In February, Financial Times did a special report on the opening of the southern branch of NPM, saying that Taiwan is using “museum diplomacy” to improve its global standing and international visibility.  [...] Different from the Taipei Branch, the museum showcases permanent exhibitions on Asian art history, the shared regional heritage of tea, Buddhist art, textiles, history of Chiayi and holds temporary special expositions.

Blocked by Beijing from maintaining diplomatic ties with most of the world and barred from many global organisations, Taiwan is turning to museum diplomacy to boost its international standing and highlight its history as a regional entrepôt rather than a province of China.

Last 30th of September, the French and Dutch ministers of Culture announced publicly the join purchase by the Louvre and the Rijksmuseum of a pair of portraits by Rembrandt. A premiere in the history of museology, and a new step in European non-governmental relations.

A new museum celebrating the history of American diplomacy is being built at the U.S. Department of State. The U.S. Diplomacy Center (USDC) will feature 238 years of American diplomatic history, as well as an education area for students interested in diplomatic careers.

Gail Dexter Lord -co-founder and co-president of Lord Cultural Resources– and Ngaire Blankenberg – senior consultant at Lord Cultural Resources -proposed an update of the concept of soft power, by operating in particular a displacement of its scope (Cities, Museums and Soft Power, The AAM Press, 2015).

At last, Singapore has got its own magnificent National Gallery. Located in the restored City Hall and Supreme Court buildings, it is a showcase of South-east Asian art. Insight looks at why Singapore is putting local art in the spotlight, and what this signals about cultural identity.

We’ve had an era of “cultural diplomacy”, when museums aspired to spread global goodwill. Now, as Isis continues to attack both humans and human heritage, it’s time for a more hard-headed approach – the defense of civilization and its treasures. And France is leading the way.

After being jilted by the Corcoran Gallery last year, the University of Maryland has found a new partner in the arts — the Phillips Collection. [...] The institutions plan to create academic courses — from art and art history to arts management, cultural diplomacy and conservation — for its undergraduate and graduate students and to offer extended-studies courses and seminars for the community.