The Metropolitan Museum postpones its Chipperfield extension

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Met extension postponed | New York’s Metropolitan Museum has informed its staff that a planned extension intended to house its collection of modern and contemporary art is to be delayed, and that the museum may not break ground on the new building for up to seven years. As the New York Times reports, the museum had hoped to begin construction while it was still leasing the Breuer building on Madison Avenue from the Whitney, but priority has been given to maintenance work on the skylights and roofing above the European paintings galleries. ‘It’s logical that that’s the urgent project we pursue first’, said director Thomas P. Campbell, who called for a ‘responsible master plan that matches our capacity with our ambition’. Asked whether the delay was the result of the museum’s widely publicised deficit difficulties, Campbell said that he was ‘confident’ it would raise the necessary funds for the extension ‘when the time comes’.

Tunnel beneath Stonehenge gets go ahead | UK transport secretary Chris Grayling has given the green light for a project to build a tunnel that will carry the A303 artery road beneath the site of Stonehenge. Despite criticisms of the proposal from some public figures in the UK, both English Heritage and the National Trust have given their backing to the project, which Grayling says will ‘benefit those locally by cutting congestion and improving journey times’.

Guy Wildenstein cleared of tax fraud | The art dealer Guy Wildenstein has been cleared of charges of tax fraud by a court in Paris. Wildenstein, 71, was accused of hiding millions of euros worth of paintings and properties in order to minimise inheritance tax in what state prosecutors described as the ‘longest and most sophisticated’ fiscal fraud scheme in modern French history. Wildenstein himself was not present at the hearing, but his lawyer described him as being ‘very relieved’ at the verdict (French language article).

Sarah McCrory to direct new gallery at Goldsmith’s | Glasgow International Festival director Sarah McCrory is to direct a new contemporary art gallery at Goldsmith’s College in south east London. The gallery will be housed in a former public bath house and will be designed by Turner Prize-winning architectural collective Assemble. McCrory has been at the head of Glasgow International for two editions; in 2014, she was included in Apollo’s inaugural 40 Under 40.