AnalysisAfrica
'Restitution is important but it is not essential': the African museums building a homegrown cultural revival
Though African institutions want looted artefacts to return home, they are more preoccupied with promoting living artists and treasures
AnalysisThe Year in Review 2020
Museums 2020: the year of crashing revenues and anti-racism disputes
Turbulent year draws to a close with sector wracked by pandemic lockdowns and Black Lives Matter challenges
NewsMuseums & Heritage
'Rent has increased by 3,100% since 2012': London heritage society says it may sell collection after UK government hikes costs
The Society of Antiquaries is launching a campaign to stay in historic home of Burlington House, close to Piccadilly
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Pompeii dig unearths incredible preserved remains of two men engulfed in volcanic ash
Plaster casts were made of the newly discovered victims of Vesuvius eruption, which are believed to have been a wealthy landowner and his slave
NewsOpenings
Boola Bardip: Perth’s revamped Western Australian Museum opens with new name and focus on Aboriginal heritage
The museum worked with around 60 Aboriginal language groups across the vast state to bring their perspectives into every gallery
AnalysisArchives
The deaccessioning debate: 1990-2020
Th disposal of objects from museum collections has been a source of controversy for decades
AnalysisMuseums
Where next for museums? Four key takeaways from Louvre Abu Dhabi symposium on the post-pandemic future
Event marking anniversaries of the Emirati museum and New York University Abu Dhabi looked at museum collections, buildings and people, and the impact of coronavirus
NewsResignations
After controversy over her leadership, Stanford says director of its Cantor Arts Center has resigned
Museum undertook an investigation of Susan Dackerman’s allegedly “toxic” leadership style and departures of many staff members
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Smithsonian and National Gallery of Art will shut down again amid spike in coronavirus cases
Move by Washington, DC museums comes amid a wave of new US closures
NewsArt Fund
Art Fund launches £1m crowdfunding appeal to help UK museums fighting for survival
After months without income due to coronavirus closures, new survey shows that museums are operating with just 25% of previous visitor numbers
NewsMuseums & Heritage
‘From bad to worse’: over half of US museums have laid off or furloughed staff, survey shows
Museums expect to lose an average of 35% of budgeted income this year, plus an additional 28% in 2021
Newscoronavirus
Russia sends Moscow’s museums into second lockdown until mid-January
Cultural workers voice frustration at mixed closure orders, as theatres, concert halls and restaurants are allowed to stay open
NewsOpenings
Challenges overcome as Houston's Museum of Fine Arts completes $450m campus expansion
Delayed by just three weeks amid the pandemic, new Kinder Building will dramatically increase space for Modern and contemporary art
NewsBiennials & festivals
UK's £120m post-Brexit festival selects teams—including art organisations—for next step of controversial initiative
Serpentine Galleries, Tate and historian David Olusoga are on the shortlist for £3m research and development funding
NewsHeritage
New heritage body aims to keep Unesco in check by calling on public to report sites in danger
Our World Heritage says it is stepping in to save at-risk locations as “safeguarding has become a secondary concern” for Unesco
InterviewChila Kumari Singh Burman
‘Blinged-up but razor-sharp’: Chila Kumari Singh Burman on her Diwali-inspired Tate Britain commission
The key figure in the British Black Arts movement of the 1980s has adorned the London museum’s façade with a colourful work exploring her own background
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Unesco under fire for using Met objects in anti-trafficking campaign
Advertisements said that the works were looted in recent years, but Met documentation shows that they have a much longer provenance
NewsHeritage
Plans for £1.7bn tunnel under Stonehenge—approved by UK government—sparks criticism
Unesco opposes the scheme which could result in "total loss" of archaeological treasures but English Heritage says it will "reconnect the site with its prehistoric landscape"
NewsJoan Miró
Miró Labyrinth meanders towards restoration at south of France's Maeght Foundation
Conservation project tackles damage to Joan Miró's terraced maze of sculptures and ceramics in grounds of Modern art museum
NewsPolls
A ‘snapshot in time’: how US museum directors viewed their world before the pandemic
In a sign of how drastically things would change, fewer than half prioritised online offerings in a wide-ranging survey
NewsAcquisitions
John Waters, the ‘Pope of Trash’, gives his treasures to Baltimore Museum of Art
The director and film-maker has donated around 375 works to his hometown institution—and will have a pair of restrooms named after him
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Metropolitan Museum board appoints first woman co-chair
Candace Beinecke and Hamilton James will lead the trustees
Newscoronavirus
Uffizi director Eike Schmidt has contracted coronavirus
Museum chief is asymptomatic and says he will continue working in quarantine
NewsMuseums & Heritage
From the Dalai Lama’s tailoring to beekeeping in Kenya, British Museum saves world's dying skills
Endangered Material Knowledge Programme will be extended for seven more years with £8.8m grant from Arcadia fund
NewsMemorials
In honour of Armistice Day, more than 100 English war memorials listed as sites of historical importance
Monuments commemorating the First and Second World Wars—mostly built in small towns and villages—are added to Historic England's list of protected places
NewsHeritage
Historic churches of Naples are at risk from sinkholes
Researchers have identified nine buildings that require a “quick response” and a further 57 places of worship that could suffer from future cavity collapses
NewsRestitution
French Senate votes unanimously for restitution to Benin and Senegal in 'act of friendship and trust'
Senate approves bill to return 27 colonial-era artefacts from museum collections to Africa within one year
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Never before seen Emily Carr works go from family fireplace to Canadian museum
British Columbia brothers donate paintings their grandmothers acquired to Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Post-election mental health and wellness events at US museums and galleries
A guide to in-person and online programmes that offer some mental and emotional relief this week
NewsRestitution
Australia pledges millions towards repatriation of Aboriginal artefacts from overseas collections
Government extends pilot project to return objects to Indigenous peoples—including those held by private collectors
NewsHeritage
Unexploded bombs: the major hitch in this German castle's restoration
Gardens of the Babelsberg Palace in Potsdam must be probed for undetonated explosives before further renovations can take place
NewsMuseums
Museums and galleries to close across England as second coronavirus lockdown announced
Exhibition schedules disrupted and concerns raised over funding after institutions required to shut down until 2 December
NewsRepatriation
US presses for return of two Thai lintels from Asian Art Museum in San Francisco to Thailand
Federal attorneys file a civil complaint, but museum says repatriation was already in the works
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Ghana appoints experts to draw up 'radical' new plan for museums and monuments
Committee will advise on cultural initiatives in the country and research Ghanaian objects held in international collections
NewsDeaccessioning
Baltimore Museum of Art calls off sale of Warhol, Still and Marden after outcry
Last-gasp decision after talks with the US museum directors association comes just before a Sotheby’s auction
NewsDroit de suite
Souls Grown Deep Foundation will give living artists a 5% royalty when collection works are resold
The initiative aims to address historic discrimination against artists of colour, who often gain recognition—and market value—later in their careers
NewsDeaccessioning
US Association of Art Museum Directors sends a warning note to its members on deaccessioning
As works head to market, organisation reminds members that its relaxed rules were not adopted to “incentivise” art sales
NewsDeaccessioning
Sotheby's sale of Israeli museum artefacts delayed after government pressure
Criticism in Israel reached an apex when President Rivlin called for the state to prevent the London auctions
NewsIndia
Indian museum hopes to reconcile bitter saga of sectarian conflict near disputed holy site
A planned mosque and cultural centre will celebrate the syncretic culture of Hinduism and Islam in the northern city of Ayodhya
NewsDeaccessioning
Sale of more than 250 works from Jerusalem's Islamic art museum raises ethical questions
Israeli museum professionals fear deaccessioning auction could set a dangerous precedent
NewsJacob Lawrence
Missing for decades, a Jacob Lawrence painting surfaces in response to a Met exhibition
A visitor makes the connection between the artist’s Struggle series and a work in a neighbour’s home
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Plans ‘in the trash can’: remote learning forces US college museums to get creative
Closures, postponements and sharp reductions in programming prompt soul-searching—and innovation—among institutions
NewsAppointments & departures
'We are not a suburb of Paris': incoming director of Montreal Museum of Fine Arts champions a North American identity
Stéphane Aquin is taking over after Nathalie Bondil’s controversial dismissal
NewsAppointments
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts appoints new director
Stéphane Aquin faces the challenge of restoring stability after Nathalie Bondil’s disputed removal
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Oklahoma to honour Native American art in new $175m museum
More than 25 years in the planning, First Americans Museum opens with new commissions and objects from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
NewsMuseums & Heritage
An invitation to sponsor a tile: keeping a roof over Jane Austen’s village home
Donations have poured in from all over the globe since the museum appealed for aid
NewsDeaccessioning
Former trustees and donors ask state to block sale of three important works by the Baltimore Museum of Art
Letter asks Maryland attorney general and secretary of state to investigate planned deaccessioning of a Warhol, Still and Marden
NewsDeaccessioning
To mirror, and support, community: Everson Museum board chair defends deaccessioning of a Pollock
Auction proceeds will go towards diversifying the collection at the Syracuse institution with “inspirational” art
NewsEthics
Inquiry into actions by Detroit Institute of Arts director and board chair found no misconduct, museum says
Law firm hired by the Detroit museum found no conflict of interest in loan of art from director's family, it adds
NewsFunding
'Publicise your grants online': UK culture minister wades into row over rescue funding demands
Oliver Dowden confirms recipients were "encouraged" to acknowledge fund on websites and social media
Commentcoronavirus
Exhibitions need a perfect storm to succeed—but shows opening during Covid-19 are getting a disappointing drizzle
With no group student visits, no art-world private view, and limits on public access, the buzz of new exhibitions has potentially been short-circuited
NewsHeritage
Machu Picchu all to yourself? Japanese tourist gets special solo tour of ancient site
Culture ministry gives Jesse Katayama access after being stranded in Peru for seven months because of coronavirus
CommentDeaccessioning
Baltimore Museum of Art curators respond to deaccessioning criticism
Equity and diversity make history fairer, more accurate, and more meaningful in the present, they say
NewsPrizes
Museums of the year: Art Fund names five joint winners of UK’s biggest arts prize
Aberdeen Art Gallery, Gairloch Museum, the Science Museum, South London Gallery and Towner Eastbourne will share £200,000 award
NewsFunding
First government grants for UK art spaces announced with £789,000 for London's ICA and £804,000 for Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Whitechapel, Whitworth, Mary Rose Trust and Photo London are also among the recipients for long-awaited Covid-19 rescue funds
CommentHeritage
Confronting the allure, and the dangers, of 'fake heritage'
Monetary gain is one reason people create counterfeit heritage—but political power, personal fame or the imposition of beliefs are equally compelling motivations
NewsVenice
Ocean art space in Venice church confronts city's perilous battle with climate change
Multimedia installation synthesises three years of scientific research into marine transformation across the planet
NewsSingapore
Singapore art space prepares final show in Gillman Barracks after Covid-19 shortfall
NTU Centre for Contemporary Art to close physical venue in March, casting doubt on future of gallery district
NewsLos Angeles County Museum of Art
Tom Gores steps down from Lacma board after pressure over prison telecom ties
Billionaire investor argues in his resignation letter that he pushed for reforms
BlogMuseums & Heritage
Take a virtual ride down Sunset Boulevard with Ed Ruscha
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Nearly 450 heritage rescue grants announced from UK's £1.57bn cultural bailout fund
First funding round hailed as a "lifeline" for heritage sites and specialists reeling from the pandemic, but job losses continue
NewsNational Trust
National Trust—UK's largest conservation charity—to cut 1,300 jobs
The coronavirus-hit heritage body looks to save around £100m through redundancies
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Nancy Spector steps down as chief curator of the Guggenheim Museum, after months of controversy
At the same time, museum’s board announced that an independent investigation found she did not mistreat a guest curator based on her race
NewsDeaccessioning
'The public need to know the truth': company that valued Sekhemka statue before its controversial sale speaks out
Dealer offered to buy the Egyptian artefact for £4m and save it for the nation, claims Art & Antiques Appraisals
NewsHong Kong
Hong Kong's M+ museum delayed to autumn 2021 amid management troubles and spiralling costs
West Kowloon Cultural District chief executive heads for early exit, accused of contributing to cost overruns and delays
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Hermitage plans ‘exchange of outstanding and significant exhibits’ with National Museum of Iran
Despite pandemic, Russian and Iranian museum directors met online to discuss future cultural collaborations
NewsRestitution
France’s National Assembly votes to return colonial-era artefacts to Benin and Senegal
Accelerated bill enabling restitution of 27 objects from French museums passes first vote in parliament
CommentDiary of an art historian
I finally went to see some art—and caught Covid-19
A trip to the National Gallery was eerie and alien—although a newly restored Van Dyck painting briefly shook off my anxiety
NewsMuseum architecture
Space race: how the pandemic is pushing museums to rethink design
Experts predict bigger galleries, a stronger connection to the outdoors and an end to the expansion juggernaut
CommentMuseums & Heritage
Visionary leaders, big business and the digital boom: 30 years that changed museums
On The Art Newspaper’s anniversary, Donatien Grau reflects on the radical expansion of museums' financial, political and cultural influence
NewsDeaccessioning
Baltimore Museum of Art will sell important paintings by Warhol, Still and Marden
Acting on relaxed rules, it will use the funds for collection care and salary increases as well as diverse acquisitions
NewsExhibitions
Original or fake? Museum Ludwig puts its Russian avant-garde art to the test
New exhibition reveals 22 falsely attributed works discovered in German museum's collection
NewsRestitution
France ordered to return three Derain paintings to heirs of Jewish dealer René Gimpel
Ruling by Paris court of appeal sets an important precedent for pending restitution claim over 16 paintings in French museum collections
NewsThe Netherlands
Rotterdam's former Witte de With art centre chooses 'decolonial' new name
Institution previously associated with a 17th-century Dutch naval officer will become Kunstinstituut Melly in January
NewsProtests
Social media advocacy group calls for a boycott of all US museums in October
The @changethemuseum Instagram account is demanding rapid change to address inequality in institutions, but even with the support of the Guerilla Girls, their calls are being met with skepticism
NewsMuseum directors
Lacma has put its director’s spacious $6.57m home on the market
A more modest Los Angeles dwelling seems to be lined up for Michael Govan
NewsResignations
Director of Rubin Museum of Art will depart in 2021
Jorrit Britschgi, who has led the institution since 2017, will rejoin his family in Switzerland
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Charity gives £2.5m Covid-19 rescue grants to 66 UK arts organisations including Tate and British Museum
Clore Duffield Foundation funds are designed to relaunch learning and community programming
NewsFashion
How about an €8m Chanel makeover? Paris fashion museum reopens with help of luxury brand
Palais Galliera opens its doors during a hybrid physical and digital Paris fashion week with a major Chanel exhibition
NewsMuseums & Heritage
London's Victoria and Albert Museum set to cut at least 103 jobs to 'ensure its survival', director says
Museum says it is in "its worst financial position on record" because of coronavirus
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Centre Pompidou could close for three years for 'essential' renovations
French government also considering option of a seven-year overhaul that would allow the Paris gallery to stay partially open
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Has Putin’s $1.6bn plan to build new cultural centres throughout Russia hit the rocks?
Foundation running the huge project has cut more than 80% of staff, but construction continues
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Quebec Culture Minister promises overhaul of Montreal Museum of Fine Arts after independent report cites governance issues
The redacted report suggests major changes, including the creation of an ethics committee or a reduction in the board’s size
CommentMuseums & Heritage
The only way is ethics: US museums should not neglect provenance research in the funding crisis
Ethical institutional practices such as staff equity and due diligence are essential investments, "not merely a luxury for flush times"
CommentDeaccessioning
Done right, selling museum pieces can work—but probably not with Michelangelos
UK museums may deaccession collection objects with curatorial justification and transparency, but it cannot be treated as a quick financial fix
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Inside The Box: Plymouth’s £48m bid for cultural revival
Pandemic scuppers city’s celebrations of Mayflower anniversary and hopes for tourist crowds—but flagship museum project opens against the odds
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Royal Academy of Arts considers selling Michelangelo marble to plug financial hole—and not for the first time
Some academicians argue that instead of cutting almost half of the institution's jobs, it should consider selling the Taddei Tondo—worth several hundred million pounds
PreviewExhibitions
What can we learn from the Salem Witch Trials?
A historical exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum traces the political and religious forces that led to the executions of innocent people
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Discover Raphael’s creative process with new state-of-the-art renovation of V&A's Cartoons Court
New 3D imagery reveals secrets of the Renaissance masterpieces as space reopens in time for 500th anniversary of Old Master's death
NewsMuseums & Heritage
As US blocks TikTok, Italy's Uffizi claims the platform has doubled its number of young visitors
Experts predict that alternative platforms such as Byte App and Dubsmash will now go mainstream and museum's director says it is "ready to jump onto new social media"
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Stone, bronze, glass, pathways: Princeton University Art Museum unveils David Adjaye's design
Pavilions linked by transparent “lenses” will dispense with hierarchies and display renowned collection on a single level
NewsAcquisitions
American Folk Art Museum announces gift of over 500 works by self-taught artists
Trove donated by collector Audrey B. Heckler includes examples of European Art Brut and works by African-American artists
Newsdiversity
Rockefeller Brothers Fund plans $1.5m in grants to help New York museums promote diverse artists
Financial aid will help eight institutions “disrupt dominant narratives” and “build back a more equitable culture” after Covid lockdown
NewsMuseums
Plans for world's biggest Picasso museum in south of France scuppered
Aix-en-Provence city council says that sale fell through after negotiations with artist’s stepdaughter broke down
NewsMuseums
Citing pandemic, V&A and Smithsonian drop plan to co-curate a gallery in London
After cancellation of project for V&A East, the institutions say they still plan to cooperate on an internship programme
NewsOpenings
Pack your goggles! France to open three underwater sculpture parks this autumn
Visitors will need to swim to see new exhibits submerged off the coast of Corsica, Marseille and Cannes
NewsMuseums
Indian museum celebrating Muslim dynasty renamed after Hindu king
The museum, located in Agra, will show art, jewellery and fashion of the Mughal Empire
NewsDeaccessioning
Cranach, Courbet and Corot: a closer look at what the Brooklyn Museum is selling off
The institution is deaccessioning its only Cranach and 11 other works to finance care of its collection
CommentMuseums
A new kind of museum is emerging—here's what the future holds
International museum leaders are confronting manifold challenges in the wake of Covid-19 and innovating in six principal ways, writes András Szántó
András Szántó