New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji will reportedly skip the 2025 Met Gala, breaking a long-standing tradition of mayoral attendance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s premier fundraiser. Sources suggest the decision stems from a conflict between Mamdani’s socialist political platform and the event's association with billionaire sponsors, specifically Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez-Bezos.
The Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME) department has launched open calls for two major public art initiatives: the 2026–28 People’s Gallery at Austin City Hall and the 2026 Changing Exhibits Program at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Local artists and organizations from the Austin area are invited to submit 2-D and 3-D works for the City Hall exhibition, while the airport program seeks multi-disciplinary proposals under the theme "Vestiges of the Future." Applications are open until May 31, 2026, with no submission fees required.
The Marshall Area Fine Arts Council (MAFAC) has launched its annual "High School Art Stars" exhibition, showcasing a diverse range of student works including paintings, sculptures, and optical illusions. This year's show features artists from Marshall, Minneota, and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton High Schools and marks the first exhibition held in MAFAC’s new gallery space located on the second floor of Marshall City Hall.
The Arts Council of East Orange has officially opened the “Gallery Under the Stairs” at City Hall, marking a significant revival of the city’s cultural programming. The inaugural exhibition features the work of Warren Murray, his late brother Russell Murray, and Janette Crayne Belcher, highlighting themes of family legacy and community storytelling. The event served as a public debut for Warren Murray, who began painting to honor his brother’s artistic memory, turning a personal grieving process into a community-facing creative practice.
The City of Austin’s Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) department has launched two open calls for local artists to exhibit their work in high-traffic public spaces. The 2026–28 People’s Gallery exhibition at Austin City Hall and the Changing Exhibits Program at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport are seeking submissions of 2-D and 3-D multi-disciplinary works. Applications are open to professional artists and organizations within the Austin metropolitan area through May 31, 2026.