Vancouver

Art gallery staff question whether finances robust enough for new building

“A new round of layoffs at the Vancouver Art Gallery has prompted staff and their union rep to speak out even more vocally this past week” Frances Bula (Blog), August 19, 2010

Saskatoon

Art Gallery of Saskatchewan project cost rising

“The proposed Art Gallery of Saskatchewan is still two years away from being built, but the cost is rising. The proposed art gallery at River Landing is to replace the existing Mendel Art Gallery.” CBC News, August 20, 2010

Toronto

Ten years, one huge Crystal, zero regrets
“Over the past decade, the now-departing director of the Royal Ontario Museum has steered the 96-year-old Toronto institution through a radical and sometimes controversial revamping on the strength of his charm and energy.” Globe & Mail, August 21, 2010

A glittering wake for a much-missed artist

Will Munro was a unique presence in the Toronto art world. An AGO show succeeds beyond expectations in celebrating his work. Globe & Mail, August 20, 2010

First Person: Chen Shen reports from the field

Interview with Chen Shen, senior curator and chair of East Asian Archaeology at the ROM. National Post, August 20, 2010

Prince Edward Island

Sotheby's inundated on P.E.I. visit

The auction house Sotheby's could not keep up with the calls after Prince Edward Islanders learned a Canadian art specialist was coming to the province. CBC News, August 23, 2010

Los Angeles

Eli Broad says Yaroslavsky website is wrong; no decision yet on museum's destination

"Broad will not say until Monday, after the Grand Avenue Authority casts the final vote on the proposal, whether he'll build the museum downtown or at a site offered by the City of Santa Monica.” Los Angeles Times, August 18, 2010

Nashville, Tenn.

Judge rejects Fisk deal to sell O'Keeffe share

“A judge on Friday rejected Fisk University's latest attempt to sell to an Arkansas museum a joint stake in a 101-piece collection donated to the school by the late artist Georgia O'Keeffe.” Bloomberg Business Week, August 20, 2010

London

Museums and galleries generate £1bn for UK economy

“Overseas visitors to the UK's major museums and galleries boosted the nation's economy by £1bn in 2009, the national tourist authority has said. Of about 30 million visits made to the UK last year, over a third included a trip to a leading cultural institution, a report by VisitBritain said.”  BBC News, August 21, 2010

Vienna

Nazi-looted painting returns to Vienna museum

“A painting by Austrian expressionist Egon Schiele has been returned to display at a Vienna museum after a 12-year possession battle over the artwork, once stolen by the Nazis.” CBC News, August 23, 2010

Petra

Discovery of ancient cave paintings in Petra stuns art scholars

“Exquisite artworks hidden under 2,000 years of soot and grime in a Jordanian cave have been restored by experts from the Courtauld Institute in London.” The Guardian (UK), August 22, 2010.

Athens

Greek pay dispute kills night Acropolis opening

The Acropolis in Athens will be closed on the night of the August full moon next week, due to a pay dispute.  CBC News, August 20, 2010

Cairo

Faulty blamed for Van Gogh theft in Egypt‎ alarms

“The theft of a Vincent Van Gogh painting worth about $50m (£32m) from a Cairo museum on Saturday has been blamed on poor security. Egypt's top prosecutor, Abdel Meguid Mahmud, said none of the alarms at the Khalil Museum and only seven out of 43 security cameras were working.” BBC, August 22, 2010

Various

Why You Can't Always Trust Art Dealers

“Art buyers have long been wary of the prices dealers charge in a notoriously opaque market. Sellers of art also are increasingly becoming suspicious.” Wall Street Journal, August 20, 2010