Coronavirus

Museums in Poland and Germany forced to close—again—as third pandemic wave hits Europe

Some countries are operating a system based on regional coronavirus case numbers while others have gone into full lockdown

‘Mirror pandemic’: art’s vital role in tackling the mental health crisis

A multi-agency $15m initiative backed by the WHO and funded through a series of charity auctions at Christie’s will support artist-led projects to improve mental, social and environmental health

Podcastspodcast

The results are in: the real impact of Covid-19 on the art market

Plus, Dawn Ades on Duchamp and Superflex on Cildo Meireles

You can now buy a piece of a New Orleans Mardi Gras ‘house float’ to support local artists

Elements of the impromptu and extravagant holiday decorations will fund the hiring of builders, artists and musicians, as well as local Covid-19 relief

New York's Performa festival to be held entirely outdoors this year

Taking pandemic indoor occupancy limits into account, the biennial moves outside of performance spaces

World Health Organization joins art world to launch global campaign confronting mental health toll of pandemic

Year-long series of Healing Arts auctions and events aims to support mental health treatment and recovery in the wake of Covid-19

Members of US museums association narrowly reject proposal to contemplate a change in guidelines on art sales

Amid debate, AAMD votes 91-88 against exploring a controversial revision of rules to allow proceeds to finance collections care

Los Angeles museums are revving up to reopen

Amid decline in Covid-19 cases, governor lifts a closure mandate that had stirred some dissent

Virtual museum law conference shows how the pandemic has affected institutional administration

From dealing with cyberattacks on newly implemented digital offerings, to figuring out how to renegotiate a postponed loan, the coronavirus has raised a whole new crop of issues for museums

Artist Yan Pei-Ming makes vast pandemic painting inspired by plague scenes of the Isenheim altarpiece

“The viewer might be shocked. It is life today,” says the artist who created the Covid-19 works in isolation in his studio in Dijon

Pandemic anniversary: the things museums should learn from our plague year

Although “thumbstoppable” social media content is essential, the online world has dark consequences too, says Tristram Hunt, the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum

Brazilnews

Brazilian government suspends federal cultural funding in areas with Covid restrictions

As the country's coronavirus cases spike, a new ordinance temporarily stops support for projects in places that have not yet lifted lockdown measures

Lorna Simpson, Rirkrit Tiravanija and other artists donate works to benefit New York charities

The Artists Support initiative will donate 100% of proceeds to local organisations

Louvre launches flurry of brand partnerships and ‘e-boutique’ in bid to make up Covid deficit

Deprived of visitors, the world’s most popular museum is striking deals with brands such as Uniqlo to reach international audiences online

Freelance workers are the backbone of the art world—but how are they expected to survive on a pittance?

If culture is to recover from the pandemic, the sector must value the self-employed more so that the next generation—of all backgrounds—can afford to live a creative life

'It feels slightly surreal!' German museums can open from Monday—but with complicated caveats

In a surprise ruling, the government prioritises museum openings ahead of restaurants and sports facilities

UK Budget 2021: further £408m boost for struggling culture sector

Chancellor Rishi Sunak digs deep, adding £300m to the £1.57bn Cultural Recovery Fund, £90m more for museums, and £18m for cultural community projects

Governments are ‘weaponising’ Covid-19 to silence dissident artist voices, report says

Seventeen artists were killed, 82 imprisoned and 133 detained over the past year in 26 countries, according to new Freemuse study

Economic reports reveal drastic loss of arts jobs in the US

In New York, two-thirds of posts in the creative sector are gone, while nearly a quarter of the workforce in Los Angeles has been cut

Swiss museums can reopen from 1 March as country eases lockdown restrictions

Fondation Beyeler will shows Arp and Rodin while Kunstmuseum Bern has a show on Latin American political art

‘Many museums will be lost’: US association appeals to Congress to support funding for institutions

Invoking the pandemic, advocates seek federal money for agencies that support museum programmes as well as operations grants and charitable tax deductions

Whitney lays off 15 more staff members, citing ‘extremely low’ attendance

Museum’s director notes that it may take until 2025 for tourists to return in force to New York

Officials confirm: museums in England can reopen from 17 May under Boris Johnson’s lockdown roadmap

Commercial galleries will be permitted to open from 12 April under the new plan to gradually lift Covid-19 safety measures

Podcastspodcast

'Black grief and white grievance' at New York’s New Museum

Plus, artists with disabilities in the Covid era and Goya's Disasters of War

Met director defends move to consider deaccessioning for collections care rather than art purchases

Max Hollein argues that more art will not necessarily be sold, although proceeds can now go to other purposes amid the pandemic financial crisis

Visitor crush at Vatican museums

Tourists left “shocked and afraid” by their experiences at the museum say Covid-19 security measures were not followed

Podcastspodcast

Stonehenge: could a road tunnel ruin the ancient site?

Plus, French museums revolt against lockdown closures and artist Crystal Fischetti on Karla Black

Thanks to a £3m gift, the National Trust could finally uncover a secret portrait of Mary Queen of Scots

Conservation boost from a US charity comes after the heritage organisation faced a £200m revenue collapse due to the pandemic

Far-right mayor reopens four museums in southern France—without government’s permission

Although national museums are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Perpignan's Musée Rigaud, Casa Pairal, Musée Puig and the museum of natural history are open to the public again

Art marketanalysis

Pandemic prompts New York artists to leave the city in search of more affordable space

Tara Donovan, GaHee Park and artist-owners of Brooklyn's Elijah Wheat Showroom are among those who are leaving in pursuit of nature