Nan Goldin arrested in New York during anti-opioid protest

Our daily round-up of news from the art world 

Nan Goldin and activists arrested in New York during anti-opioid protest | The artist Nan Goldin was arrested in New York yesterday morning for disorderly conduct, after participating in a protest that called on city governor Andrew M. Cuomo to introduce overdose treatment centres in the city. Goldin and other members of the P.A.I.N. activist group, who were also arrested, staged the demonstration outside Cuomo’s staff headquarters on Third Avenue.

UK survey highlights art’s positive effects in society | Results from a survey conducted in the UK have highlighted the importance that the general public place on art as a positive vehicle for a person’s sense of community, well-being and contentment with their environment. The study, ‘Value of Arts and Culture in Place-Shaping’, was commissioned by Arts Council England and conducted by Wavehill Ltd., which carried out the survey in 2017 in Birmingham, Halifax, Hastings, Redruth, Southampton and Stoke-on-Trent. The report states that 65 per cent of respondents said art and culture are good for well-being, while 44 per cent claimed they play an important factor in their decision to remain in an area.

National Gallery of Victoria defends decision not to host panel on Hong Kong | The National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne has responded to criticism over its decision not to host a panel discussion on art and resistance in Hong Kong. According to one of the speakers on the panel, the political cartoonist Badiucao, the museum originally said it was available on the requested date before raising security concerns and subsequently rejecting the event; Badiucao described this decision as ‘extremely unacceptable’ and ‘self-censorship’. The event has been rescheduled for 4 September at the Melbourne City Conference Centre.