EU cuts Venice Biennale funding amid Russia feud; Lisbon's Culturgest hires Raphael Fonseca

The European Union has confirmed a funding cut for the Venice Biennale over a dispute involving Russia, announced by Kaja Kallas at a press conference in Ukraine. In Lisbon, Culturgest has appointed Raphael Fonseca as visual arts programmer; he will continue as curator-at-large at the Denver Art Museum. Chang-Ching and Rhett Tsai's 'Tricks of the Light' at Chicago's Watershed Art & Ecology draws from visits to fishing villages on China's Huangqi Peninsula. Lynda Roscoe Hartigan has been named director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, starting September 8. The 57th CIMAM Annual Conference, 'Together Forever', is reviewed by Mariacarla Molè, who notes actions speak louder than words. Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino discuss their Australia Pavilion project for the 61st Venice Biennale. Andreas Angelidakis talks about representing Greece at the same Biennale, saying 'I love dreams. They are escape rooms for the psyche.' Megha Majumdar's novel 'A Guardian and a Thief' is reviewed by Mark Rappolt. J.J. Charlesworth reviews Daisy Fancourt's 'Art Cure' on art and health. Desmond Morris, zoologist, presenter, and surrealist painter, has died at 98; he was known for 'The Naked Ape' and 'Zoo Time'.