LInks for February 2, 2026

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curtains closed. After several performers canceled shows and public patronage continued to decline, president donald trump announced on Sunday that he would be closing kennedy center The two-year renovation project begins on July 4, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. washington post Report. The sudden move comes after Trump unabashedly took over the venue in December and renamed it the Trump Kennedy Center. In a Truth Society post outlining the plans, Trump made no mention of the increasingly vacant seats or of artists severing ties with the institution, which was most recently renovated in 2019. Democratic lawmakers noted that Congress typically approves such projects. Instead, Trump offered no details but said “financing is complete” for the renovations, which “will transform a tired, broken and dilapidated center… into a world-class bastion of arts, music and entertainment that is better than ever.” In an effort to leave its mark on the American landmark, washington post New details have also been reported about a grand arch that Trump wants to build near the Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C. The president has chosen a larger-than-expected golden arch, already dubbed the “Trump Arch,” that will stand 250 feet tall, dwarfing surrounding monuments and landscape, making it the tallest of its kind in the world, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Glasgow farewell. The city is short of funds contemporary art centerwill be permanently closed, British Broadcasting Corporation Report. A year ago, the venue was given a lifeline £3.4 million ($4.65 million) by art groups creative scotlandbut this was not enough to solve its financial problems. CCA gave staff just one day’s notice of the closure during a recent online video call, according to CCA Union Hotel alliance, speaking BBC Scotland News . As a result, all upcoming events have reportedly been cancelled. Creative Scotland said it would explore options “with the aim of reopening the center as a cultural resource as soon as possible”, but added that no further payments would be made to the centre. CCA. Earlier this month, the CCA said it was reviewing its fundraising policy after protests criticized its board for not taking a supportive stance. Palestinian Academic and Cultural Movement against Israel (PACBI).

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this Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA)) has been appointed in New Delhi Manuel Rabat Serves as its first CEO and director. The French joined from Louvre Abu DhabiHe has served as the museum’s first director since its opening in 2016. [ARTnews]

Scientists uncover nearly 500-year-old secret beneath layers of paint anne boleynHever “Rose” Portrait hever castleher childhood home. It provides evidence that its artist created a “visual rebuttal” to rumors of his beheaded wife Henry VIII As campaigners for the revival of Roman Catholicism in Britain claimed, she was a witch with a sixth finger on her right hand. [The Guardian]

this national galleryin london Appointed Patrick Elliott As curator of modern painting, this is part of the museum’s Domani program’s expansion into 20th and 21st century art. Eliot from National Gallery of Scotland In Edinburgh he is chief curator of modern and contemporary art. [The Art Newspaper]

as Art Basel Qatar Preparing for the opening this week, Sheikha Mayasa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani,President Qatar Museum, The director of the fair spoke of the area’s growing arts hub and how “culture breeds tolerance.” “As a society, we are very conservative… but we are very tolerant and we welcome people from all backgrounds and beliefs,” Al Mayasa said. [Financial Times]

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condolences. icelandic artist Bjorn RoseWorking with his father, Dieter Rothand his own sons who created provocative, unconventional and massive installations and has now died aged 64, according to reports new york times . Will Heinrich writes that the theme of the shared family art practice was “the inexorable passage of time, manifested in the decay of flesh and matter—or, more optimistically, in the awe-inspiring creativity of sheer endurance.” After the death of Björn’s father Dieter in 1998, he continued to expand on existing works while creating new ones. In a 2013 interview, Bjorn said of the creative process with his father: “I think it’s kind of special, how close we are, how closely we work together. In the end, it’s like we’re doing what we do.”