BEST?

Smithsonian’s Landmark Appointment – Historian Lonnie Bunch was announced as the next secretary of the Smithsonian Institutions in Washington, DC, becoming the first ever African American appointed to the position.

Salaries Revealed – A veteran curator at the Philadelphia Museum circulated a Google spreadsheet detailing salary information that just might tip the scales for how museum employees negotiate their pay.

Panda Passion – This photographer went from covering wars to raising awareness for pandas—and has even embedded with the furry friends.

Gucci Makes a Statement – Gucci designer Alessandro Michele sent models down the runway wearing a bold, pro-choice message in response to the slew of abortion-restricting laws cropping up around the US.

Back in the Habit – The nun and pop artist Sister Corita Kent is getting a New York show, as well as a new space dedicated to her work in California.

Facebook Hires Art Staff – The beleaguered social-media giant is investing in the arts by hiring staff to commission public art projects around the world.

Movie at the Met – The adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Goldfinch isn’t coming to the silver screen until January, but a new trailer reveals first glimpses set at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It stars Nicole Kidman and Ansel Elgort.

Doing Justice to RBG? – Ruth Bader Ginsburg has donated a portrait of herself to the Brooklyn Museum. We spoke to the artist who captured the iconic justice.

WORST?

Influencing Mueller? – Actor and political artist Jim Carrey urged Robert Mueller to address the public—and the next day the former special counsel did just that.

No Creative License for Notre Dame – Despite the many creative propositions for a new spire to sit atop the burned-down cathedral, the French government has said that the iconic structure will be restored to its original design.

Lithuania Pavilion in Peril – The high cost of running Lithuania’s Golden Lion-winning pavilion at the Venice Biennale could shut down the operation. Now organizers are seeking help from the public.

Hackers Infiltrate Team Gallery – After an art collector was hacked while trying to purchase a work of art from the New York-based Team Gallery, serious questions are being raised about the vulnerability of galleries in a digital era.

Louvre Staffers Go on Strike – Staff at the Paris museum are on strike, saying they are unable to adequately accommodate the exploding number of tourists and visitors. The move has led the museum to temporarily shut down.