Original owners say shell should be demolished after 95% of the English Palladian mansion’s interior was destroyed

Chris Dercon to depart after opening of new extension

Louise Bourgeois, whose work helped launch gallery, first artist to be featured from collection each year <br>

Heirs insist German-Jewish factory owner was forced to sell portrait by Gerrit Dou in 1933

No cuts for national museums but regionals face ripple effect of reduced funding for local authorities

Outgoing director’s portrait by Wolfgang Tillmans and a Lampedusa Cross among works added to collection

With the country in “chaos” because of civil war, museum council warns officials, institutions and the art trade of the kinds of objects that could be looted

Pro-Isil fighters temporarily occupied Sabratha

After years of delay, completed refurbishment expands understanding of the period from 1600 to 1815

Convicted UK forger claims to have faked the Renaissance drawing

Next year’s show will focus on recent discoveries at the mouth of the Nile

Pair of buildings depicted in painting identified as Tripe Gate in Delft

Greta Moll’s heirs argue painting was “misappropriated” in 1947

Boris Johnson says Smithsonian Institution still on board as capital’s planned cultural quarter on former Olympics site gets £45m in donations

Police say it is an offence to view the works seized from Graham Ovenden

Iraqi archaeologists to be trained in reconstruction of heritage sites under scheme funded by £3m government grant

Public collections have missed out on the chance to permanently acquire a work by Rembrandt after license application is withdrawn

The anonymous buyer of the Portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet has withdrawn their export licence application, derailing plans for a public collection to match the price

Arts Council England and the Scottish Council on Archives warn of increased theft danger

But a visit to Ai Weiwei Royal Academy show is not on the agenda

UK culture minister defers export licence for portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet

A Post-Impressionist perspective makes our world a more exciting place

Syrian antiquities head confirms destruction of ancient Roman archway