BEST?

Reopened for Business – As New York City continues to gradually reopen, so do galleries, but expect increased health and safety measures, and forget about any “sip and see” viewings.

Black Women Using Art for Good – In Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland, Black women are taking control of arts initiatives to enact positive change, and bolstering the arts communities in the process.

Facing History – Thomas Jefferson’s sixth-great-grandson, Shannon LaNier a Black newscaster, sat for a portrait recreating that of his famous forefather, who fathered children with an enslaved woman.

A Ghostly Artist Residency – Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn is looking for a (living) artist in residence to commune with the famous spirits, source the archives, and create a new work based on the historic graveyard.

In the Shadow of Grenfell Tower – Artist Khadija Saye is the subject of a moving new public art exhibition, three years after she tragically died in the Grenfell Tower fire.

Billions in Bailout for UK – The UK government is infusing its floundering art scene with $1.9 billion in emergency funds after facing criticism for not providing enough support.

Survey Says – A new study analyzes what the public wants from the future of art. The short answer? Safety, escapism, and fun.

WORST?

Museum Jobs Slashed – In the past month alone, more than 1,000 jobs across 17 museums in the United States have been eliminated due to the extended shutdown.

Trump’s Monumental Plans – The president wants to create a National Garden to honor “American Heroes”; he continues to threaten those calling for the removal of Confederate statues and other racist symbols.

Tut Tut Tut – A new film investigates if Egypt broke its own antiquities laws when it loaned artifacts from King Tut’s tomb to a touring exhibition.

Pay to P.P.Play – Art galleries Gagosian, David Zwirner, Pace, and Hauser & Wirth got millions of dollars in PPP loans, while the economy continues to tumble during the economic crisis.

FBI Foils a Forgery Ring – Artist DB Henkel is accused of forging paintings by artists Gertrude Abercrombie, Ralston Crawford, and George Copeland Ault out of his shed in Michigan.

ArtPrize Canceled – The largest biennial in the US has canceled the 2020 edition, and furloughed its entire staff as it reckons with the economic fallout. The sprawling city-wide event usually features more than 1,000 artists, and awards $500,000 in prize money.

To Basel or Not? – Organizers of Art Basel Miami Beach are extending the deadline for dealers to sign on to exhibit at the fair as Florida continues to face an influx of coronavirus cases.

Another Stingel Lawsuit – Art dealer Joe Nahmad is suing Phillips auction house for reneging on a deal to guarantee a work by artist Rudolf Stingel.