The art world, in context
News, people and ideas across policy.
Image: ArtskPeople · Policy · Washington DC
Kehinde Wiley has written to President Donald Trump asking to repurchase his 2015 painting Young Artists After Siamesas 1960, which the State Department removed from the US Embassy in Santo Domingo in August. Officials had branded the work 'woke' during a broader purge of embassy art.
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Image: ArtskThe UK government has confirmed England's national museums will keep universal free admission, ruling out charging overseas visitors. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the museums 'must be free, forever, for everyone.'
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Image: ArtskArts Council of Wales announced on 17 September 2026 that 58 arts organisations across Wales will receive funding from the Arts Capital Investment Fund, after 81 applications. The fund reopened the same day with an additional £2m, bringing this year's total to £10m, with Welsh National Opera receiving the largest award of £510,000.
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Image: ArtskImmersive Arts announced £8.5m of second-phase funding in September 2026 to support UK artists working with immersive technology through to 2030, with £4.7m going directly to artists. The announcement was made at The Big Thing event in Llandudno, held from 9 to 11 September.
Image: ArtskThe Arts Council of Northern Ireland opened applications on 18 September 2026 for its £750,000 Musical Instruments Programme, offering grants of up to £30,000 to bands. Applications close at 12 noon on Thursday 15 October 2026.
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Image: ArtskThe new Shared Island Touring Scheme announced awards totalling €200,000 in early September 2026, with Luail, Sirius Arts Centre and Edwina Guckian among the first recipients. The scheme will run to 2030 with a total budget of €2m.
Image: ArtskThe UK government launched a review of guidance for museums holding human remains on 18 September 2026, following a written statement by arts minister Ruth Mackenzie. The review will be chaired by Sue Black.
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Image: ArtskThe National Lottery Heritage Fund published its £1.4bn investment priorities for the next three years on 8 September 2026, under its 2026-29 delivery plan. The plan includes £20m for young people and around £130m for heritage at risk, the Museums Journal reported.
Source date ·Image: ArtskThe American Alliance of Museums published a statement on 3 September 2026 rejecting an 28 August Department of the Interior letter and defending the independence of the Smithsonian and America's museums, reaffirming its 20 July position.
Source date ·Image: ArtskThe American Alliance of Museums issued its September Advocacy Alert on 8 September 2026, reporting a delayed OMB proposed rule, a newly released IMLS museum survey and upcoming civic holidays for museum engagement.
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Image: ArtskCreative New Zealand announced a multi-year investment package on 9 September 2026 worth $40.8m in 2026/27 and $116m over three years, with 183 grants across four tiers and 159 organisations receiving multi-year support.
Source date ·Image: ArtskThe UK government has confirmed universal free entry to England's national museums will continue, ruling out admission charges for overseas visitors. The 'free forever' pledge was announced at an Art Fund and Cultural Policy Unit event at Tate Liverpool on 28 September 2026.