All articles tagged with #museums
Nine people were indicted in a decade-long €10 million ticketing scam at the Louvre, involving ticket reuse by guides and splitting groups to dodge controls; cash seizures were made and two Louvre employees were among the suspects, with a broader investigation potentially linked to Versailles; the probe began after the Louvre filed a complaint in 2024 and is ongoing.
A Los Angeles Times critic argues that LA is rich in art beyond its film image, listing five favorites: the bronze Eros undercover by the ocean at the Getty Villa; the Fowler Museum’s celebrated textiles from Indonesia and beyond; the Huntington’s serene bonsai gardens; Kent Twitchell’s Ed Ruscha mural and LA’s vibrant mural culture; and Hollywood Forever cemetery, a living pantheon that hosts screenings and star tributes, showing how memory, landscape and art converge in the city, with a Google map guiding readers to more sites.
Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., have closed due to the ongoing government shutdown, which has entered its third week, affecting federal funding and operations, though animal care continues. The shutdown has led to significant financial and visitor losses, with political disagreements delaying a funding resolution.
The US government shutdown starting October 1, 2025, is causing potential disruptions in travel, including longer airport wait times, closed visitor centers at national parks, and uncertain impacts on museums like the Smithsonian, while essential services such as air traffic control and hospitals remain operational.
President Trump plans to expand his review of American museums for 'woke' ideology beyond the Smithsonian, raising concerns among historians about unprecedented government oversight and potential politicization of cultural institutions. Experts warn that such actions could undermine the independence of museums, distort historical narratives, and lead to censorship, especially as Trump has already targeted funding and personnel at various cultural agencies. Historians emphasize that museums regularly evolve their collections and interpretations, and political interference risks damaging their integrity and educational value.
President Trump announced plans to review U.S. museums, starting with the Smithsonian, aiming to remove what he calls 'woke' content, particularly targeting representations of Black history. The move raises concerns about government interference in independent museums and free speech, with legal experts emphasizing the First Amendment protections. The review's scope, timeline, and legal basis remain unclear, but it signals a potential shift in how cultural and historical institutions are managed and funded under his administration.
President Trump criticized the Smithsonian and other museums for promoting a 'woke' narrative, planning audits to align exhibits with his views on American exceptionalism, which has sparked concerns about censorship and free speech in cultural institutions.
The Parthenon museum in Nashville is returning pre-Columbian antiquities to Mexico after their exhibit concludes, reflecting a broader movement among museums worldwide to repatriate looted artifacts.
A nearly complete Stegosaurus fossil, expected to fetch up to $6 million at Sotheby's auction, has sparked controversy among paleontologists who argue such specimens should be preserved in museums for public education and scientific research. Despite these concerns, the auction will proceed, with the fossil's documentation and sale handled with high standards and transparency.
SoCal Museums is hosting its annual Free-For-All event at over 30 Southern California museums and cultural centers on Saturday, offering free general admission to encourage cultural participation and introduce new audiences to these institutions. The initiative, which started almost 20 years ago, aims to showcase the diverse range of art, heritage, history, and science available in the region. The offer is for general museum admission only and does not apply to specially ticketed exhibitions.
Promotional materials for Beyoncé's new country album were projected onto the exteriors of several NYC museums, including the Guggenheim and Whitney, without their authorization. While the Guggenheim denied involvement, Beyoncé shared the GPS coordinates of the museum on her Instagram. The stunt has sparked mixed reactions from fans and the museums, with some feeling it was inappropriate to project ads onto cultural institutions. This isn't the first time Beyoncé has used a cultural institution for promotion, as she previously filmed a music video at the Louvre in Paris.
Promotions for Beyoncé’s upcoming album "Cowboy Carter" were projected onto several museums in New York City, including the Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum, New Museum, and the Museum of Arts and Design. The album, set for release on March 29, features Beyoncé dressed as a rodeo queen and has sparked excitement among fans. While the Guggenheim Museum was not informed about or authorized the activation, Beyoncé's previous album launch involved the Louvre in Paris, and representatives for the other New York museums have not yet commented on the recent projections.
Renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky discusses his career chronicling the environmental impact of heavy industry, emphasizing the importance of capturing the right moment in his work. He acknowledges the anger of climate activists but cautions against a rapid transition from fossil fuels, highlighting the necessity of materials like lithium and copper for alternative energy. Burtynsky's personal history and his views on the commercialism of the art world are also explored, along with his disapproval of protests targeting museums and the challenges cultural institutions face in funding.
Museums across the United States are closing or adapting exhibits featuring Native American artifacts in response to new federal regulations requiring consultation, collaboration, and consent from descendants of Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian Organizations. The goal is to expedite the return of Native American remains and sacred items to tribes. The American Museum of Natural History in New York is closing two halls featuring Native American objects due to the new regulations, acknowledging the need to change their representation of Indigenous cultures.
The Musée D'Orsay in Paris has introduced an artificial intelligence (A.I.) replica of Vincent van Gogh that engages in conversations with visitors, offering insights into the artist's life and death. The A.I. Vincent was created using machine learning algorithms that analyzed van Gogh's letters and biographies, with human guidance provided for sensitive topics. The initiative is part of the museum's efforts to stay relevant and generate interest in its 19th-century collection. The A.I. program may also be released on Amazon Alexa and Echo devices in the future. Additionally, van Gogh's paintings have been incorporated into various digital platforms, including a virtual reality experience and the online game Roblox.