Bungled attempts at bagging a Banksy

Australians make bad art thieves, if an advertising stunt by The Art Series Hotels in Melbourne is any guide. As reported by In the Frame last month, the boutique hotel chain encouraged visitors to steal a work by Banksy from its walls. If anyone succeeded in pinching the work, No Ball Games, they could keep it. When someone did manage to steal the $15,000 work, The Art Series Hotels hung another Banksy, Pulp Fiction, valued at $4,000. Pulp Fiction was not stolen, however, despite would-be thieves exercising their ingenuity. They apparently re-wired internal security cameras so they wouldn’t be seen, distracted staff with scantily clad women, or pretended to be hotel staff or tradesmen. One couple failed because they Tweeted their every move. One man attempted to hook the picture off the wall with a long broom. Having eluded such elaborate ruses, Pulp Fiction will now be donated to Crime Stoppers, a division of the police, and will be auctioned off to raise funds for crime fighting.

Published online 7 Feb 12

Watch the Future Generation Art Prize conference live

Monday afternoon, readers of The Art Newspaper can watch a live stream from Kiev of the press conference launching the 2012 Future Generation Art Prize. Speakers include Nicholas Serota, the director of the Tate, the artists Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons, and the Ukrainian collector Victor Pinchuk, who is the chairman of the board for the prize. The press conference, which will be streamed live on www.theartnewspaper.com at 15.30 GMT, will be chaired by Anna Somers Cocks, the founder editor of The Art Newspaper. The prize is in its second year and is worth $100,000 to the winner. It was established by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and is organised by the Pinchuk Art Centre. Entry is open to artists up to the age of 35, and applications open today (until 6 May). For more details, visit www.futuregenerationartprize.org

Published online 5 Feb 12

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Baryshnikov tiptoes into photographer's shoes

Mikhail Baryshnikov, the ballet dancer-turned-actor, is adding another noun to his artistic resume—photographer. In February, the Gary Nader Art Centre in Miami will host the multi-talented Russian’s first solo show of dance photography, “Dance This Way”. Perhaps channeling his role on "Sex and the City", where he played light installation artist Aleksandr Petrovsky, Baryshnikov will show works that capture various dance genres, including hip-hop and ballet. Both Nader and Baryshnikov will donate a percentage of sales from the show to Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship, a programme that pairs professional women with groups of at-risk teenage girls in public high schools.

Published online 3 Feb 12

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Auction on the Dark Side

Stars Wars fans and art lovers unite! On 7 February an auction sponsored by halloweencostumes.com will offer a selection of replica Darth Vader helmets-turned-art. Ditching canvas for black molded plastic, 24 artists have used these objects­­­—made famous in George Lucas ‘s intergalactic trilogy—as the starting-point for their artistic creations. Proceeds from the auction will go towards Midwest Art Catalyst, which funds artistic and musical events, and the Miracle League of North Mankato, a programme that enables children and adults with disabilities to play baseball. Bids start at $50. We've collected some of our favourites in a slideshow here.

Published online 2 Feb 12

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