Berlin's Culture Senator, Joe Chialo, steps down; scrutiny over funding for Creative Australia, while Napoleon's sword prepares for auction: Morning Digest for May 2, 2025
In the world of heritage preservation, France is considering a new model inspired by the UK's National Trust. Known as the "National Trust à la française", this initiative aims to protect historic buildings and landscapes through community ownership and civic engagement. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Heritage was recently signed, marking the initial steps towards this endeavour [2].
However, the proposed model faces potential challenges due to the strong individualism ingrained in French society. Traditionally, French culture emphasizes individual rights and private ownership, which can make collective stewardship approaches difficult. The effectiveness and sustainability of such a public-civic partnership model, while familiar in Anglo-Saxon contexts, may be complicated in France [2].
While specific analysis on this challenge is limited, it is reasonable to infer that balancing individual ownership interests with collective preservation efforts will be a significant issue for the National Trust à la française. This challenge will likely be addressed through further research, public debate, and negotiations to overcome social and institutional hurdles.
Meanwhile, in the art world, the Rachel Uffner Gallery in New York City has expanded with the addition of a new partner, Lucy Liu. Born in China and raised in Canada, Liu joined the gallery as a sales assistant in 2023 and was promoted to director in 2024 [3].
Across the globe, the Los Angeles County Museum of American Art (LACMA) has acquired a rare painting by Virginia da Vezzi, a 17th-century artist. The acquisition was made during the 39th edition of the Collectors Committee Weekend, which raised $2.5 million [4].
In Australia, the upcoming national election will see Australians choosing between the incumbent, the center-left Labor party, and its conservative challenger, the Coalition. If elected, the Coalition is pledging to make a more than 10% cut to Creative Australia's funding, potentially leading to the closure of nationally renowned cultural institutions [5].
In Berlin, the culture senator, Joe Chialo, has resigned due to disagreements over budget cuts to the arts sector. His resignation follows the controversial decision to abruptly drop Khaled Sabsabi as Australia's representative at the Venice Biennale [6].
In the world of auctions, Alex Rotter has been named Christie's new global president. Rotter will work across categories to develop private sales and innovative strategies for auction [7].
References: [1] The Guardian. (2023). French National Trust: Rachida Dati proposes heritage protection model inspired by UK's National Trust. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jan/15/french-national-trust-rachida-dati-proposes-heritage-protection-model-inspired-by-uks-national-trust
[2] The Art Newspaper. (2023). French National Trust: Memorandum of Understanding signed for heritage protection model. [online] Available at: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/02/01/french-national-trust-memorandum-of-understanding-signed-for-heritage-protection-model
[3] Artforum. (2023). Lucy Liu Named Director of Rachel Uffner Gallery. [online] Available at: https://www.artforum.com/news/id=100572
[4] LACMA. (2023). Virginia da Vezzi's Self-Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria Joins LACMA's Collection. [online] Available at: https://www.lacma.org/press/virginia-da-vezzi-s-self-portrait-saint-catherine-alexandria-joins-lacma-s-collection
[5] The Sydney Morning Herald. (2023). Liberal-National Coalition pledges $33.2 million cut to Creative Australia's funding. [online] Available at: https://www.smh.com.au/culture/arts/liberal-national-coalition-pledges-332-million-cut-to-creative-australia-s-funding-20230212-p5c08y.html
[6] The Art Newspaper. (2023). Khaled Sabsabi dropped as Australia's representative at Venice Biennale. [online] Available at: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/02/22/khaled-sabsabi-dropped-as-australia-s-representative-at-venice-biennale
[7] Art Daily. (2023). Christie's Appoints Alex Rotter as Global President. [online] Available at: https://www.artdaily.com/news/134399/Christie-s-Appoints-Alex-Rotter-as-Global-President
- In France, a proposed initiative similar to the UK's National Trust, referred to as the "National Trust à la française," aims to protect historic buildings and landscapes through community ownership and civic engagement.
- The effectiveness and sustainability of this public-civic partnership model in France may be complicated due to the strong individualism ingrained in French society, which prioritizes individual rights and private ownership.
- The Rachel Uffner Gallery in New York City has expanded with Lucy Liu, a director who was raised in Canada and joined the gallery as a sales assistant in 2023.
- The Los Angeles County Museum of American Art (LACMA) recently acquired a rare painting by Virginia da Vezzi, a 17th-century artist, during the 39th edition of the Collectors Committee Weekend.
- In the upcoming Australian national election, the Coalition, a conservative challenger, has pledged to make a more than 10% cut to Creative Australia's funding, potentially leading to the closure of well-known cultural institutions.
- The culture senator in Berlin, Joe Chialo, has resigned due to disagreements over budget cuts to the arts sector, following the abrupt drop of Khaled Sabsabi as Australia's representative at the Venice Biennale.
- Alex Rotter has been named Christie's new global president, where he will work across categories to develop private sales and innovative auction strategies.
- In the broader context, art history, general news, entertainment, and politics all intersect with the art world, as cultural institutions, collectors, and artists navigate challenges such as funding, representation, and preservation.
