Report recommends that Liverpool keep World Heritage Status

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Report recommends that Liverpool keep World Heritage Status | A report published ahead of the World Heritage Committee meeting in late June/early July has made the draft recommendation that Liverpool should retain its status, but remain on the list of World Heritage sites in danger. The report from UNESCO and ICOMOS acknowledges that a proposed development in the Central Docks neighbourhood, has been reviewed in accordance with recent UNESCO guidance, and has been based on work by Liverpool City Council, the UK Government, Historic England and the developer Peel Holdings.

Research suggests yellow paint in Van Gogh’s Sunflowers fading to brown | Pioneering new X-ray technology has revealed that light-sensitive yellow paint used in a number of paintings by Vincent Van Gogh could gradually be fading to olive-brown. The Guardian reports that Dutch and Belgian scientists studying paintings at Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum have found that though the slow discolouration is almost imperceptible now, it may have a detrimental effect on the works in the longterm.

Dallas Museum of Art acquires Derick Baegert panel | The Dallas Museum of Art has acquired The Descent from the Cross (1480–90), a large panel painted by the German gothic painter Derick Baegert (c. 1440–1509). The panel is the first work by the artist to find a permanent home on US soil. The Art Newspaper reports that the descent was made possible by the Marguerite and Robert Hoffman fund, a $17m endowment drawn up to help the museum acquire European works of art created before the 18th century.

Robert J. Fisher appointed chair of SFMOMA board | Businessman and philanthropist Robert J. Fisher will succeed Charles Schwab as board chair at SFMoMA in an appointment effective as of 1 July. Fisher’s current role as president of the board of trustees will be occupied by vice chair Diana L. Nelson. Schwab, who has served as chair since 2007, will continue to chair the museum’s investment committee and remain on the board as a trustee.

Winners announced for inaugural Pax Art Award | The Art Foundation Pax has announced the winners of its inaugural Pax Art Award, a prize open to Swiss artists creating digital and media-based work. Artist group !Mediengruppe Bitnik has won the top prize of around $30,000, while the artist Lauren Huret and the Fragmentin collective were both awarded $15,000.