‘Museum’ of Shakespeare is coming
New 'immersive' experience to open in London in 2024
Also in this edition: Museums lose Twitter checks, Frick Collection is going home, YouTube’s most-viewed museum
Happy Friday.
I’m delighted to be sending this newsletter to over 2,000 subscribers for the very first time! Wow! I’m thrilled to have hit this milestone, and I can never say this enough: thank you for reading this week-in-week-out.
Losing subscribers seems to be Twitter’s MO these days. Or losing the plot more like. Last night saw the long-threatened last cull of ‘legacy’ blue ticks — those helpful symbols that meant you could trust that accounts were who they said they were. Only paying accounts now get them. It’s meant that museums and galleries have joined celebs and public figures in seeing their ticks disappear. The British Museum, the Louvre et al are tickless riff-raff like the rest of us now.
But some museums retain an elevated status, and no one really knows why. The V&A has still got a blue tick — does that mean they are giving some dollar to Musk? While the National Gallery and the Science Museum have new gold ticks, which in theory is for organisations who pay to be ‘verified.’ But word reaches me that a number of non-profits woke up this morning with shiny new gold ticks, with no warning, no communication, and no money changing hands.
So what’s the deal? Who the hell knows — sense and Musk’s Twitter are not bed fellows. But it got me thinking if Twitter is even worth it for museums and galleries these days? I’d love to know your thoughts too.
Maxwell
Need To Know
Prize-winning image was AI
AI is coming for us. This week a photographer rejected a prestigious award as he admitted his entry was actually created using artificial intelligence.
Boris Eldagsen said he was not accepting the prize for the creative open category at this year’s Sony World Photography Awards, after revealing he “applied as a cheeky monkey” to find out if competitions would be prepared for AI images to enter. “They are not,” he said. The winning photograph depicted two women from different generations in black and white.
It’s one of the highest profile stories so far in the ever-growing conversation about how AI affects our lives, including what it means for art and artists. Eldagsen said “with my refusal of the award I hope to speed up this debate.” (Read more)
🔗 Go deeper: Rapid advances in AI ‘keep me up at night’, says Google chief
Museum of Shakespeare opening 2024
…Speaking of AI, it’s been revealed that London will be getting a new Museum of Shakespeare next year — and AI technology will allow theatre lovers to walk across the Elizabethan stage where the Bard performed as an actor.
The new ‘immersive’ museum will be located within a big property development in Shoreditch, East London, where excavations in 2011 uncovered the remains of the Curtain Playhouse, one of London’s earliest theatres. The venue will retell the life of Shakespeare through “dynamic experiences, innovative theatrical technology and archaeological discoveries”, organisers said.
Who’s behind it? Well, Museum of London Archaeology and Historic England are involved. But it’s led by design studio Bompas & Parr, known for their ‘edible fog’ and jelly mould installations. Of the new project, Parr said it was “in line with our mission to create location-based experiences that make London a more interesting place.” (Did AI write that, no sentient being would say it). And what’s in a name? This feels like their short-lived Museum of Food, where the name was where the museum connections started and ended. We’ll see. (Read more)
🔗 Even more: Bompas & Parr picked for immersive Shakepeare museum in Shoreditch
Leading South Korean museum leader quits
The Director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in South Korea has resigned. While no official reason for Youn Bum-mo’s departure was given, it follows 16 allegations of illegal or inappropriate actions by the museum.
The alleged infringements were identified by a government audit. Its findings included charges that staff used messaging apps rather than authorised channels to communicate during auctions, and that £18,000 in surplus revenue was issued to staff as bonuses rather than being sent back to government coffers. They also alleged Youn did not report a hack of the museum’s official YouTube channel last year, or address complaints of power abuses among staff.
But it is also thought his resignation was influenced by the election of a conservative President last year and subsequent politcal pressure. Youn was appointed under a left-leaning leader in 2019 (which at the time garnered accusations of political favouritism) but they were voted out last year. (Read more)
News from the UK
Looking ahead | An exhibition of contemporary Asia Pacific art is coming to the V&A in 2026. The South Kensington museum will show highlights from the 30-year history of Brisbane’s Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art. The exhibition will be in partnership with the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, who have acquired over 1,300 pieces from the Triennial. (Read more)
Royal Dress | The Georgians loved to upcycle too. The oldest surviving royal wedding dress goes on display today at the Queen’s Gallery, and an examination reveals it was adapted long after the big day — it’s got added frills. The gown was worn by Princess Charlotte of Wales on her wedding day in 1816 and is the star of a new exhibition on fashion in Georgian society. (Read more)
Peace Museum | As the UK and Ireland mark 25 years since the Good Friday agreement, £3 million has been confirmed for the establishment of a ‘Peace Process Museum’ in Derry. The museum will chronicle the evolution of the Troubles from 1972, as well as the role played in the peace process by key figures. The grant comes from the Northern Ireland government, Arts Council and the National Lottery. (Read more)
Entry Charge | One of the oldest purpose-made museums in Britain will start charging for admission for the first time in 100 years due to the economic climate. The Wisbech and Fenland Museum in Cambridgeshire is facing a £60,000-a-year shortfall on its annual running costs of £90,000. It’s also launched new Patrons and Supporters Schemes to fight for survival over the next 12 months. (Read more)
True Cross | HM The King will be led into his coronation next month by a new processional cross featuring shards of the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The relics were a “personal gift” from Pope Francis and were presented to the Royal Household last week. The newly-commissioned cross reflects the King’s “deep and long standing affection for Wales”. (Read more)
News from around the world
USA | New York’s Frick Collection has been in a temporary home in the city since 2021, while its long-time location is renovated. But the relocation will come to end in March next year when it’ll close at Madison Avenue’s Breuer building, and begin moving back home. Visitors hoping to see the revamped Frick Mansion will have to wait a little longer — it’ll be six more months until it reopens at the end of 2024. (Read more)
Poland | A viral photo of a woman posing for a photograph on the train tracks at Auschwitz has sparked outrage, and prompted the site’s museum to remind visitors to respect the memory of the 1.1 million people who were murdered there. “If we see inappropriate behaviour, we react. This is our duty” the museum said. (Read more)
Italy | It’s over 350 years old and can be found in the new boarding area at Fiumicino Airport in Rome. No, it’s not someone still waiting for their flight (it just feels like a 350 year delay), it’s Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s most famous sculptural work: Salvator Mundi. The treasure is on display with special permission to promote local and national art and culture to passengers. (Read more)
USA | Around 100 Harvard University students staged a die-in at the school’s Arthur M. Sackler Museum, demanding the removal of the Sackler family name from the institution. It coincidently happened on the same day as Arthur Sackler’s widow wrote to the Boston Globe to highlight that her husband died long before the OxyContin opioid at the heart of the controversy was invented. (Read more)
Czech Republic | Twenty artefacts damaged during the civil war in Syria have gone on display at Prague's National Museum after being restored by Czech experts. The objects include funerary portraits from the ancient site of Palmyra which were damaged by Islamic State group militants. The works will be shown for a month before going back to Syria. (Read more)
Best of the rest
Going Underground | The National Gallery is building a new underground tunnel to link its two buildings as part of its bicentenary glow-up. They had to check for old Jubilee line tunnels first though.
Tank TV | Which UK museum has the most views on Youtube? No, not that one. It’s the Tank Museum, who this week revealed they’re the first in the world to hit 1 million views.
Flat Pack | Superstar American photographer Annie Leibovitz is to be the first Artist in Residence…for Ikea. “I have such incredible respect for Ikea” she said.
Operation Ouch! | Have you been longing for an exhibition that will let you “travel like a poo”? You’re in luck thanks to the Science and Industry Museum.
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