Byzantine mosaic discovered in Jerusalem

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Byzantine mosaic discovered in Jerusalem | A Byzantine-era mosaic has been found in Jerusalem. The discovery, which was announced on Wednesday, was made earlier this summer during the installation of communications cables near the site in the Old City. An inscription appears to date the piece to around 550 AD, and names the emperor Justinian and a local abbot, Constantine – the likely founder of the building in which it was originally installed. The inscription’s survival has been described as an ‘archaeological miracle’ by David Gellman, who is directing the excavation. The mosaic has been removed for conservation at Jerusalem’s Rockefeller Museum.

New York City mayor orders review of ‘symbols of hate on city property’ | Bill de Blasio has joined a growing number of local politicians committed to reassessing their city’s public memorials to Confederate leaders and other controversial historical figures. De Blasio has called for a 90-day review of all ‘symbols of hate’ displayed in public spaces, including plaques, street names, and – as reported yesterday – a statue of J. Marion Sims, a 19th-century medic notorious for experimenting on slaves.

University of Arkansas establishes state’s first art school | The University of Arkansas has officially established the state’s first school of art, reports the Art Newspaper. The School of Art will replace the art department at the university’s J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, and introduce graduate programmes on top of existing undergraduate courses. The project has been enabled by a $120m donation from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation – the largest gift to an art school in US history.

New York City’s first poster museum to open in 2018 | A new institution dedicated to the art of the poster is to open in Manhattan next winter. The Poster House will explore the history, culture and changing aesthetics of poster design in a series of temporary exhibitions and public programmes at 119 West 23rd Street. The venue will also house a screening room, shop, café and conservation facility.

Ghana’s Gallery 1957 announces second venue in Accra | Gallery 1957, one of Ghana’s leading art venues, has opened a second exhibition space in Accra’s Galleria Mall. The inaugural show in the 24,000-sq-ft venue is curated by Koyo Kouoh and focuses on the work of local artist Godfried Donkor. For more on Ghana’s expanding art scene, see here.