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The Female Design Council Names Its First Director
The Female Design Council, a professional network and advocacy organization for women in design, architecture, and applied arts, has named Angharad Coates as its inaugural director. In her new role, she’ll work alongside founder Lora Appleton to expand membership, create new partnerships, and grow the organization nationally. Coates previously served as director of communications at the New York Academy of Art and was most recently a managing partner at Camron, a design-focused public relations agency.
In other people news, LVMH triggered an executive shuffle when it was announced that Antoine Arnault, the eldest son of chairman and CEO Bernard, is relinquishing his role as CEO of Berluti. Chaumet chief executive Jean-Marc Mansvelt will succeed Arnault at the French menswear brand while Charles Leung, chief executive of Fred, will succeed Mansvelt at Chaumet. Elsewhere at LVMH, Louis Vuitton announced it would renew the contract of Nicolas Ghesquière (pictured) as artistic director of women’s collections for another five years. —Ryan Waddoups
“Amapiano Dance” (2022–2023) by Uman. Photography by Lance Brewer, courtesy of the artist, Hauser & Wirth, and Nicola Vassell Gallery…
Just over a year ago, during the post-pandemic art-world revival, Marc Payot, co-president of Hauser & Wirth gallery, and dealer Nicola Vassell began discussing the challenges faced by galleries of different scales. They explored the idea of galleries working together to support a thriving ecosystem rather than losing artists to larger galleries. As a result, they established a full partnership, with the representation of artist Uman marking the first step in a new Hauser & Wirth initiative based on the collective impact framework. This model involves transparency and resource sharing to develop artists’ careers while supporting smaller galleries. The financial split under this arrangement is 50 percent to the artist and 25 percent each to the galleries.
The Northeast Corridor (NEC) is the nation’s busiest transit link, bolstering a $3 trillion economy by connecting major cities from Boston to Washington. Recently, the NEC Commission, comprised of officials from Amtrak, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, regional commuter rail networks, and state governments, unveiled a $176 billion plan named CONNECT NEC 2037 (C37). This 15-year initiative aims to enhance safety, speed, and reliability along the corridor. It includes the long-awaited Gateway Program, a $16 billion Amtrak project for a new tunnel between New Jersey and New York, as well as upgrades to century-old structures. Once completed, C37 is expected to accommodate an additional 51 million passengers annually, increase train services, and contribute to reduced emissions by shifting commuters from cars and planes to trains. This overhaul could mark a significant step towards more sustainable and efficient transportation in the region. Construction is slated for completion in 2038, with plans for an updated version in 2025 to address future ridership trends.
The UK Pavilion designed by Es Devlin at Dubai Expo 2020. Photography by Ry Galloway and Alin Consstantin, courtesy of Es Devlin…
The Bureau International des Expositions has declared Riyadh as the host city for the 2030 World Expo. The Saudi capital secured the bid with a two-thirds majority vote in the first round, defeating competitors Busan and Rome. The Expo, scheduled from October 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031, will carry the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow.” This news follows the Gulf region’s hosting of Expo 2020 in Dubai and the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022, highlighting the region’s growing prominence on the global stage despite ongoing human rights concerns. World Expos have historically showcased novel technologies and products, driving technological advancements and innovative designs.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced that Peterson Rich Office (PRO) will lead the redesign aimed at revamping the retail and dining spaces within its vast two-million-square-foot complex along Central Park’s eastern edge. Serving as executive architect is Beyer Blinder Belle, a firm with a history of working on historical art spaces. The redesign will focus on the museum’s shopping and dining areas, including converting the Met Store into an 11,500-square-foot special exhibition gallery. The project aims to enhance visitor experiences and community engagement with the institution, with a planned completion date of 2026 for the exhibition gallery followed by updates to the entrance plaza and dining and retail spaces.
Jose Neves, the founder of Farfetch, is considering delisting the British company from the New York Stock Exchange following a troubled listing. Neves, who holds a 15 percent stake in the company, is working with JP Morgan on this potential move. Richemont, which had a deal in place to sell its Yoox Net-A-Porter business to Farfetch, stated it is “carefully monitoring the situation” and reviewing its options. Richemont clarified it has no financial obligations toward Farfetch and does not plan to lend or invest in the company. The statement suggests a distancing from Farfetch; analysts believe the chance of the deal going through has diminished.
