Brazil: Rio de Janeiro’s National Museum was destroyed last September because of an overheated air conditioning unit, according to a report released by the Brazilian federal police. According to the report, the museum lacked key fire protection equipment, having spent only $4,000 on safety equipment between 2015 and 2017.
France: Four fraudsters that attempted to sell a false Vincent Van Gogh artwork in France are now being investigated, and could face up to 10 years in jail. The forgery was first suspected after a potential buyer raised the alarm by alerting the police. Negotiations had been at the level of “several million euros”, the would-be buyer said. The artwork was seized and then turned over to experts for examination.
India: Palaeontologists from across the world met in Delhi in April to discuss plans to create a museum to showcase the Indian subcontinent’s evolutionary history, and encourage fossil research and public outreach. Scientists from the US, the UK, France and Korea attended the meeting.
US: The Art Institute of Chicago has postponed its Worlds Within: Mimbres Pottery of the Ancient Southwest exhibition because of concerns from researchers and community leaders about its portrayal of the Native American story. The exhibition was set to open this month.From the Art Newspaper, the Connexion, Artnet, and Deccan Herald
