Museum dedicated to Tiananmen Square protests announces temporary closure

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Tiananmen Square protests museum closes its doors | A Hong Kong museum commemorating the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 has been forced to close, following a prolonged standoff with the owners of the building in which it is housed. The June 4th museum, which was established in 2014 by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, was intended to be a permanent institution in remembrance of the protest and the violent government crackdown it sparked. Since it opened, however, the museum says it has faced ‘continued legal harassment’ from the owners’ corporation, which also introduced ID checks for visitors; the museum operators suspect these are intended to intimidate visitors from the Chinese mainland. The museum is currently searching for a new site.

Niels Van Tomme to take over at De Appel Arts Center | Following the controversy over director Lorenzo Benedetti’s dismissal after just 15 months in the role, the De Appel Arts Centre in Amsterdam has named Belgian curator Niels Tomme as his replacement. The organisation has stated that it needs a leader who ‘conveys a vision of the future’.

Aarhus to host new triennial in 2017 | The ARoS Aarhus Art Museum in Denmark has announced plans for a new triennial arts festival, which will take place across a four-kilometre stretch of coastline around the city. The inaugural edition will ‘explore how man has depicted and altered nature according to his view of the world’, according to a press statement. Other exhibitions will take place in venues throughout Aarhus, which is next year’s European Capital of Culture.

World Monuments Fund forced to cut almost 25 per cent of jobs | The World Monuments Fund has been forced to cut 11 of 45 jobs due to financial difficulties, reports the New York Times. According to fund president Joshua David, the expiry of a 10-year matching donation from Robert W. Wilson has necessitated the cutbacks. ‘With the gift’s conclusion, we are restructuring to ensure our future fiscal sustainability for years to come,’ says David.