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IDB and Jeju Province to Advance Sustainable Tourism and Energy Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB and Jeju Province to Advance Sustainable Tourism and Energy Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean
SEOUL - The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Jeju Province of the Republic of Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a framework for cooperation to advance sustainable tourism development and strengthen energy governance in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Under the agreement, the parties will explore the implementation of digital transformation tools
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB and Jeju Province to Advance Sustainable Tourism and Energy Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean
SEOUL - The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Jeju Province of the Republic of Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a framework for cooperation to advance sustainable tourism development and strengthen energy governance in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Under the agreement, the parties will explore the implementation of digital transformation toolsfor smart tourism, including the use of artificial intelligence, data analytics, and other measures to improve tourism management and governance.
The collaboration will also cover activities to promote cost-effective, secure, resilient, and sustainable energy systems across the region through energy governance, regulatory frameworks, and institutional capacity-building.
Through this framework, the IDB and the Jeju Province will promote knowledge exchange and identify opportunities for collaboration that support innovation, institutional strengthening, and sustainable development in LAC in areas where Jeju has valuable experience.
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About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the Bank works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit our website: https://www.iadb.org/en
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-and-jeju-province-advance-sustainable-tourism-and-energy-cooperation-latin-america-and-caribbean
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: India Must Be Held Accountable for Religious Freedom Violations
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release:
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India Must Be Held Accountable for Religious Freedom Violations
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is deeply concerned about the visit of Mohan Bhagwat, chief of India's Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to the United States. As USCIRF has reported in recent years, members of RSS subgroups have perpetrated violent attacks against religious minorities, including Christians, Dalits, Muslims, and Sikhs.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release:
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India Must Be Held Accountable for Religious Freedom Violations
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is deeply concerned about the visit of Mohan Bhagwat, chief of India's Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to the United States. As USCIRF has reported in recent years, members of RSS subgroups have perpetrated violent attacks against religious minorities, including Christians, Dalits, Muslims, and Sikhs.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi,India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has enforced policies that closely align with the RSS' Hindutva ideology, inherently discriminating against religious minority communities. The government has also engaged in acts of transnational repression to target religious minorities beyond its borders, including assassination and assassination attempts on members of Sikh communities in North America.
"Religious freedom conditions in India continue to deteriorate as violence and incitement are frequently used to target religious minority communities," said Chair Asif Mahmood. "We urge the U.S. government to consider targeted sanctions against RSS members and Indian officials complicit in religious freedom violations, including revoking the visa issued to Mohan Bhagwat and making him ineligible for future entry into the United States."
Under the BJP-led government, Indian authorities have failed to prevent, investigate, or punish egregious mob violence against Muslims and Christians. Such vigilante violence is often predicated on enforcing the Indian government's strict anti-conversion laws predominately targeting Christians and other religious minorities. Authorities have also forcefully expelled Muslim citizens in Assam under the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Space for civil society has additionally diminished under the ruling BJP government, with pending amendments to the Financial Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) threatening the ability of faith-based organizations to continue their operations in the country.
"The U.S. government has an opportunity to hold India accountable and signal that the United States stands for religious freedom for the people of India," said Vice Chair Cece Heil. "Without this accountability, religious freedom will only deteriorate further, as vigilante mobs continue to attack religious minorities and their houses of worship under the guise of enforcing anti-conversion laws and other harmful policies."
In its 2026 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. USCIRF highlighted India's religious freedom conditions during its hearing on Deteriorating Religious Freedom Conditions in India in May 2026.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at media@USCIRF.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/india-must-be-held-accountable-religious-freedom-violations
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Announces Inaugural Winners of the SAO Advisory Board Prize in Honor of Charles Alcock
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Aug. 27 -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release on Aug. 26, 2026:
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Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Announces Inaugural Winners of the SAO Advisory Board Prize in Honor of Charles Alcock
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory today announced the four inaugural recipients of the SAO Advisory Board Prize in honor of Charles Alcock, former Director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. The prize recognizes outstanding early-career achievement in astronomy,
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CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Aug. 27 -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release on Aug. 26, 2026:
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Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Announces Inaugural Winners of the SAO Advisory Board Prize in Honor of Charles Alcock
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory today announced the four inaugural recipients of the SAO Advisory Board Prize in honor of Charles Alcock, former Director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. The prize recognizes outstanding early-career achievement in astronomy,astrophysics, and related engineering.
Each recipient receives $4,000 in research support funds. Funds may be applied toward conference travel, publication charges, computing costs, or other research-related expenses.
The 2026 recipients are:
* Rojita Buddhacharya -- for her discovery of a quiescent cloud of subsonic molecular gas in the supersonically turbulent Galactic Center. This "island of calm," where turbulence has dissipated, marks a future site of star formation. Her work demonstrates how star formation on small scales in the extreme environment of the Milky Way's Central Molecular Zone may resemble that in Milky Way disk molecular clouds. The work is part of an ALMA large program, the ALMA Exploration CMZ Survey (ACES).
* Sara Issaoun -- for significant contributions to advancements in near-horizon supermassive black hole science and millimeter VLBI calibration, analysis, and imaging techniques, including the leadership of major results from the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration and coordination of multi-frequency expansion instrumentation efforts.
* Dominika Krol -- for studying AGN feedback through spatially resolved, multi-wavelength observations spanning radio to X-rays, revealing how active supermassive black holes influence the interstellar medium not only through radiative and kinematic processes, but also through the chemical enrichment of their narrow-line regions to super-Solar abundances.
* Hannah Rana -- for her research in the development of space instrumentation needed to capture the sharpest images of black holes at the event horizon scale with the Black Hole Explorer space mission.
The prize was established through an endowment created by the members of the SAO Advisory Board in recognition of Charles Alcock's many years of dedicated service to the SAO and his scientific contributions to the field of astronomy.
Alcock served as Director of the SAO and the CfA for 18 years, from 2004 to 2022, and continues to contribute to the community as a faculty member in the Astronomy Department. Upon his retirement, the award will be redesignated as the Charles Alcock Prize.
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About the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian is a collaboration between Harvard and the Smithsonian designed to ask, and ultimately answer, humanity's greatest unresolved questions about the nature of the universe. The CfA is headquartered in Cambridge, MA, with research facilities across the U.S. and around the world.
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Original text here: https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/smithsonian-astrophysical-observatory-announces-inaugural-winners-sao-advisory-board-prize-honor
Independent Agency Review Finds Expanded Judiciary Building Authority Would Increase Costs, Weaken Oversight
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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Independent Agency Review Finds Expanded Judiciary Building Authority Would Increase Costs, Weaken Oversight
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Pilot Trial Reviews and Independent Oversight Show Judiciary Building Management Increases Unused Space, Costs, and Long-term Repair Liabilities as Congress Considers a Proposal to Grant the Judiciary Real Property Authority
WASHINGTON, D.C. -The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is issuing a response to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin's (D-IL) Judicial Space and Facilities Management
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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Independent Agency Review Finds Expanded Judiciary Building Authority Would Increase Costs, Weaken Oversight
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Pilot Trial Reviews and Independent Oversight Show Judiciary Building Management Increases Unused Space, Costs, and Long-term Repair Liabilities as Congress Considers a Proposal to Grant the Judiciary Real Property Authority
WASHINGTON, D.C. -The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is issuing a response to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin's (D-IL) Judicial Space and Facilities ManagementEffectiveness Act, warning that the legislation would expand previously identified cost and management deficiencies in the federal Judiciary.
The proposed legislation would allow the federal Judiciary to assume ownership, repair, and maintenance responsibilities for courthouses in up to 10 districts despite multiple Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports documenting persistent issues in Judiciary courthouse planning, including oversized design standards, lackluster coordination with Executive Branch partners, and construction decisions that drive unnecessarily large and expensive courthouses.
As the only courthouse in the nation still maintained by the Judiciary following a 1988 real-property authority pilot program, the Hugo L. Black U.S. Courthouse continues to demonstrate building management shortcomings. In its most recent Management Analysis and Review System (MARS) assessment, GSA identified serious safety failures, accessibility deficiencies, and maintenance practices that have shortened the useful life of critical infrastructure systems. Despite holding operations and maintenance authority since 1993, the Judiciary has repeatedly relied on GSA's expertise to resolve routine and emergent issues, including elevator repairs, fire and life safety systems, and water-quality management.
"GSA is the best building manager in the federal government, and we're proud to support America's courts by extending our expertise to their facilities," said GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst. "Independent GAO reports have repeatedly found that Judiciary courthouse management leads to needlessly expensive and oversized projects that waste valuable taxpayer dollars. If Congress wants faster and cheaper building repairs, they should expand the prospectus threshold to $75 million and let GSA do its job."
A recent GAO report, "Courthouse Construction: Changes to Design Standards Will Result in Larger and More Costly Future Courthouses," GAO-25-108406, found that the Judiciary-managed U.S. Courts Design Guide disregarded GSA and GAO expertise, relied on problematic and outdated courthouse assessments, and took no action to address well-documented concerns that its standards would needlessly increase courthouse space and the cost burden on taxpayers.
The latest report reiterates courthouse space and cost concerns previously expressed in a 2010 GAO report, which found that the Judiciary could have reduced the number of courtrooms built since 2000 by approximately 40%. Together, the two reports and Hugo Black analysis reflect a nearly two decade trend of the Judiciary exceeding courthouse space needs, deliberately ignoring cost-saving guidance from oversight agencies, and dramatically overestimating building management capabilities.
Exclusive coverage by Fox News is available here.
About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing approximately 360 million rentable square feet, overseeing over $126 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services to millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA's mission is to deliver exceptional customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology. To address nearly $50 billion in delinquent maintenance, GSA is leading a coalition of every cabinet agency and many federal leaders urgently advocating for full Federal Buildings Fund access and raising the prospectus threshold from $3.96 million to $75 million. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow @USGSA.
Contact
press@gsa.gov
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Original text here: https://www.gsa.gov/about-gsa/newsroom/news-releases/independent-agency-review-finds-expanded-judiciary-building-authority-would-08272026
IDB Launches $2.5 Billion 3.5-Year Global Benchmark Bond
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Launches $2.5 Billion 3.5-Year Global Benchmark Bond
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) issued a $2.5 billion 3.5-year global bond, marking its third U.S. dollar benchmark transaction of its 2026 funding program.
The bond generated strong and well-diversified investor demand, with orders exceeding $6.4 billion (including $650 million joint lead managers interest). The bond matures on March 20, 2030, and carries a fixed semi-annual coupon of 4.250%.
"We are delighted with the strong
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Launches $2.5 Billion 3.5-Year Global Benchmark Bond
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) issued a $2.5 billion 3.5-year global bond, marking its third U.S. dollar benchmark transaction of its 2026 funding program.
The bond generated strong and well-diversified investor demand, with orders exceeding $6.4 billion (including $650 million joint lead managers interest). The bond matures on March 20, 2030, and carries a fixed semi-annual coupon of 4.250%.
"We are delighted with the stronginvestor demand for the 3.5-year global benchmark, as we have not issued in the short end of the curve in nearly three years. It is our final U.S. dollar global benchmark for 2026 and rounds out our dollar curve after earlier 5- and 10-year issuances. We are also pleased to see continued investor interest in supporting IDB's mission to further economic and social development across Latin America and the Caribbean," said Laura Fan, Head of Funding at the IDB.
"Congratulations to the IDB team on today's $2.5 billion long three-year Global. Following 5-year and 10-year benchmarks earlier this year, today's transaction continues the IDB's strategy of giving investors consistent access across the U.S. dollar curve. The trade was well timed into a constructive market, with the orderbook building above $6.4 billion, their largest in a three-year bond since September 2021, and giving the IDB the flexibility to price a $2.5 billion size at SOFR MS+25bps. The breadth of participation is a testament to IDB's credit standing and its consistent investor engagement. Barclays is delighted to have been involved," said Alex Paterson, Managing Director, Head of SSA DCM at Barclays.
"Congratulations to the IDB team on the successful execution of their new long three-year $2.5 billion transaction. The team expertly navigated a congested issuance pipeline and a tricky geopolitical backdrop with a pragmatic approach that was instrumental in successfully securing this strategic 2030 maturity. The robust investor demand and high-quality orderbook generated are a clear testament to the market's deep confidence in the IDB's credit strength and vital developmental mission. We are delighted to have supported the IDB on this transaction," said Katrin Wehle, Managing Director, SSA DCM Origination at Deutsche Bank.
"Congratulations to the IDB team on the successful execution of its new long three-year U.S. dollar benchmark. The transaction attracted strong demand from a high-quality and globally diversified investor base, underscoring the market's continued confidence in the IDB and its credit. The strength of the orderbook enabled an excellent pricing outcome and a successful benchmark print. Morgan Stanley is delighted to have supported the IDB on this important transaction," said Ben Adubi, Head of SSA at Morgan Stanley.
"With this successful transaction, the IDB has once again demonstrated its status as a premier issuer within the U.S. dollar market. The deal was aptly timed into a supportive market window amidst geopolitical headlines, generated ample support from high-quality investors and crystallized an efficient funding spread. This new $2.5 billion 3.5-year fixed-rate benchmark follows IDB's 10-year and 5-year transactions in 2026 and underlines its strategic commitment to add liquid lines across the curve. Many congratulations to the team involved and thank you for entrusting RBC with this important mandate," said James Taunton, Managing Director, Head of Public Sector Origination Europe at RBC.
Distribution Summary:
Geographic Region ... % ... Investor Type ... %
EMEA ... 57% ... Banks & Private Banks ... 52%
Asia & Pacific ... 27% ... Central Banks/Official Institutions ... 28%
Americas ... 16% ... Asset Managers/Pension Funds/Insurance/ Corporates ... 20%
Bond Summary Terms
Issuer: ... Inter-American Development Bank (Ticker: IADB)
Issuer rating: ... Aaa / AAA (Stable / Stable)
Amount: ... USD 2.5 billion
Settlement date: ... September 1, 2026 (T+5)
Coupon: ... 4.250%, Fixed, SA 30/360
Coupon payment dates: ... March 20 and September 20 (semi-annually)
Maturity date: ... March 20, 2030
Issue price: ... 99.772%
Issue yield: ... 4.319% s.a.
Reoffer spread (bps): ... SOFR MS +25bps / CT3+6.7bps
Listing: ... London Stock Exchange's Regulated Market
Clearing systems: ... Fedwire, Euroclear, Clearstream
Joint lead managers: ... Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, RBC
Co-lead managers: ... Barclays, BMBMO, BNP Paribas, BofA Securities, Citi, Daiwa, HSBC, JP Morgan, Nomura, Scotiabank, Wells FargoO Citi, Daiwa, DB, HSBC, JPM, MS, RBC and TD
ISIN: ... US4581X0FB95
Information on bonds for Investors is available on the IDB website: https://www.iadb.org/en/investors/investors
*/ This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities of the Inter-American Development Bank. Any offering of IDB securities will be made only by means of a prospectus or other definitive offering document that contains important information about the securities, the offering and IDB. Offerings of securities will be made only in compliance with applicable laws.
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About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the Bank works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit our website: https://www.iadb.org/en
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-launches-25-billion-35-year-global-benchmark-bond
Hirshhorn and The Gund Jointly Acquire Two Important Early Artworks by Joan Jonas
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Hirshhorn and The Gund Jointly Acquire Two Important Early Artworks by Joan Jonas
Co-Acquisition Will Be Celebrated Sept. 10 With Artist Talk
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In a milestone collaboration between two American centers of modern and contemporary art scholarship, the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and The Gund at Kenyon College announce the joint acquisition of two watershed artworks by Joan Jonas: "Mirror Pieces Installation II" (1969/2014) and "Wind" (1968). These are the first works by the pioneering
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Hirshhorn and The Gund Jointly Acquire Two Important Early Artworks by Joan Jonas
Co-Acquisition Will Be Celebrated Sept. 10 With Artist Talk
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In a milestone collaboration between two American centers of modern and contemporary art scholarship, the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and The Gund at Kenyon College announce the joint acquisition of two watershed artworks by Joan Jonas: "Mirror Pieces Installation II" (1969/2014) and "Wind" (1968). These are the first works by the pioneeringAmerican artist to enter both collections.
Widely recognized as one of the founding figures of American performance art, Jonas began bridging film and video, installation and sculpture, and body art in the mid-1960s, often experimenting with movement, mirrors and natural forces to forward her inquiry into perception. "Mirror Pieces Installation II" is a multimedia installation that incorporates the viewer through the inclusion of multiple mirrors. A dress and a jacket decorated with mirrored panels hang on a wall near three long mirrors, while a filmed performance--Jonas' "Nudes with Mirrors" (1969)--plays on a CRT (picture tube) television turned to face the mirrors. It features a group of performers interacting with props resembling those in the installation. One performer, a man, alternately dons and removes a mirrored jacket while observing his image in mirrors held by the other performers. Viewers encountering this artwork enter a similar visual dance: as they observe the recording indirectly through its mirror image, their own bodies are reflected and absorbed into the ever-changing artwork, raising questions of reality, self-perception and the female gaze. As is typical of her practice, Jonas reworked this piece in 2014.The work is currently on view at The Gund as part of its 15th-anniversary celebrations.
One of Jonas' best-known works, "Wind" is a five-and-a-half-minute black-and-white film in which a group of performers on a snowy Long Island beach conduct a series of actions against a strong wind. One performer wears a dress and another a jacket, both ornamented with mirrors that reflect the icy environment. As in "Mirror Pieces Installation II," the artist blurs the lines between figure and landscape, reality and fiction.
"The acquisitions build on the Hirshhorn's new media holdings, which include significant artworks but underrepresent women such as Joan Jonas who were vital to performance art's early development," said Hirshhorn Director Melissa Chiu. "We are honored to partner with The Gund to illuminate her centrality within the evolution of new media and performance art while also encouraging study and public presentation of her work."
"Joan Jonas' work continues to challenge how we think about performance, image, narrative and the role of the artist as a witness to the world," said Daisy Desrosiers, former David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation Director and chief curator of The Gund, and the newly named Britton Family Curator-at-Large, North America, at Tate Modern. "For an emerging academic museum like The Gund, welcoming these works is both an extraordinary privilege and a defining moment. It reflects our conviction that students and communities deserve direct access to the artists who have shaped the course of art history--not only through exhibitions, but also through enduring commitments to their work. This co-acquisition with the Hirshhorn demonstrates that collaboration is not simply a practical model for museums today; it is an intellectual one. By sharing stewardship, expertise and public engagement, museums can expand access, strengthen scholarship and collectively build collections that no single institution could realize alone." In June, Desrosiers began her role at The Tate, but remains the curatorial and strategic lead for The Gund.
The co-acquisition will be celebrated Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. in the Hirshhorn's Lerner Room with a conversation among Jonas, Hirshhorn Acting Head Curator Marina Isgro and Desrosiers. This program is free, but tickets are highly encouraged. They will be available starting Friday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. for Hirshhorn Insiders, and Monday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. for the public.
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About the Artist
Joan Jonas was born in New York in 1936. She received her Bachelor of Arts in art history and sculpture from Mount Holyoke College, studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and received her Master of Fine Arts from Columbia University in 1965. Jonas has exhibited and performed extensively at venues around the world. Recent solo exhibitions include the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the U.S. Pavilion for the 56th Venice Biennale; Tate Modern, London; Museu Serralves, Porto, Portugal; Pinacoteca de Sao Paulo; Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid; Dia Beacon, New York; Haus der Kunst, Munich; and the Drawing Center, New York. In addition, she has exhibited in documenta 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 13; the 28th Sao Paulo Biennial; and the 13th Shanghai Biennale. Notable awards include the Nam June Paik Prize (2024); the Kyoto Prize (2018); the Whitechapel Gallery Art Icon (2016); the Maya Deren Award, given by the American Film Institute (1989); and the Lifetime Achievement Award, given by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (2009).
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About the Hirshhorn
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is the national museum of modern and contemporary art and a leading voice for 21st-century art and culture. Part of the Smithsonian, the Hirshhorn is located prominently on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Its holdings encompass one of the most important collections of postwar American and European art in the world. The Hirshhorn presents diverse exhibitions and offers an array of public programs on the art of our time--free to all. The Hirshhorn Museum is open Mondays noon-5:30 p.m. and Tuesdays-Sundays 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information, visit Hirshhorn.si.edu. Follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
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About The Gund
The Gund at Kenyon College is a world-class teaching museum located in Gambier, Ohio. Opened in 2011 as a place to experience, teach and learn about modern and contemporary art, The Gund became the first museum in Knox County to receive national accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums. The Gund welcomes over 10,000 students and other visitors a year and is dedicated to fostering dialogue and engagement among artists, students and the broader public. While the museum operates in a rural location, its impact is far-reaching, attracting artists who are eager to foster deep and impactful connections with audiences outside of traditional urban art centers. The Gund at Kenyon College is open Wednesday through Sunday. Learn more at https://www.thegund.org/.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/hirshhorn-and-gund-jointly-acquire-two-important-early-artworks-joan-jonas
Congressmen Bill Foster and Sean Casten Join in FHLBank Chicago Roundtable Focused on Housing, Community Lending, and Economic Priorities in Chicagoland
CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 27 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, posted the following news:
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Congressmen Bill Foster and Sean Casten Join in FHLBank Chicago Roundtable Focused on Housing, Community Lending, and Economic Priorities in Chicagoland
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The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) hosted a roundtable with U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11), U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06), member financial institutions, trade association partners, and industry leaders for a discussion on housing finance, financial services, and community
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 27 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, posted the following news:
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Congressmen Bill Foster and Sean Casten Join in FHLBank Chicago Roundtable Focused on Housing, Community Lending, and Economic Priorities in Chicagoland
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The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) hosted a roundtable with U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11), U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06), member financial institutions, trade association partners, and industry leaders for a discussion on housing finance, financial services, and communitydevelopment issues affecting communities across Illinois. Both Congressmen are senior members of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee with jurisdiction over the banking, insurance, and housing industries.
The discussion brought together perspectives from local lenders and housing industry experts in Illinois' 11th and 6th Congressional Districts, to highlight the important role community-based financial institutions play in supporting access to credit, advancing affordable housing, strengthening small businesses, and responding to evolving economic conditions throughout the greater Chicago region. Illinois' 11th Congressional District includes portions of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, DeKalb, and Boone counties, while the 6th Congressional District includes parts of Cook and DuPage counties.
FHLBank Chicago's member-focused financial solutions help community financial institutions like banks, credit unions, insurance companies and community development financial institutions address local priorities and deliver meaningful community support. The conversation reinforced the value of continued engagement among policymakers, financial institutions, and trade associations working to expand housing, consumer, and small business opportunities and support long-term affordable housing and community development.
"FHLBank Chicago values opportunities to connect our members and partners with thoughtful and influential policymakers like Congressman Foster and Congressman Casten for meaningful conversations about the issues impacting local communities, including housing affordability and access to credit," said Michael Ericson, President and CEO of FHLBank Chicago. "Our members are deeply rooted in the communities they serve, and their perspectives are essential as we work together to improve housing and credit opportunities in the Chicagoland area."
"I appreciate FHLBank Chicago for bringing together local financial institutions and industry partners for this important discussion," said Rep. Foster. "Community lenders play a vital role in helping families, small businesses, and neighborhoods thrive, and conversations like this help ensure we are hearing directly from the institutions working every day to meet local needs."
"Access to affordable housing and reliable credit remains central to the long-term strength of our communities," said Rep. Casten. "I was glad to take part in this discussion and hear directly from financial institutions working to address those needs every day."
"Our membership in the FHLBank Chicago is vital to our ability to support our customers and community," said Karlie Krehbiel, CEO of Lisle Savings Bank. "This roundtable offered a valuable opportunity to share with key policymakers the realities our institution is seeing locally and to discuss how together we can help advance affordable housing, small business growth, and community investment."
The roundtable created a direct forum for financial institutions, industry leaders, and policymakers to exchange ideas on the challenges and opportunities facing local communities. FHLBank Chicago remains committed to supporting its members and partners with financial solutions that help expand access to housing, strengthen local economies, and build resilient communities throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.
Learn more about our public policy and advocacy efforts at fhlbc.com/public-policy
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Original text here: https://www.fhlbc.com/news/news-detail/2026/08/27/congressmen-bill-foster-and-sean-casten-join-in-fhlbank-chicago-roundtable-focused-on-housing--community-lending--and-economic-priorities-in-chicagoland
