Newcastle-Gateshead to host ‘Great Exhibition of the North’

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Newcastle-Gateshead to host ‘Great Exhibition of the North’ in 2018 | UK culture secretary Karen Bradley has announced that the Newcastle-Gateshead area has been selected from a four-strong shortlist to host the planned ‘Great Exhibition of the North’ in 2018. The exhibition is intended to showcase the creative, cultural and design sectors of the North of England, with hopes that it will attract further investment to the region. The government has so far contributed £5 million directly to the exhibition, plus an extra £15 million to a legacy fund aimed at future cultural investment. For more on the potential – and potential pitfalls – of the project, see Giles Waterfield’s article from this summer.

Cancellation of ‘Garden Bridge’ could cost taxpayer more than £20 million | A report by the National Audit Office has found that the UK government’s liabilities towards Thomas Heatherwick’s proposed ‘Garden Bridge’ in central London could stand at as much as £22.5 million if the project is not realised, reports the Guardian. According to the NAO’s report, the charity behind the project repeatedly asked the government to release more money when it encountered difficulties, with ministers raising the limit on the pre-construction spend three times, against the advice of officials from the Department for Transport.

Chief curator at Contemporary Art Museum St Louis resigns | Following a controversy at St Louis’s Contemporary Art Museum over a show by Kelley Walker, which has been accused of offensively appropriating scenes of racial unrest, the institution’s chief curator Jeffrey Uslip has said that he is leaving to work elsewhere. Last week, a museum staff member was verbally attacked in an incident reportedly sparked by anger over Walker’s exhibition.

Shortlist announced for Griffin Art Prize | London’s Griffin Gallery has announced the six artists shortlisted for its annual Griffin Art Prize and exhibition. Pallas Citroen, Cynthia Cruz, Olivia Kemp, Uesung Lee, Ana Milenkovic and Emma Papworth were selected from 270 entries. The prize recognises exceptional achievements from individuals who have graduated from recognised art schools in the past seven years, and offers the winner a three-month residency at the gallery’s west London premises.