Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Nita Ambani's efforts to promote Indian art and culture, specifically highlighting her work with the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai. He also congratulated her on the opening of the new NMACC building in New Delhi. The Maharashtra government has approved a 50% travel discount for women under the Mahila Samman Yojana scheme. In other news, Maharashtra reported 248 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. A petition was filed in the Supreme Court against violence during Ram Navami celebrations.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/national/pm-modi-lauds-nita-ambanis-efforts-to-promote-indian-art-culture-congratulates-her-on-nmacc-opening/Walsh, a senior lecturer in Costume Design & Making at Nottingham Trent University, participated in an Extinction Rebellion protest in support of the Defend Our Juries campaign in early 2024. As a mother-of-three and artist, she runs a creative studio where she creates wearable art from materials such as textiles and metal, aiming to connect people with their environment, stories, sense of self, and each other.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14333175/Just-Stop-Oil-activists-West-End-play-lecturer-plumber.htmlArchaeologists led by Roberto Sciarratta have unearthed a mould from a building in the ruins of Finziade, a site in ancient Rome dating back to the late Republican period (133-31 BCE). The discovery, announced on January 23 by the Sicilian regional government, sheds light on the intersectionality of spiritual and cultural life in ancient Rome. The mould depicts a stern-faced woman with wild hair, which was likely used as a negative impression for making artifacts. According to the Finziade Project, led by Alessio Toscano Raffa, the mould was created using a matrix that took on the shape of the object being cast.
https://gizmodo.com/archaeologists-uncover-2000-year-old-mask-mould-believed-to-depict-medusa-2000555542Romania's Ministry of Culture reported that several valuable artifacts, including the iconic golden helmet of Cotofenesti and three Dacian gold bracelets from Sarmizegetusa Regia, were stolen from a museum in a "particularly serious incident" involving an explosive device. The theft was announced by the Romanian Foreign Ministry on the X platform while Emil Hurezeanu attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. A criminal investigation has been opened and a crisis cell has been organized at the government level to coordinate recovery efforts, led by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
https://www.actmedia.eu/daily/dialogue-between-romanian-and-dutch-foreign-affairs-ministers-artifacts-must-be-recovered/112235The Ukrainian Ministry has accused Russia of destroying Ukraine's cultural elite, drawing a parallel between this action and the Stalinist regime's suppression of Ukrainian artists in the early 20th century. The ministry specifically highlighted the "Executed Renaissance" generation, which produced notable works in literature, painting, music, and theater, as an example of the cultural achievements being targeted by Russia.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/3953649-since-start-of-fullscale-war-148-artists-96-media-workers-killed-in-ukraine.htmlThe Sharjah Design Centre in Sharjah, UAE, will provide facilities for design innovation through various mediums such as woodwork, ceramics, metalwork, textile, and jewellery designing. The L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewellery Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, will offer courses on jewellery culture, including art history, savoir-faire, and gemstones. The Sharjah Creative Quarter (SCQ) campus will feature a library, green spaces, interconnected buildings, and community-focused areas such as cafés and co-working spaces. The project's design reflects sustainability, with a focus on integrating natural and built environments. BEEAH, a leader in sustainable solutions, has been appointed as the strategic lead and project manager for the SCQ, aiming to create a vibrant hub that elevates Sharjah's status as a centre of culture and creativity.
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/sharjah-to-launch-art-hub-with-museums-fashion-lab-jewellery-school-co-working-spacesFavio Chavez, a musician and director from Argentina, showcased his violin made from recycled paint cans during a performance by the Paraguayan Recycled Orchestra of Cateura at Lancaster House in London on January 26, 2025. The orchestra's unique instruments are crafted from discarded materials, highlighting their creative approach to music-making.
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/paraguayan-orchestra-turning-trash-into-tunes-stage-london-showGalleri Kaya founder Goutam Chakraborty curated an exhibition titled 'Still Life' which aimed to add variety to the gallery's lineup by showcasing a diverse range of thematic exhibitions. The exhibition featured still life paintings, a subject matter often used as a starting point for young artists in art school, now reinterpreted by experienced artists such as Goutam himself.
https://www.tbsnews.net/splash/art-breathes-life-still-life-1053966The India Art Fair is set to open to the public on February 8-9, 2025, featuring curated insights into the cultural landscapes of India and its neighboring countries. The event will bring together galleries, artists, private foundations, arts charities, artist collectives, national institutions, cultural events, and festivals.
https://www.news18.com/lifestyle/what-to-expect-from-india-art-fair-beyond-just-art-9203879.html