Norway abandons artist’s plans for Utøya massacre memorial

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Norway drops plans for memorial to Utøya massacre victims | Norway’s government has abandoned plans for a memorial near the site where Anders Behring Breivik massacred 69 teenagers in 2011. The memorial, which was designed by Swedish artist Jonas Dahlberg, was selected through an international competition in 2014 and would have involved cutting a strip of land from the nearby Sørbråten peninsula. Residents of Utøya island complained that the proposal would be damaging to the environment and the community, and filed a legal challenge to the state demanding that it be cancelled. Plans for an associated memorial in Oslo, where Breivik killed a further eight people in a car bomb attack, have also been shelved. Dahlberg and his supporters have denounced the decision.

UNESCO report recommends bypass around Stonehenge | A report by UNESCO has concluded that building a bypass around Stonehenge would have less of an impact on the landscape around the heritage site than tunnelling beneath it. The findings go against the advice of three other conservation bodies – the National Trust, Historic England, and English Heritage. Wiltshire Council says it will consider UNESCO’s advice.

Artist issues formal complaint over fundraising investigation | Artist and filmmaker Rab Harling has issued a formal complaint against the UK Fundraising Regulator, which he alleges failed to properly investigate accusations he made against the charity Bow Arts Trust. According to Arts Professional, Harling says that the trust, from whom he rented a flat in east London’s Balfron Tower, ‘processed a significant portion of the rent as a “charitable donation”’ without his knowledge. The artist sought the return of the relevant funds but, after an investigation, the Fundraising Regulator accepted the trust’s account of events. The Regulator is now reviewing its handling of the case.

Man crashes car into monument in Little Rock | A man has been arrested in Little Rock, Arkansas, after crashing his car into a Ten Commandments monument that had only recently been erected outside the state capitol. He is believed to have driven into the monument at 21mph, as recorded on a Facebook Live video uploaded to what is believed to be the man’s account. The privately-funded monument, which was installed on Tuesday, has proved controversial: the American Civil Liberties Union describes it as an ‘unconstitutional’ endorsement of one religion, but condemned its destruction, arguing for its removal ‘through legal means’ instead.

Avery Singer wins Prix Jean-François Prat | The painter Avery Singer has been awarded this year’s Prix Jean-François Prat, an annual art award worth €20,000. Li Qing and Jonathan Gardner, the other two artists shortlisted for this year’s award, both win €2,000.