Arts

Global art sales rise 4% to $59.6 billion in 2025

Global art sales increased by 4% to $59.6 billion in 2025, according to a report by Art Basel and UBS, marking a recovery from two years of decline; however, sales remain below pre-pandemic levels due to ongoing geopolitical volatility and rising operational costs.

EU threatens funding over Russian pavilion at Biennale

The European Commission has threatened to withdraw funding from the Venice Biennale if organizers proceed with plans to reopen the Russian pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition, scheduled from May 9 to November 22, 2026. European Commission Vice-President Hanna Virkkunen and Commissioner Glenys Kinnock stated that allowing Russia's participation contradicts the EU's position on sanctions against Russia due to its aggression in Ukraine. The Biennale Foundation's decision has faced criticism from various cultural organizations and the Ukrainian community, while Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli noted the government's opposition to the foundation's autonomous decision.

Researcher Discovers Missing Page from Archimedes Palimpsest

Victor Gysembergh, a researcher at the CNRS, has identified a missing page from the Archimedes Palimpsest at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Blois, France. This 10th-century folio, which features a geometric treatise by Archimedes, was confirmed through comparisons with photographs taken in 1906 when the manuscript was complete. The page, now adorned with a later illumination, is believed to have been sold off during the Second World War to escape persecution.

Italy Acquires Caravaggio Portrait for €30 Million

The Italian state has acquired a Caravaggio portrait of Maffeo Barberini, the future Pope Urban VIII, for €30 million, marking one of the highest amounts ever paid by Italy for a single artwork. The acquisition, finalized after over a year of negotiations with a private collector, will enhance the representation of Caravaggio's work within Italy's public institutions and is part of a broader initiative to protect and promote national cultural heritage. The painting will be displayed at Palazzo Barberini in Rome, joining one of the world's foremost collections of Caravaggio's art.

Museums Face Gender Crisis Amid Staff Changes

Museums are experiencing a crisis as male staff retire while female employees are disproportionately laid off, raising concerns about gender representation in leadership roles within arts institutions. This trend has prompted discussions about the potential for a gender backlash in museum leadership, as the sector grapples with maintaining gender equality amidst ongoing challenges.