January 6, 2015: Curators on the Move, Detroit Institute of Arts Meets Fundraising Goal, and France Gives Artists a Sales Tax Break

Opening

In New York … “Rascal House,” featuring works by Ed Ruscha, John M. Armleder, Justin Adian, Stéphane Kropf, and Blair Thurman, opens at Half Gallery; “Robert Weingarten: Pentimento Series” and “Clive Smith: Beak, Claw, Hand, Brush” open at Marlborough Gallery.

Closing

In London … “Tony Bevan: Trees and Archives” closes at Ben Brown Fine Arts.

Today’s Notable News

The Detroit Institute of Arts has met its $100 million fundraising requirement as part of the plan that secured the museum’s continued existence despite the city’s recent bankruptcy. (via the New York Times)

The French government has reduced the VAT rate on sales made directly by artists, from 10% to 5.5%. (via The Art Newspaper)

A roundup of institutional assignments announced today: London’s National Portrait Gallery has appointed a new director—Nicholas Cullinan, co-curator of last year’s Matisse cutouts exhibition at Tate Modern and current curator of modern and contemporary art at the Met; Raven Row founder Alex Sainsbury will take over as chair of Whitechapel Gallery’s board of trustees; former Barnes Foundation director Derek Gillman is now senior vice president of Christie’s Impressionist and modern art department; and Tricia Laughlin Bloom, former Brooklyn Museum curator, was named curator of contemporary art at Newark Museum in New Jersey. (via The Guardian, ARTnews, and The Art Newspaper)

Ivan Grubanov will represent Serbia at the 56th Venice Biennale this summer. (via ARTnews)

The Merce Cunningham Trust has given two rare cash grants: $250,000 to the Baryshnikov Arts Center and $375,000 to the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. Both awards will support further grantmaking from the two organizations, including FCA’s Merce Cunningham Award, for which Yvonne Rainer has just been named the first recipient. (via the New York Times)

The Seattle Art Museum has received over 200 works from the Virginia and Bagley Wright Collection, spanning major 20th-century artists including Mark Rothko, Franz Kline, Barnett Newman, Donald Judd, Robert Morris, Eva Hesse, Cindy Sherman, and many others. (via Artforum)

Best of Instagram

Via @jackshainman: “Final week! Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s show is on view through this Saturday, January 10th. #LynetteYiadomBoakye #TheLoveWithin #jackshainmangallery #closingsoon”

Good Reads

“Stefan Simchowitz Isn’t As Controversial As He’d Like You To Believe” (via Hyperallergic)

“Could France Sell Off Its Art to Pay Debts?” (via The Local)

Want to catch up with the rest of this week’s news? Review past Daily Digests here.