Sarvy Geranpayeh

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In Lebanon, many galleries have closed, and staff and artists have fled—but others are carrying on

As Israel continues its offensive against Hezbollah, ‘art spaces allow people to escape’, says the gallery founder Saleh Barakat

Israeli archaeology bill raises fears of West Bank annexation

Experts warn that the bill, which expands the Israel Antiquities Authority’s jurisdiction, violates international law and could lead to sanctions against Israel

Palestinians begin preservation of Gaza’s heritage with help from $1m fund

Support includes the evacuation of artefacts, surveys of damage to buildings and training to bolster safeguarding of historical sites

Heritageanalysis

Three years on: how the Taliban has impacted Afghanistan's culture

The government is increasing support for desperately needed restoration projects, but repressive new laws erase women and girls from public life

Israeli settlement on Unesco heritage site an ‘imminent threat’ to area, campaigners say

The Nahal Heletz settlement—which is due to be established within the protected Land of Olives and Vines—puts heritage in danger and risks cutting Palestinians off from their land, warn groups and residents

Gazanews

Gaza’s historic Greek Orthodox church sustains second Israeli strike

Saint Porphyrius, believed to be the third-oldest church in the world, is a key sanctuary for the local Christian community and is emerging as a symbol of resilience amid the ongoing war

Historic Gaza monastery added to Unesco’s world heritage in danger list

The “situation” around the fourth-century Monastery of Saint Hilarion has "deteriorated rapidly" due to the war, an expert says

Kosovar artist Petrit Halilaj leads restoration of cultural centre in home village

As the UN holds its first official Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day on 11 July, Halilaj is hoping his work reviving the House of Culture in Runik will inspire conversations about heritage lost under Serbian rule

Castle in war-torn Yemen partially reopens

Emergency repairs at 11th-century fortress offer a ray of hope in country where dozens of historic sites are damaged or destroyed

James Purnell to step down as president and vice-chancellor of the University of the Arts London

After months of student protests, the former Labour minister will now lead the advisory group Flint Global

British artist faces criminal investigation in Germany over social media posts

The artist is facing prosecution over his 2022 social media posts, amidst a surge in cancellations of pro-Palestinian voices

Photographer Shahidul Alam returns his honorary doctorate to the University of the Arts London

Alam made the decision in solidarity with the students protesting against the university’s stance on the war in Gaza

Beyond war: photographer captures everyday Palestinian life

Adam Rouhana wants to challenge stereotypical perceptions of the war-torn country in two London shows

Students occupy London’s Central Saint Martins in pro-Palestine protest

They slept in a reception area of the art school as part of a demonstration against what they see as an unacceptable response from the university to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza

‘There are no colours left’: Gaza's artists tell their stories

As Israeli air strikes continue, six members of the art community describe their daily battles for survival

Gazan art centre destroyed during Israel's raid on Al-Shifa hospital

Shababeek for Contemporary Art, home to around 20,000 works, was hit during the two-week assault on the hospital complex and its surrounding areas

Renowned Palestinian artist Fathi Ghaben, unable to leave Gaza for medical treatment, dies aged 77

The artist, hailed as the "Van Gogh of Gaza", suffered from chest and lung issues that needed urgent care

Palestinefeature

Dreams of rebuilding Gaza: five culture workers share their stories

The war in Gaza has resulted in catastrophic human losses. Behind the statistics lie the lives of individuals who have worked to preserve the exclave’s precious and often ignored heritage sites

Gaza City archives among heritage sites destroyed in Israel-Hamas war

Brief truce allowed International Council on Monuments and Sites and Palestinian antiquities ministry to investigate damage on the ground

Ancient Saint Hilarion Monastery in the Gaza Strip gains enhanced protection from Unesco

The archaelogical site, which dates back to the fourth century, has reportedly sustained damage during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war

Bombing of Gaza has damaged or destroyed more than 100 heritage sites, NGO report reveals

A Byzantine church and a seventh-century mosque are believed to have been obliterated, while scores of other cultural landmarks have been affected

The ancient villages and historic monuments destroyed in western Afghanistan earthquakes

Last month's deadly quakes affected key historic monuments in Herat and beyond

Libyanews

Deadly Libya floods unearth archaeological remains but leave key heritage sites in peril

Investigations into the extent of the damage to historic buildings and artefacts have begun, while experts warn it is critical to find long-term solutions to counter the rising threat of climate change

What impact has two years of Taliban rule had on the arts in Afghanistan?

Future of arts and women’s rights remain uncertain despite government backing of cultural heritage projects

Afghanistananalysis

How Afghanistan’s art degrees are disappearing

The Taliban’s restrictions on women’s freedom, the absence of expertise and a collapsed economy are limiting opportunities in higher education

Resettlement hopes of Afghan artists shattered as Germany halts scheme

German government’s visa admissions programme is abruptly suspended, leaving desperate applicants in limbo

Isolation is thwarting archaeological discoveries of Afghanistan’s rich heritage

Conservation works on an ancient burial site at Shewaki near Kabul had to be halted due to lack of funding and resources

Italy throws Afghanistan a lifeline for restoration in the Bamiyan area

A new Unesco initiative will provide much-needed local employment in the vulnerable heritage site

'We need to act fast': experts race to preserve Afghanistan's ancient Buddhist heritage site Mes Aynak from copper mining

Taliban government has backed a new conservation project led by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and Aliph

Can Bamiyan and other heritage sites survive the Taliban?

The Taliban say they are dedicated to preserving Afghanistan’s cultural sites, but struggle to gain much needed international support