Museums & Heritage
Metropolitan Museum gifted 188 Dada and Surrealist works
The promised gift from museum trustee John Pritzker includes pieces by Man Ray, Marcel and Suzanne Duchamp, Jean Arp and others
Lina Ghotmeh to transform historic Uzbek scholar’s house into Jadids’ Legacy Museum
The space, due to open in 2027, will be dedicated to the ideas and enduring influence of Jadidism
London’s National Gallery receives record-breaking donations for new wing—and will start collecting contemporary art
An unprecedented £375m has already been raised for the extension, which will have space for hundreds of paintings—while Tate is collaborating with the gallery on a revised acquisition strategy
Crystal Bridges Museum's expansion will open in June 2026
The Arkansas institution also announced that it has received two gifts totalling more than 200 works by over 100 artists
Banking family’s treasures go on show at Bath’s Holburne Museum
Nearly 200 Renaissance works, on long-term loan from the Schroder Collection, will be displayed in a dedicated gallery
Bayeux Tapestry is safe to travel to UK, insists British Museum director
Nicholas Cullinan says that French and UK experts will guide every stage of the loan
New draft guidance for UK museums calls for ‘transition away’ from fossil fuels sponsorship
The draft “Code of Ethics” was published by the Museums Association earlier this week
Giorgio Armani, designer who changed how museums engage with fashion, has died aged 91
As well as for his iconic designs, Armani will be remembered for his broad cultural legacy
Smithsonian leader asserts ‘authority over our programming’ in letters to staff and Trump White House
Lonnie G. Bunch III, the Smithsonian’s secretary, wrote in a staff letter and another addressed to the White House that the institution will continue its internal review
Sylvain Amic, ‘open spirited’ head of Musée d'Orsay, has died aged 58
His death was announced on Sunday by the French culture minister, Rachida Dati
Smithsonian leader meets with Trump for 'cordial' White House lunch
As the White House reviews the Smithsonian's programming, Lonnie G. Bunch was called in to meet with the president and one of the aides leading the review
Philadelphia museum sues Trump administration over lost federal funding
After filing its lawsuit, the Woodmere received a letter from the Institute of Museum and Library Services informing it that the full $750,000 grant had been reinstated
Cultural organisations warn UK government of ‘crippling’ changes to membership legislation
The heads of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Trust UK say the changes could seriously impact lucrative membership schemes
Stories brought to life: the National Portrait Gallery's latest virtual reality venture is a triumph of immersive storytelling
The London gallery and Frameless Creative, a leading maker of immersive experiences, have combined to create an unforgettable touring experience, with its first location at Salford Quays
Van Gogh Museum claims it could be ‘forced to close’ amid funding feud with Dutch state
The museum has raised concerns about the safety of its collection, visitors and staff
France returns three human skulls to Madagascar—including one that may have belonged to a king
The restitution is the first to take place under a 2023 French law on the return of human remains
Campaign group threatens legal action over University of Leicester's trans-inclusive museums guidance
Freedom in the Arts claims the guidance is “misleading”, but others say it plays an important role in protecting transgender people against discrimination
Claws for celebration: Canada’s first cat museum launching with Montreal pop-up exhibition
After the museum’s fur-st show, founder Aqeela Nahani hopes to open a purr-manent space in 2026
The US’s largest Raphael exhibition is opening at the Met next year
“Raphael: Sublime Poetry” is being curated by Carmen Bambach, who organised the Met’s hugely popular Michelangelo exhibition in 2017-18
Artists and scholars respond to White House’s list of Smithsonian grievances
Amy Sherald, the historian Ibram X. Kendi and others personally attacked in the Trump administration’s list of reasons for why the president “is right about the Smithsonian” hit back
Ancient artefacts from sunken city lifted out of Mediterranean near Alexandria
A selection of the objects, some dating back 2,000 years, is now on view at the Alexandria National Museum
US museums urged to stop lobbying against Nazi loot restitution bill
A bipartisan group of Senators has proposed amendments to the Hear Act of 2016, but some powerful organisations are concerned the changes go too far
‘We’ve faced immense new pressures’: Shanghai museum director on the challenges—and benefits—of going free entry
Rockbund Art Museum faced complaints after first making the change, but its director says audiences have since been “transformed”
Tens of thousands sign petition to stop loan of ‘extremely fragile’ Bayeux Tapestry to UK
The appeal references alleged warnings from textile restorers that a move could risk damaging the 1,000-year-old work’s embroidered linen fabric
Getty Foundation awards $2.6m in grants to preserve Black visual arts archives
Libraries, museums and archives throughout the US will use the funds to make their collections more accessible through digitisation and—at least in one case—a VR game
Dallas Museum of Art picks director wrapping up another institutional expansion to guide it through campus overhaul
Brian Ferriso will inaugurate the expansion of the Portland Art Museum on 20 November and start his new job in Dallas on 1 December
Trump accuses Smithsonian of being too focused on ‘how bad slavery was’
The US president’s criticisms come as the White House begins a review of the Smithsonian’s programmes and exhibitions
San Francisco’s de Young Museum opens revamped Native American art galleries
The spaces are curated by a team of predominantly Native curators, with a special focus on bridging historical and contemporary works
US Senator calls for investigation into MoMA trustee Leon Black’s business ties to Jeffrey Epstein
The push by Senator Ron Wyden comes amid partisan disputes over the nature and extent of Epstein’s dealings with the rich and powerful
Barbara Hepworth sculpture to remain in UK following over 2,000 public donations
The fundraising campaign was also supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Art Fund