France
Judith Butler pulls out of Pompidou lectures after Israel-Hamas comments
The Berkeley professor did not want to be a "distraction" to the event in Paris after she was criticised for describing the 7 October attacks as an “act of armed resistance”
A Van Gogh self-portrait goes to Wales
An American almost bought the painting for London’s National Gallery in 1924—but it sold to a French buyer and is now coming to the UK on loan
After two years of tremendous growth, France's art auction market is in decline
Overall auction results are strong—largely thanks to rise of second hand car purchases—but sales of fine art and antiques have fallen significantly from last year
New Notre Dame spire now topped with golden rooster
Unveiling marks milestone in reconstruction of ravaged cathedral
Right-wing veteran Rachida Dati appointed as France's new culture minister
Macron's appointment has taken the culture sector by surprise
Demolition of Marie Curie's Paris laboratory suspended at 11th hour
The move has been welcomed by heritage bodies, but scientists—including Curie's great-grandson—support the construction of a new research centre on the site
Jack Lang is re-elected chair of the Institut du Monde Arabe, securing his fourth term
The 84-year-old—the only candidate in the running— has extended a Palestinian culture season
France simplifies law on restitution of human remains
The prime minister can now approve the return of remains of up to 500 years old, without having to pass a special law
Renaissance nude painting row at French school sparks teacher walkout
Some students were reportedly “disturbed” by Giuseppe Cesari work which depicts bathing nymphs
Louvre raises ticket prices by 30% in Olympics year
The price increase will help to subsidise free entry for some visitors and regulate crowd size
President Macron confirms Notre Dame opening date plus plans for a new museum
While worshippers will be permitted to enter the cathedral by December 2024, a revamp of the surrounding area will continue
Colombian artist Daniel Otero Torres wins French art prize
CPGA-Etant donnés Prize is awarded to artists either from or working in France
Controversy swirls around Centre Pompidou ahead of 2025 closure
Talks between trade unions and the French culture ministry stall as workers fear for their future during the Paris museum’s five-year shutdown
Influential French curator Vincent Honoré, who put on shows at Tate Modern and Palais de Tokyo, has died
Art world figures including Nicolas Bourriaud pay tribute
Dealer and furniture expert to go on trial as part of longstanding investigation into forged French furniture
The trial is expected to offer unprecedented insights into the inner workings of the antique furniture market that once took pride of place at Paris's Biennale des Antiquaires
Eva Jospin follows in footsteps of Jeff Koons and Olafur Eliasson with a show at the Palace of Versailles
The French artist will display a tapestry more than 100 metres long inspired by Virginia Woolf
Art Basel increases security for Paris + fair following state of alert in France
Anti-ram barriers will be placed around the venue following a terrorist incident in France, linked to Israel-Hamas war
Germany and France set up joint provenance research fund focussed on Africa
A pilot project will begin operating in February 2024
Material from Christo's wrapped Arc de Triomphe to be recycled for Paris Olympics in 2024
Paris mayor describes project as “a very fine example of the art world’s ability to adapt to climate challenges”
France suspends cultural cooperation with three West African countries
France's culture minister said the country “never boycotts artists”, but artists and performers from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso will no longer be granted visas
Trial of Parisian antiques dealer accused of forging French furniture delayed due to ill health
93-year-old Jean Lupu, who allegedly faked 17th- and 18th-century royal furniture, and his wife say they are unable to stand trial due to illness and stress
Beyond Picasso: the other Guernicas are brought together for exhibition in northern France
Artist responses to the 1937 bombing in the Basque Country include René Iché's disturbing sculpture and a piece by protégé of Henri Matisse
June trial date set for Russian artist who leaked sex video of President Emmanuel Macron’s ‘right-hand man’
Pyotr Pavlensky created his Pornopolitics work in response to the video and now faces up to two years in prison for publishing sexual content without the participants' consent
Joana Vasconcelos's towering tree sculpture springs into life at French château
"Tree of Life" is made of 110,000 fabric pieces crafted during lockdown from materials that were already in the artist's studio
France's long-awaited restitution policy is finally here
Guidelines for returning objects looted from former colonies and during the Nazi period are laid out in a report commissioned by Emmanuel Macron and written by former Louvre director Jean-Luc Martinez
Gauguin, Renoir and Cézanne works restituted by Musée d'Orsay head to auction at Sotheby's
Four works recently returned to heirs of the influential French dealer Ambroise Vollard will go under the hammer in New York next month
First Saudi, now Seoul: Centre Pompidou confirms latest move of global expansion
Paris-headquartered museum brand will open its South Korean outpost in 2025
Notre Dame to reopen in December 2024
Though the Parisian cathedral's nave is expected to reopen to the public by the end of 2024, work to restore the entire site could last until 2028
Van Gogh painted his lyrical Almond Blossom to herald the coming of spring
This picture was given to hang above his two-week-old nephew’s crib—and later survived raucous pillow fights
'Fatal for the French art market': dealers decry new EU sales tax that could wipe out Paris's booming commercial scene
The directive will make selling art in France much more expensive—and imperil its post-Brexit position as the EU's market hub