Art Industry News is a daily summary of the most important developments in the art world and the art market. Here’s what you need to know on Tuesday, March 30.
NEED TO READ
Visits to museums and galleries drop 77% – the art diary‘s annual survey found that attendance at the world’s 100 most visited art museums fell by two-thirds, to just 54 million people, in 2020. European museums, including those in France, Spain and Germany, have been particularly affected due to prolonged closures and a reduction in international tourism. In the United States, attendance varied widely by state, consistent with local public health measures. The Guggenheim in New York experienced the most severe fall, with 88% fewer visitors. (The arts journal)
South Africa’s Artist Relief Fund disappears – Artists accuse their government of mismanagement of funds after it was reported that 300 million rand ($20 million) intended to help artists, musicians and other cultural workers support themselves during the pandemic has ‘disappeared’ “. The government denies any wrongdoing. (News 24)
Intrigue Palace at the Louvre – Jean-Luc Martinez, who was president and director of the Louvre for eight years, suddenly faces an uphill battle to be reappointed after opponents sparked this Le Figaro described as “a rain of stink bombs” in recent weeks, including criticism of building renovations and expensive acquisitions. The government, which oversees major museum appointments, is now planning to launch an open competition for the post before Martinez’s contract expires in April. (TANNING)
Humboldt Forum faces accusations of poor working environment – Staff at the mega-museum Humboldt Forum described their working environment as dangerous and difficult. “I’ve never worked anywhere where I’ve encountered so much fear,” one employee said. Another complained of being locked in a room for three hours by accident, unable to call anyone because cell phones weren’t allowed. A former black employee said he suffered repeated microaggressions. (Tagspiegel)
ART MARKET
Joe Bradley leaves Gagosian – In a rare move for an artist represented by a mega-gallery, the abstract painter left Gagosian after five years to exhibit with Petzel in New York and Xavier Hufkens in Brussels. He will continue to be presented by his longtime dealer Eva Presenhuber in Switzerland. (ART news)
Harlan Levey Projects opens a second space in Brussels – Harlan Levey Projects is expanding to a new space in the Molenbeek district, its second location in its hometown of Brussels, Belgium. Located in a former warehouse, the new gallery will make its debut on April 22 on the sidelines of Art Brussels Week with an exhibition by Polish-born artist Marcin Dudek, who works between performance, installation and collage. (Press release)
GO AND GO
ArtCenter College President Resigns Lorne Buchman will be retiring from the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California next year. During his 12-year tenure, the institution expanded to a new campus, opened the ArtCenter DTLA satellite exhibition space, and raised $124 million. But the school struggled with diversity; Black students made up just 1% of the student body in 2019. (Los Angeles Times)
DC’s National Gallery of Art appoints new head of education – Damon Reaves will become head of education at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, starting June 7. He previously worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, most recently as Acting Senior Curator of Education and Public Programs. (Type of crop)
FOR ART
San Francisco launches guaranteed income for artists – The mayor of San Francisco has partnered with the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts to administer a pilot program providing guaranteed income to local artists who have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. The city, one of the most expensive in the United States, will provide $1,000 a month to around 130 artists for six months starting in May. (Daily Artfix)
Anni Albers gets her due – One half of the pioneering Bauhaus couple Anni and Josef Albers are now the namesake in the public square in front of the Josef Albers Museum in Bottrop, Germany. The renaming of Anni-Albers-Platz to Josef’s hometown marks the 50th anniversary of the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. (Press release)
The green space in front of the Josef Albers museum. Photo Quadrat Bottrop, 2021
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