Museums, commercial galleries and auction houses across Europe, Australia and the Americas have shut to the public as COVID-19 spreads westward. The Museum of Modern Art in New York has shut through to 30 March, in line with most other American institutions and galleries, a decision made unilaterally as opposed to by government edict. The Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid is closed in accordance with government emergency planning that requires citizens to leave their homes only in essential circumstances. With 191 deaths, Spain is Europe’s worst-hit country after Italy. Berlin’s state museums closed Saturday and will remain so until at least 19 April. The 11th Berlin Biennale is suspended. The Moderna Museet in Stockholm has cancelled its press view of its forthcoming John Baldessari exhibition but the show is due to open as planned 21 March. The Garage Museum in Moscow has announced it is closing. Most museums and public galleries in Brazil have closed, though their counterparts in Mexico, Colombia and Argentina remain open for the time being.
The Australian state of Victoria has closed all its institutions, including the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Geelong Arts Centre, Melbourne Recital Centre, Museums Victoria and State Library Victorian. There are 57 people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Victoria.
Following the UK government’s alternative strategy to the pandemic, the Tate galleries in London, Liverpool and St Ives remain opened until Monday, as did the National Gallery, British Museum and most other public institutions. Following prime minster Boris Johnson ‘advice’ (as opposed to directive) to close, the Tate announced all its galleries would shut end of day Tuesday. The National Gallery postposed their exhibition of the seventeenth-century painter Artemisia Gentileschi due to ‘current global travel restrictions’ related to the pandemic. Likewise the British Film Institute has cancelled the London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival due to ‘the scale and complexity of running a large international film festival with filmmakers set to travel to it from across the world’, however on Monday said its cinemas will remain open ‘unless advice from the Government and Public Health England changes’. On Tuesday they announced those too would close. The Odeon cinema chain also shuts all its theatres.
Some smaller public institutions, including the South London Gallery and the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, decided unilaterally to close. In pointed reference to UK government policy, director Stefan Kalmar said in a statement ‘As a civic-minded public organisation, for us, the medical and scientific evidence leaves no doubt that the Covid-19 spread can be slowed down, lives saved if all larger gatherings are suspended. By doing so, the ICA pre-empts what we hope will eventually be the decision for all cultural organisations in London and the UK’.
The majority of commercial galleries in the UK have closed or are open by appointment only. Some of the larger outfits continue to operate as normal: while Hauser & Wirth has closed its American galleries, the London spaces remain open for example. Likewise Pace has closed its New York galleries, but London and Seoul remain open.
In Asia many galleries and museums are beginning to reopen as the worst of the pandemic seems to have passed. The China Art Museum, and the Shanghai Museum and The Power Station of Art, all closed since late January, are now receiving visitors. At the latter the public will have their temperature taken, will be required to provide healthcard ID and wear a mask. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in South Korea will open 23 March, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo and the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art in Aichi, Japan, have stated they aim to open again by the end of March. Gallery Weekend Beijing has announced rescheduled dates for its 2020 edition, postponed due to COVID-19, with a VIP programme taking place from 22–24 May, followed by a public programme running from 26–31 May.
Arts Council England has issued a series of statements over Twitter, stating that it plans to ‘refocus some grant programmes to help compensate individual artists and freelancers for lost earnings’ and that ‘in exchange for our support we ask [galleries, theatres, etc] to honour contracts agreed with freelancers/artists’.
Genesis P-Orridge, the musician, poet, performance artist and occultist has died. P-Orridge gained initial attention as the founder of the COUM Transmissions artistic collective finding wider fame as lead vocalist of seminal industrial band Throbbing Gristle. Full story.
Tate Modern has announced Anicka Yi for its next Turbine Hall commission, opening 6 October. Her work, which is known for his use of fragrance and food stuffs, has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale (2019), the Whitney Biennial (2017), and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (2016). Full story.
The upcoming edition of Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art has been postponed. The biannual event was slated to take place from 24 April until 10 May, however due to the spread of COVID-19, organisers have taken the decision to postpone. A press statement read: ‘This decision, following the advice from the Scottish Government, has been driven by the significant impact COVID-19 is having around the world and the predicted impact it will have in Scotland over the coming weeks and months.’ New dates will be announced in coming weeks.
Experimenter gallery has closed both if its locations in Kolkata due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Founders Priyanka and Prateek Raja sent an email to let potential visitors know that they are dedicated to maintaining a safe environment for all, stating they would ‘closely monitor the situation and take the necessary precautions under these extraordinary circumstances.’ Visitors can, however, still arrange a private visit by appointment. The current show is also available to view online.
Easyfairs, fairs and exhibitions company will make its venues available to local and national governments in the countries they operate to aid in the fight against COVID-19. They organise events in 14 countries and operate ten exhibition halls in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden, many of which are unoccupied given the current situation. Eric Everard, CEO and founder of Easyfairs, said: ‘Our exhibition halls can accommodate temporary health centres, welcome and sorting areas for patients, storage areas for medical equipment, etc. The authorities that we have contacted have expressed their strong interest in this proposal, which they undoubtedly will implement if necessary.’
Frieze New York, which was due to take place between 7 May and 10 May, has been cancelled. The fair’s organisers posted a message on their website stating: ‘In light of global health concerns regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) and following advice and restrictions from local, national, international and health authorities, we regret to announce the cancellation of Frieze New York 2020.’ The public art initiative that always accompanies the fair, Frieze Sculpture, will be postponed until summer.
Vittorio Gregotti, Italian architect, urban planner and theorist, has died from COVID-19 complications. Full story.
SCAD Hong Kong campus to permanently close. Full story.
2020 Asian Art Prize announces shortlist. Full story.
Online auction house Paddle8 files for bankruptcy. Full story.
The Metropolitan Museum, which announced a temporary closure last week, is reportedly planning to keep the museum closed until July. According to The New York Times, officials estimate losses of up to $100 million, which they plan to offset with a $50 million emergency fund taken from money that would have gone to accessions and programming.
Gallery Weekend Berlin will be postponed to September. The planned May edition, due to take place between 11 and 13 May has, like many events in Europe, been affected by the spread of COVID-19, which governments are trying to curb by discouraging or banning large gatherings.
Art UK, the charitable organisation that works to digitise artworks for a public collection, will give members of the public the opportunity to curate their own show. The newly-created digital tool will allow people to choose from more than 200,000 artworks in Art UK’s collection.
As the artworld continues to see disruptions from the outbreak of COVID-19, it’s business as usual for Rencontres d’Arles. The annual photography festival is seeking new director. The post will ideally be filled in the months between July and September with the new recruit taking over from current director Sam Stourdzé who has been in the role since 2014. Stourdzé was recently appointed director at the French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici, where he was once a fellow.
Kahlil Joseph wins Eye Art & Film Prize 2020. Full story.
Maria Fernanda Cardoso named 2020 NSW Visual Arts Fellow. Full story.
Updated 20 March 2020
