Restitution Reckonings and Museum Power Plays

Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news. Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art will return three bronze sculptures to India after provenance review https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/10/smithsonian-national-museum-asian-art-repatriation-india-bronzes Ecuador Announces First-Ever Venice Biennale Pavilion https://news.artnet.com/art-world/venice-biennale-2026-national-pavilions-2604196 Ai Weiwei faced vote about his Royal Academy of Arts, London membership after Gaza tweet https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/10/ai-weiwei-faced-vote-about-royal-academy-of-arts-london-membership-after-gaza-tweet David A. Ross resigns from New York's School of Visual Arts over friendship with Jeffrey Epstein https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/10/david-ross-resigns-school-visual-arts-jeffrey-epstein-files Bill aimed at giving Israel control over all West Bank heritage sites sparks concern https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/10/bill-israel-west-bank-heritage-sites-sparks-concern Investigators Find Decades-Long Mismanagement, Corruption at China’s Nanjing Museum https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/nanjing-museum-artifacts-sale-corruption-investigation-report-1234772930/ Ali Eyal Wins Hammer Museum’s $100,000 Mohn Award https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/ali-eyal-mohn-award-2025-made-in-la-biennial-hammer-museum-1234772942/ Philadelphia Museum of Art Chief of Staff Departs as Tumult Continues https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/philadelphia-museum-of-art-chief-of-staff-departs-1234772949/ Pride Flag Removed From Stonewall Monument at Trump’s Directive https://hyperallergic.com/pride-flag-removed-from-stonewall-monument-at-trumps-directive/ Bard College President Leon Botstein Scrutinized for Relationship with Jeffrey Epstein https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/bard-president-leon-botstein-jeffrey-epstein-1234772937/