There's been a handful of interesting developments across the art world recently. Here's a condensed summary of what's gone on, with links to the full length articles.
Header image via Evening Standard
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Last week saw the end of the Public and Commercial Service's ten day strike. Hundreds of people rallied in Trafalgar Square in opposition to plans to privatise the National Gallery.
The union claims that artists including Grayson Perry, Mark Wallinger, Ryan Gander and Peter Kennard signed a separate letter calling for a halt to privatisation plans.
"The National Gallery is a much-loved institution and it must be stopped from damaging its own reputation." - Mark Serwotka (PCS General Secretary)
You can read the full article over on the BBC.
In other National Gallery news, the Irish National Gallery has recently found itself under fire for putting up several paintings for auction by Alfred Beit.
A petition on the Irish Arts Review website to keep the paintings in Ireland has attracted more than 2,500 signatures.
Read more over on Irish Times.
Closer to home The Independent have published a review of the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition.
Karen Wright says that the RA's display is intially impressive, with an attempt at modernizing the art space evident at the first. Filling a rather quiet summer period in the art calendar since 1789 the insides are bright and 'jazzy', pumping some life into what Wright describes as a usually rather lack-luster show.
