Russia Bombs Targets in Palmyra

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Russian Jets Attack ISIS in Palmyra | Russia’s Defence Ministry has claimed that its aircraft have bombed ISIS positions around the UNESCO World Heritage site of Palmyra, reports the BBC. Reports from activists on the ground attest to at least eight strikes in the area on Monday. At present, it is impossible to establish whether Russia’s attacks will expose the threatened site to further damage.

Hirshhorn & Tehran Officials Discuss Potential Loan | There is, however, more encouraging news from the Middle East. Representatives from the Hirshhorn Museum are in discussions with the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art about the possibility of a loan, reports The Art Newspaper. If the talks prove fruitful, it is hoped that cooperation may mark the beginning of a cultural thaw between the USA and Iran.

MoMA Offers Timed Slots for Picasso Show | Expectations of overcrowding have forced MoMA to introduce timed slots for visitors to its ‘Picasso Sculpture’ show over the US holiday season, reports the New York Times. The news follows reports that both the British Museum and the Louvre are contemplating building additional entrances for the ever increasing number of visitors.

V&A Softens on Thatcher Decision | Following news that London’s V&A had declined to accept the contents of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s wardrobe into its collection, The Guardian reports that the museum may be on the point of relenting. The V&A’s initial rejection of the offer was widely condemned by figures on both the right and the left, including designer Vivienne Westwood and business secretary Sajid Javid.

Guggenheim Offers First Online Show | The Guggenheim has launched Åzone, an ‘online marketplace’ that will allow users to debate and learn about new technologies. While the initiative signals a timely dip into the waters of Post-Internet Art for the Guggenheim (including a glossary of terms), we are still not entirely sure what it actually does.

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