Record number of visitors attend 2017 Venice Biennale This year’s Venice Biennale, which closed to the public on Sunday after six months, attracted over 615,000 visitors – a record for the international exhibition. The biennale’s organisers say the figure represents a 23% increase when compared to 2015, which attracted 501,502 visitors.
Documenta manager to leave post after exhibition expected to make loss of €5.4m Annette Kulenkampff, the managing director of the company that runs the Kassel-based quinquennial contemporary art exhibition, is to leave her post in June 2018, a year ahead of schedule. A statement from the city of Kassel said Kulenkampff will continue until June to work on “creating important structural conditions for a successful Documenta 15”.
Prizewinners announced for The London Group Open A raft of prizewinners for the 83rd London Group Open have been announced. The President’s Prize, consisting of a three-person exhibition at The Cello Factory in 2018, has been awarded to Stephen Carley (Drawing 12o pictured above), Micheál O’Connell and Jockel Liess. Other prizes include the £1,500 Vic Kuell Memorial Prize for Innovation, awarded to Shona Davies, Dave Monaghan and Jon Klein for their 3D installation, Never Eat The Cone; the £1,000 Jeff Lowe Sculpture Prize, won by Hywel Livingstone; and the £1,000 JPES Partnership Prize, awarded to Anita Bryan. The £750 Chelsea Arts Club Trust Stan Smith Award for an artist under 35 went to Amelia Kate Sampson, while Sandra Crisp was awarded the £500 Schauerman Prize for Digital Art and Katy Shepherd received the £300 Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers Prize for Drawing.
James Richards’ Wales in Venice commission to be shown in Cardiff and Edinburgh Thanks to funding from the Art Fund, Richards’ exhibition for Wales in Venice, ‘Music for the Gift’, will travel to Chapter, Cardiff (17 February – 26 May 2018) and Collective, Edinburgh (18 January – 21 April 2019). The tour is part of a partnership with Scotland + Venice which also sees Rachel Maclean’s film, Spite Your Face, screening at Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh and Chapter. A programme of events will accompany the exhibitions.
Art Basel settles trademark infringement lawsuit with Adidas The art fair has settled out of court with Adidas after the sports brand produced ‘Art Basel’ trainers without having permission to use the branding. The white Adidas shoes appeared at events related to Art Basel Miami Beach in 2016.
Top Australian donors pull funding from country’s Venice Biennale pavilion Wealthy and influential patrons of the arts who have previously provided financial support to Australia’s representation at the Venice Biennale, have pulled out due to a change in the way artists are selected for the exhibition. They are upset by a new artist-selection model announced by the Australia Council for the Arts.
Images:
1. Stephen Carley, Drawing 120. Courtesy: the artist and The London Group Open 2017
2. James Richards, Migratory Motor Complex2, 2017, installation view at 2017 Venice Biennale. Copyright the artist. Photo: Jamie Woodley
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