the end of the 2026/27 academic year through significant job cuts, starting with professional services staff and extending to academic positions. The Goldsmiths University and College Union (UCU) reports that 81 percent of its members voted in favor of the strike, arguing that the proposed austerity measures will devastate the institution's educational quality and its capacity for radical creative thought.

The New School Plans to Lay Off 15% of Staff By June

The New School in New York City plans to lay off 15 percent of its full-time faculty and staff by June. This follows a months-long conflict with faculty and a reported $48 million deficit, with the university previously offering voluntary separation packages to 40% of staff.

Merchant at the Fair, but with Art: The Art Edition of the Popular Board Game is Born in Milan

Mercante in Fiera però con l’arte. A Milano nasce l’Art Edition del popolare gioco di società

The creative agency Plus Srl and the curatorial collective The Art Society have launched "Mercante in Fiera – Art Edition," a contemporary art reimagining of the classic Italian card game. Debuting at the forthcoming Luceferma space in Milan, the project replaces traditional game cards with artistic imagery and visual references to spark informal dialogue among participants. The initiative functions as a social device, stripping away academic barriers to engage players in spontaneous interpretation and community building.

ICA Live Art Festival at UCT Announces Open Call

The Institute for Creative Arts (ICA) at the University of Cape Town has announced an open call for its 2026 Live Art Festival. Scheduled for October 14–17, 2026, in Cape Town, the festival seeks proposals for experimental and interdisciplinary live artworks from both South African and international practitioners. The selection process will prioritize conceptual strength and works that challenge conventional artistic forms within a non-commercial, research-driven environment.

Boston College Arts Festival To Feature Nunziata Brothers As Alumni Artist Awardees

Boston College has unveiled the programming for its 2026 Arts Festival, themed "Artchella," scheduled for April 23–25. The 28th annual event will feature over 50 activities across the campus, including visual art exhibitions, theatrical performances, and musical concerts. A centerpiece of the festival is the Arts Awards Ceremony, which will honor alumni brothers Will and Anthony Nunziata for their professional achievements in the arts, alongside faculty and student awardees.

Graduates’ artwork showcased at Tarble during studio art exhibition

The Tarble Arts Center hosted the opening reception for the 2026 Master of Arts in Studio Art Exhibition, featuring thesis projects from 11 graduate students. The exhibition showcased a diverse range of mediums, including an immersive installation by Vitória Kazanovski that recreated her grandmother’s Brazilian kitchen using audio and textured cookbooks, and a ceramic series by Wendy Peters that highlighted the technical mistakes and evolution of her craft.

Graduate art and design students exhibit their work at Krannert Art Museum

The Krannert Art Museum is currently hosting the annual Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, showcasing the thesis work of eight graduate students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Art & Design. The exhibition features a diverse range of media, including sculptural 3D collages by Samantha Jones that critique the hypersexualization of Black girlhood, and a mixed-media experimental classroom by Anthony Obayomi that explores social justice and educational metrics. Other works, such as Emily Tomlinson’s text-based drawings, highlight themes of cataloging and observational study.

Toledo Museum of Art Debuts Online Birds Exhibit Curated by Students

The Toledo Museum of Art has launched a new digital exhibition titled "Birds in Art: Devotion and Decadence," curated by a group of 25 students from the University of Toledo. The online showcase features a diverse selection of paintings, sculptures, and photographs drawn from the museum's permanent collection, all centered on the cultural and artistic symbolism of avian subjects.

Finnish artist Helene Schjerfbeck wows New York, Europe is next

Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck's major retrospective at the Royal Academy of Arts in London has generated significant acclaim, following a successful exhibition at the Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinki. The show, which features over 100 works spanning her seven-decade career, is now traveling to European venues, including the Petit Palais in Paris.

Hood Museum of Art's longest-serving director to retire

John Stomberg, the director of Dartmouth College's Hood Museum of Art, has announced his retirement after leading the institution for over a decade. His tenure, which began in 2013, marks the longest directorship in the museum's history.

Weekender: Music, Live Sound Installation, Art

The UC Davis College of Letters and Science is hosting a weekend event titled "Weekender: Music, Live Sound Installation, Art" at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art. The event features a live sound installation by artist and composer Pamela Z, alongside a performance by the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Christian Baldini, which will include a piece by composer Gabriela Ortiz.

Pratt’s 2026 Fine Arts MFA Thesis Exhibitions, on View This Spring

Pratt Institute's Fine Arts MFA program is presenting its 2026 thesis exhibitions in a two-part show curated by Alessandra Gómez at Dock 72 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard this spring. The exhibitions feature the culminating work of the graduating MFA candidates, offering a public showcase of emerging artistic talent.

Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata win Oscar for “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” a short film.

Artist Alexandre Singh and art historian Natalie Musteata won an Academy Award for their short film "Two People Exchanging Saliva" at the 2026 Oscars. The film tied for first place in the live action short category with Sam Davis's "The Singers," marking a rare seventh tie in Oscar history.

Young Art Making Its Way

The Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art is hosting "Re-Encounter," the annual senior art exhibition featuring works by 14 graduating students. The showcase highlights a diverse range of mediums, including salvaged wood paintings by Kailea Najera, ceramic floral sculptures by Makena Wick, and an immersive installation by Arianna Rheault that processes childhood trauma. The exhibition serves as a formal conclusion to the academic year, blending personal narratives with spiritual themes reflective of the institution's background.

WestConn Senior Art Exhibition Featuring Local Students To Open In Danbury

Western Connecticut State University is set to host its annual Senior Portfolio Exhibition starting April 23 at the Visual and Performing Arts Center in Danbury. The showcase features the capstone projects of 18 graduating undergraduate art majors specializing in graphic design, illustration, photography, and studio arts.

NMU seniors’ art exhibited at DeVos Art Museum

Graduating seniors from Northern Michigan University’s School of Art and Design are showcasing their capstone projects at the DeVos Art Museum in Marquette. The exhibition features work from 20 students across diverse disciplines, including ceramics, illustration, painting, and digital cinema, culminating in a reception and awards ceremony on May 1.

Cabrillo Gallery Hosts Student Art Exhibition as Part of Ripple Effect Festival

Cabrillo Gallery is set to launch its Student Exhibition 2026 on April 20, featuring a diverse range of media including painting, sculpture, and photography created by Cabrillo College students. The exhibition kicks off with a special reception on April 19, integrated into the countywide Ripple Effect arts festival, which will include live music, interactive art activities, and a student art sale.

Final Touches: BA Art Exhibition

Southwestern University’s Sarofim Fine Arts Gallery recently debuted the Spring 2026 B.A. Senior Art Exhibition, showcasing the final projects of seven graduating Fine Arts majors. The exhibition features a diverse range of media and themes, including Christopher Bowers’ historical-fantastical landscapes, Sophie Kinkade’s Y2K-inspired "spill art," and Trinidad Laurenzi’s exploration of Catholic iconography and body horror. Other featured artists include Maeve Lloyd, Aris Morgan, Grace Sapienza, and Isa Wilson, whose works span sculpture, anime-influenced illustration, and charcoal drawings addressing mental health.

Ludington Area Center for the Arts calls for artists for food-themed exhibition

The Ludington Area Center for the Arts (LACA) has announced an open call for its upcoming juried exhibition titled “Chew on This.” Scheduled to run throughout October in Ludington, Michigan, the show invites artists to submit food-themed works ranging from literal depictions of meals to conceptual explorations of consumption and community. The call is open to national and international artists across various media, including painting, sculpture, and fiber arts, with a submission deadline of August 30.

‘War, Religion and Love’ collide in Sac State student’s solo art exhibition

Sacramento State fine arts student Desiree Thomas has debuted her solo exhibition, "War, Religion and Love," at the university’s R.W. and Joyce Witt Gallery. The show features oil paintings that utilize romanticized imagery to explore unsettling themes, including internal psychological struggles and the domestic lives of Nazi soldiers. Notable works like "The Fine Line Between Ambition and Insanity" and "Home" challenge viewers to confront the duality of beauty and darkness through complex religious and historical symbolism.

National Art Museum hosts exhibition and book launch of renowned artist [PHOTOS]

The Azerbaijan National Art Museum has launched a major solo exhibition and monograph titled "On the Wings of Time. Vugar Ali," celebrating the career of the Honored Artist. The event, supported by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the State University of Culture and Arts, features approximately 40 works that blend academic tradition with avant-garde thinking. The exhibition highlights Ali's unique aesthetic, which incorporates mythological motifs, folk tales, and the scientific principles of crystallography into vibrant, symbolic compositions.

I’m an NYU Contract Professor. This Is Why We Plan to Strike.

Contract faculty at New York University, represented by the union Contract Faculty United - UAW, have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike after 15 months of contentious bargaining. The union, comprising over 900 professors, accuses the NYU administration of violating labor law and failing to address core demands regarding job security, pay, and academic freedom.

Stitch Your Favorite Destinations with Jake Henzler’s ‘Knit the City’

Fiber designer Jake Henzler, known as Boy Knits World, is releasing a new book titled 'Knit the City' through David & Charles Publishing. The book provides modular knitting patterns inspired by the architecture of global cities like Copenhagen and Paris, allowing crafters to create customizable blankets, pillow covers, and other textile projects that stitch together building-block facades.

Private Art Schools Enter a Period of Turbulence

Les écoles d’art privées traversent une zone de turbulence

A wave of bankruptcies and judicial reorganizations is hitting the private art education sector in France. Following the closure of the École d’art de Montreuil, the Académie des arts appliqués (AAA) in Dijon and the École supérieure de design in Troyes have both entered receivership. These institutions are struggling with severe financial deficits, unpaid staff, and a sharp decline in student enrollment, with some schools seeing their student bodies shrink by two-thirds in just four years.

At the INHA, the summer closure of the library revives the debate

À l’INHA, la fermeture estivale de la bibliothèque ravive le sujet

The National Institute for Art History (INHA) in Paris is facing backlash over its decision to implement a permanent two-week summer closure of its library every August. Originally introduced as a temporary measure during the 2024 Olympics and subsequent renovations, the closure is now being formalized by the administration despite a change in leadership. Staff and researchers have launched a petition, arguing that August is a critical period for international scholars and students who rely on the library’s extensive collections.

At the INHA, the summer closure of the library revives the debate

À l’INHA, la fermeture estivale de la bibliothèque ravive le sujet

The National Institute for Art History (INHA) in Paris has sparked controversy by moving to make its two-week summer closure in August a permanent policy. Originally introduced as an exception for the 2024 Olympics and subsequent renovations, the closure is now being institutionalized despite a petition from staff and researchers. Management cites employee well-being, organizational maintenance, and equity across departments as justifications, while critics argue the move masks chronic understaffing and budget cuts.

Art gallery at Cuesta College presents 2026 Student Annual Art Exhibition

Cuesta College is set to host its 2026 Student Annual Art Exhibition at the Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery from April 16 through May 22. The showcase features a diverse array of student-produced works spanning traditional and contemporary disciplines, including painting, ceramics, printmaking, and digital art. An opening reception on April 16 will kick off the event, which is free and open to the public on the San Luis Obispo campus.

Tide of Returns: Reclaiming Memory Through Oceanic Ritual

Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21) Academy has opened its 2026 program at Ocean Space in Venice with the exhibition 'Tide of Returns'. Developed by the Repatriates Collective, the show features artists, filmmakers, and Indigenous communities from across the globe, transforming the former Church of San Lorenzo into an immersive environment. It moves beyond conventional restitution debates by presenting repatriation as a living, tidal process expressed through ritual, memory, and community care, using materials like sand from Anindilyakwa Country and returned shell dolls.

Fundación Botín Opens 2026–2027 Art Grants for International Artists

The Fundación Botín has opened applications for its 2026–2027 Art Grants program, offering six grants of €23,000 each to support individual artistic projects. The nine-month grants fund research, training, or production, with selected artists' work to be featured in the Itinerarios exhibition at Centro Botín. Applications close on 8 May 2026.

Philanthropist and Patron Emmanuele Emanuele Dies; Creator of Rome's Palazzo Sciarra and Palazzo Cipolla Museum Spaces

È morto il filantropo e mecenate Emmanuele Emanuele. Fautore a Roma degli spazi museali di Palazzo Sciarra e Palazzo Cipolla

Emmanuele Francesco Maria Emanuele, a prominent Italian philanthropist, jurist, and patron of the arts, has passed away in Rome at the age of 86. Born in Palermo, Emanuele dedicated the latter half of his life to cultural promotion, most notably serving as the President of Fondazione Roma and the Fondazione Terzo Pilastro – Internazionale. His leadership was instrumental in transforming Rome's Palazzo Sciarra and Palazzo Cipolla into significant museum spaces, hosting both permanent collections and major temporary exhibitions.