A group of protestors, working under the name Liberate Tate, showered the Tate Britain with fake pound notes this weekend, continuing the series of protests over the museum’s British Petroleum sponsorship.  “It’s time for the arts to draw a line,” says one protestor.  “Oil companies are a whole category of unacceptable partners for public arts, like tobacco and arms companies.”  (more…)

The Tate Modern has signed a landmark sponsorship deal with the Hyundai Automobile Corporation, an 11-year commitment to commissions for the museum’s Turbine Hall, making it the largest corporate partnership the organization has ever agreed to.  “These commissions have been reflecting major steps, major transformations, major disruptions in the history of contemporary art,” says Tate Modern Director Chris Dercon. “Contemporary art is evolving in a different way than just materials and methods. We are faced with a global world of art.” (more…)

Taking a cue from the community sponsored agriculture programs, a number of U.S. cities are embracing a similar approach to contemporary art, enabling residents to purchase shares in contemporary artists as a way to encourage arts patronage.  “I think it has worked in part because lots of places are already familiar with farm C.S.A.’s,” said Dennis Scholl, who oversees the national arts program for the Knight Foundation, an early supporter. “Here, instead of getting a basket of carrots or zucchini, you get a basket of artworks.”  (more…)

Japanese clothing company Uniqlo has announced that it will sponsor MoMA’s popular free Friday night series.  What’s more, the first 1000 attendees at the company’s first sponsored evening on May 3rd will receive a free tote bag.  The sponsorship follows comments by Tadashi Yanai, the chairman of parent company Fast Retailing, that the Museum of Modern Art is his “favorite museum in the world.  (more…)