Cultural Diplomacy & Trust: Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. urged vigilance over China-linked cultural exchanges after reports that Chinese-language teachers in Manila were trained by a university that claimed Batanes belongs to China, stressing exchanges should be properly assessed. Arts Funding: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a budget that approved $20M in arts programming support but vetoed $3M for small nonprofits and individual artists, plus a grant tied to Venice Theatre’s hurricane rebuilding. Community Arts & Recovery: Western North Carolina’s Green Salamander Art Trail is turning local creativity into a summer draw, with 33 salamander-themed works at businesses and a scavenger-hunt format to help recovery after Hurricane Helene. Public Art & Civic Pride: Louisiana unveiled its 2026 “I Voted” sticker artwork by New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne—now a decade-long collector favorite for voters. Local Arts Governance: Stockton residents pushed for a stronger, more connected arts advisory council, calling for better support of grassroots creators and a clearer path to making the city a destination. Craft & Heritage: The Ambiente launched an Artisan Development Initiative to preserve India’s traditional rug weaving in Bhadohi, backing emerging weavers with training and fairer support. Music & Culture: Smino released “It’s a Rap” with “Figaro,” signaling a more consistent release cadence shaped by time on the West Coast. Arts Spotlight: ArtReview Podcast Episode 9 features Jack White discussing his visual-art practice alongside his music career. Arts & Identity: An 11-year-old Artsakh Armenian student’s painting was removed from an exhibit in Yerevan, then carried to the summit of Mount Ararat as a symbolic stand for memory and rights. Loss in the Arts: French electro star DJ Kavinsky died at 50 in Paris; his “Nightcall” remains a defining soundtrack moment from the Drive era. Awards & Recognition: Alberta Arts Awards named 11 Emerging Artists, including Indigenous recipients, each receiving $10,000 plus a medal.