Prominent German Art Foundation Accuses Top Culture Official of ‘Attempted Intimidation’

Jurors from the Kunstfonds Foundation, a major German contemporary art funding body, have accused Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer of attempted intimidation and political interference. The conflict erupted after Weimer requested the names of the independent jury members, a move the foundation views as a threat to artistic freedom. This follows a separate controversy where Weimer reportedly consulted domestic intelligence to exclude bookstores with left-wing leanings from a national award.

An Old Man Whose Egoscentrism Knows No Bounds

"Ein alter Mann, dessen Ich-Sucht keine Grenzen kennt"

More than 30 current and former jury members of the Stiftung Kunstfonds have issued a formal protest against German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer, accusing his office of political interference and intimidation. The controversy stems from reports that the ministry requested lists of all jury members across various art institutions and bypassed jury decisions to exclude specific recipients from awards based on intelligence service reports.

Review: “Boris Lurie: Nothing To Do But To Try” at the Holocaust Museum Houston

The Holocaust Museum Houston is currently hosting "Boris Lurie: Nothing To Do But To Try," an exhibition focusing on the early works of the Holocaust survivor and NO!art movement founder. Organized by the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the show highlights Lurie’s "War Series," featuring paintings, drawings, and never-before-seen ephemera created as a means of processing the trauma of his imprisonment in camps like Buchenwald. The works, ranging from the immediate post-war period to decades later, serve as a visceral record of memory and loss, including tributes to his family members murdered in the Rumbula Forest massacre.

Newport Art Museum hosts artist panel tied to ‘Springboard’ exhibition April 16

The Newport Art Museum is set to host "Voices of Springboard" on April 16, a moderated panel discussion featuring four artists from its current members' juried exhibition. Led by juror and art consultant Julie Keyes, the event features artists Karin Gielen, Tas Mahr, Saberah S. Malik, and Janice Smyth. The discussion will explore the transition from emerging to professional status, the impact of branding on artistic careers, and how contemporary practices engage with historical museum collections.

Walker Art Center Restaurant Cuts Front-of-House Staff as QR Codes Take Over

Cardamom, the in-house restaurant at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, is laying off sixteen front-of-house staff members as it transitions to a QR-code-based ordering system. The restaurant’s operator, DDP Restaurant Group, cited fluctuating museum traffic and rising operational costs as the primary drivers for the shift to a counter-service model. While kitchen staff and bartenders will remain, the move effectively replaces traditional table service with digital automation.

Butler Art exhibit empowers disabled artist community

The Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio, recently hosted the opening reception for the 31st annual Accessible Expressions Ohio (AEO) exhibition. Featuring over 50 works by artists with disabilities from across the state, the event included live music from The Feral Cats and workshops for the Remember Love Recovery Project. The exhibition, which runs through June 7, showcases winners across various categories including youth, professional, and emerging artists.

A ruined building, five Ghanaians and an elegant horse: Ron Timehin’s best photograph

Photographer Ron Timehin discusses a standout image from his documentary project in Labadi, Accra, featuring five local community members and a horse against a ruined farm building. The project, commissioned by My Runway Group, aims to move away from traditional documentary tropes by portraying West African communities in a collaborative, dignified, and elegant manner.

M.F.A. Boston Celebrates 50 Years of Flowers and Art

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its signature "Art in Bloom" exhibition, a tradition that began in 1976. The event pairs floral arrangements created by professional designers and garden club members with specific artworks from the museum's permanent collection, transforming the galleries into a multisensory experience.

Free Newmarket museum exhibition to celebrate equine art

The National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket is set to host a new free exhibition titled "We Give You The Horse," running from April 29 to May 21. The showcase features paintings and sculptures by prominent members of the Society of Equestrian Artists, including a special loan of an original work by the renowned Sir Alfred Munnings from the Munnings Art Museum.

Evanston's Dittmar Gallery Hosts Community Art Exhibition 'I Was Here'

The Dittmar Memorial Gallery in Evanston is hosting 'I Was Here,' a community-driven exhibition running from April 9 to May 3, 2026. Curated by Jasmine Ametovski and Clare Kirwan, the show features 24 local artists utilizing diverse mediums such as sound, video, and beeswax to document their daily lives. The project prioritizes lived experience and personal encounters over traditional, academic studio practices.

Gallery: New women's artist collective opens joint show in Tallinn

The newly formed Estonian women’s contemporary art collective, Phoenix, has launched its latest group exhibition titled "Quintessence" at the Vabaduse Gallery in Tallinn. Curated and designed by Eveli Varik, the show features works from 17 members of the collective, including Marina Aleksejeva, Lylian Meister, and Tiiu Rebane. The exhibition explores the Aristotelian concept of the "fifth essence," or ether, serving as a metaphor for the distilled core of creative power and the spiritual immersion required for artistic rebirth.

Marjorie Morrison Sculpture Biennial showcases regional artists at HRAC

The Hammond Regional Arts Center (HRAC) has launched the 9th Marjorie Morrison Sculpture Biennial, a regional showcase curated by Jeff Mickey of Southeastern Louisiana University. The exhibition features contemporary works from eleven artists, including Maggie McConnell, Mary Elkins, and Dale Newkirk. The event opened with a dedicated members' mixer followed by a public reception, and the sculptures will remain on display through May 30.

Connecticut Women Artists open 2026 juried exhibition at Art League of New Britain

Connecticut Women Artists has launched its 2026 Members’ Juried Exhibition at the Art League of New Britain, running through May 1. Juried by Janet Warner, an adjunct professor of studio arts, the show features a diverse array of media including painting, sculpture, photography, and fiber arts. The opening festivities included an artist talk by Kate Emery and a public reception featuring an awards presentation to honor standout works from the collection.

A ‘Cabinet of Wonders’ on Show at the American Academy of Arts and Letters

The American Academy of Arts and Letters has unveiled a unique exhibition curated by its own members, designed to function as a contemporary "Cabinet of Wonders." The show features a diverse array of works that interact with the institution’s idiosyncratic permanent collections, blending historical artifacts with modern artistic responses. By mining the Academy's own archives and storage, the participating artists have created a dialogue between the prestigious organization's past and its present creative output.

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.

Tiny Gallery gives big spotlight for local art

Artist Jax Foster has launched Bowling Green’s Tiny Gallery, a miniature exhibition space located outside the Grounds for Thought cafe in downtown Bowling Green. The gallery officially opened on April 5 and features hand-crafted miniature works created by local artists, with the display rotating on a monthly basis to ensure a wide variety of community members can showcase their talent.

The Forward Frame: East End Arts Holds Last Hurrah Before Gallery Relocation

East End Arts hosted a final exhibition titled "The Forward Frame" at its historic East Main Street gallery in Riverhead before the building undergoes a massive structural renovation. As part of the Riverhead Town Square redevelopment project, the 1840s-era building will be raised seven feet to escape the Peconic River floodplain and reconfigured alongside a new five-story Hilton hotel. During the farewell event, community members were invited to create ephemeral art directly on the gallery walls, marking a transition period where the organization will operate out of temporary spaces at 11 and 48 West Main Street.

Eye on Art: Whistler House hosts 200th Anniversary of Lowell Exhibition

The Whistler House Museum of Art is launching a special exhibition to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Lowell, Massachusetts. Running from April 18 to June 20, the show features a diverse array of media—including painting, sculpture, and photography—created by members of the Lowell Art Association, Inc. The works focus on the city’s identity as the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution, capturing its historic textile mills, urban landscapes, and cultural heritage.

"Psychedelic Soul: A Journey Through Rhythm and Time" exhibition

The Motown Museum in Detroit has unveiled its latest exhibition, "Psychedelic Soul: A Journey Through Rhythm and Time," hosted at the Esther Gordy Edwards Centre for Excellence. The showcase features a diverse array of artifacts from Motown’s experimental era, including Stevie Wonder’s Minimoog Model D synthesizer, vintage Neumann engineering equipment, and flamboyant stage costumes worn by members of The Miracles.

FMB Art Association's new exhibit opens at Fort Myers gallery

The Fort Myers Beach Art Association has launched its latest member exhibition, titled "Anything Goes," at its new gallery space in Fort Myers. Running through June 1, the show features a diverse array of media including jewelry, photography, drawing, and painting, highlighted by works such as Barbara Olmstead’s "Love of Music."

Call to Artists: 38th Annual Art in Gadsden Juried Exhibition Applications open now until Friday, May 15, 2026, 5PM EDT

The Gadsden Arts Center & Museum has officially opened applications for its 38th Annual Art in Gadsden Juried Exhibition. Open to current members living within 200 miles of Quincy, Florida, as well as former Gadsden County residents, the call for entries remains active until May 15, 2026. This year’s programming is set to expand beyond the gallery walls, featuring a three-day flash sale, artist studio tours, and a specialized luncheon to engage the local community.

Mass for Care of Creation; exhibition of art inspired by Laudato Si'

The London Jesuit Centre is hosting "Paintings of Prayer and Protest," an exhibition featuring the works of artists Helen Elwes and Martin Jarvis. The show coincides with a special Mass for the Care of Creation at Farm St Church in Mayfair, marking the anniversary of Pope Francis' death. Both artists, members of Christian Climate Action and the Laudato Si' Movement, present works that blend ecological activism with spiritual devotion, including painted banners used in climate marches and contemporary icons addressing rainforest devastation.