World Monuments Fund announces 2018 watch list

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World Monuments Fund announces 2018 watchlist | The World Monuments Fund has announced its 2018 watch list of heritage sites at threat from conflict, natural disaster, neglect, development and climate change. According to the Art Newspaper, new sites were added at the last moment after storms hit the Caribbean and southern US earlier this autumn. ‘Just as we were concluding our review process, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and the earthquakes in Mexico, hit one after another’, said the WMF’s new director Joshua David, adding that the list’s focus on natural disasters ‘could not be more timely or urgent’. Sites on the list include the earthquake-ravaged town of Amatrice in Italy, the heavily damaged Souk of Aleppo and various sites across the Caribbean, the Gulf and in Mexico. For the full list, see here.

Berkshire Museum criticised by Rockwell family over deaccession plans | The family of Norman Rockwell has condemned the Berkshire Museum’s controversial plans to sell two of the artist’s paintings from its collection, reports ArtNews. ‘It’s possible that these paintings could go into a Swiss vault or a Russian oligarch’s dining room’, said Margaret Rockwell, the family spokesperson. ‘You may never get to see them again.’ The family had previously sent an open letter to the museum, but received no response from the institution’s leadership. ‘They’re not listening, they don’t want to listen,’ Rockwell said. ‘It’s shocking, actually, and it’s hurting a lot of art lovers everywhere.’

Warhol and Rauschenberg foundations team up with Lin-Manuel Miranda to aid Puerto Rico relief efforts | The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation have partnered with theatre star Lin-Manuel Miranda to donate $300,000 towards hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico. According to ArtNet, the money will be earmarked for arts and culture workers, and will be distributed in two waves. The first will go towards culture workers helping with reconstruction efforts, the second towards creating grants for local artists.

Charity auction for Grenfell Tower survivors raises £1.9m | An auction at Sotheby’s has raised £1.9m for the survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire. The initiative saw 31 works by artists including Wolfgang Tillmans, Sarah Lucas and Rachel Whiteread come to the block, all of which sold. The families affected by the disaster will receive the funds before Christmas.