NewsThe Year in Review 2019
From the MoMA expansion to ‘artwashing’ ill-gotten wealth: the major museum moments of 2019
We look back at the biggest stories of the year
NewsUK politics
The UK's culture secretary conveyor belt: who will be next?
As the election looms this month and Nicky Morgan announces she is standing down, the department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport prepares for its latest secretary of state
NewsCultural policy
‘Listen to children, tax big auction sales’: Bob and Roberta Smith’s constitution of the arts
As UK political parties launch their manifestos, the artist sets out his own guidelines for art world equality
NewsUK politics
Jeremy Corbyn promises £1bn culture fund in Labour Party election manifesto
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats commit to stopping Brexit and protecting arts funding through the National Lottery
NewsCultural policy
New York City’s cultural affairs commissioner, Tom Finkelpearl, resigns
A specific reason was not given for his unexpected exit after five years in the post
NewsCultural policy
World Cities Culture Forum and Bloomberg Philanthropies announce the second Leadership Exchange Programme
International leaders are invited to apply to the initiative which aims to advance cultural projects and explore the ways art can improve the quality of life for urban residents
NewsEducation
Free arts education programme started in Harlem expands to major US cities
ProjectArt fills a void in the American public school system, adding initiatives in New Orleans and San Francisco this autumn
NewsPolitics
What next? Nicky Morgan appointed UK's new culture secretary
Remain campaigner has said that schoolchildren who focus on arts and humanities are limiting their career choices
NewsRestitution
France retreats from report recommending automatic restitutions of looted African artefacts
Suggestions from controversial Savoy-Sarr report were all-but buried at a conference held in Paris
NewsBrexit
Art world guide on how to deal with 'no deal' Brexit released
Arts Council England publishes advice on movement of art, imports and exports, funding, and travel for artists and professionals in case an agreement is not reached
NewsBrazil
Jair Bolsonaro’s government extinguishes Brazilian ministry of culture
The departments of culture, sports and social development have merged
NewsRussia
Russian police seize drawings by high school pupils under 'gay propaganda' law
Students’ parents complain and psychologists sent to school after art contest for International Day of Tolerance draws fire from authorities
CommentProtest
Why I made a cemetery for hundreds of banned books in Kuwait
Kuwaiti artist Mohammad Sharaf hopes to provoke the general public as well as the authorities
NewsCultural policy
'Give Africa its art back', Macron's report says
A new report on the status of African objects in French museums will urge the president to return works taken “without consent” in the colonial period
NewsUnesco
UK threat to leave Unesco reignites debate about purpose of UN culture body
The US and Israel announced plans to leave the international organisation last year
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Berlin’s Natural History Museum receives an eye-watering €660m of public funds for rebuild
Vast sum outstrips budget for reconstruction of city’s royal palace and creation of Humboldt Forum
NewsPolitics
Emmanuel Macron woos French art world with call for new cultural policy that fights extremism
France's president also plans to install Modern and contemporary works at the Élysée Palace
NewsPolitics
German Green Party politicians launch petition 'for freedom of the arts'
Online campaign criticises right-wing governments in Austria, Hungary and Poland and warns that Germany could be next
News
$890m Sydney museum move could be most expensive gallery relocation in history
Critics fear that plan will lead to parts of the Powerhouse Museum’s collection being sold off
NewsCultural policy
German culture budget grows to €1.8bn
Newly-funded projects include abandoned department store that was the set for The Grand Budapest Hotel film
NewsCultural policy
UK permits Nazi-looted Meissen figure to leave for Japan despite spoliation claim
There appear to be no winners in what the Arts Council refers to as an “extremely unusual” case
NewsComment
Why the French can sell arms and culture to Saudi Arabia, but the US and UK only arms
France's latest deal with the Kingdom reveals the close connection between culture and foreign affairs
NewsCultural policy
The blueprint for Saudi Arabia's multi-billion-euro project with France
We exclusively reveal the details of the plans for a “historic” collaboration
NewsEducation
Open letter signed by over 100 artists, including Grayson Perry, slates UK’s education policy
New Ebacc qualification marginalises the arts and damages the future of young people in the country, say Turner prize winners
NewsPolitics
Prime Minister Theresa May reveals her artistic leanings
New £3m fund announced for arts projects in northern England at Downing Street reception for creative industries
News
Met hosts group of international directors for the Global Museum Leaders Colloquium
The event, launched in 2014, is a unique experience freed from “stage-managed dialogue”, moderator says
NewsCultural policy
France to help build a 'new Petra' in Saudi Arabia with estimated $20bn development deal
The country is due to sign a massive contract with the kingdom to turn Mada’in Saleh and the Al-Ula region into a cultural tourism destination
News
Italian far right wants to turn Fascist HQ into mega-museum
The Lega party—which may soon be in power—believes that Italy, through its culture, can lead the world
NewsReligion
Church of the Holy Sepulchre re-opened after three-day protest closure
Shrine was shut amid escalation of Israeli-Palestinian hostilities
NewsCultural policy
Germany to set up help desk for victims of abuse in creative industries
Announcement comes ahead of Berlin Film Festival which will have sexual harassment, abuse and discrimination in the performing arts as central theme
NewsRasheed Araeen
Rasheed Araeen says British museums are failing to tell full story of 'multiracial' country
Tate rejected artist's project detailing “most inclusive history of art in post-war Britain”
NewsCultural policy
British Museum would be 'honoured and delighted' to display Bayeux Tapestry after President Macron agrees loan
Historic embroidery to leave France for first time since the 11th century
News
Saudi mega museum—King Abdulaziz Center in Dhahran—is finally moving ahead
Cultural powerhouse in the Gulf—backed by Aramco—is extending its local and global reach
NewsCultural policy
Cultural figures profess support for Vladimir Putin at registration rally
Presidency bid backed by group of Moscow museum heavyweights
NewsPolitics
Erdogan replaces Ataturk’s cultural legacy with his own
The Turkish president is to demolish a landmark opera house that symbolises the modernity of the country’s founding father
CommentVenice Biennale
Why I’m no longer funding Australia at the Venice Biennale
The financier and philanthropist Simon Mordant says the proposed restructure is 'not in Australia or the artists’ best interests'
NewsPolitics
Putin backed culture forum in St Petersburg sparks debate over artistic freedoms in Russia
The liberal intelligentsia say the culture sphere is under attack, while officials argue that it is flourishing
NewsRestitution
Germany names new head of Nazi-looted art panel
Hans-Jürgen Papier fills post held by Jutta Limbach until her death last year
NewsCultural policy
Germany plans mega-exhibitions to boost cultural presence abroad
Government initiative to co-ordinate museum loans worldwide revives an idea of the late Martin Roth
NewsCultural policy
Russia and Israel sign historic deal to share digitised Gunzburg Collection
Ownership of vast library of Hebrew manuscripts and books has long been contested
NewsCultural policy
Women are under-represented and underpaid in German arts, study finds
While the country has made progress in providing childcare, it still remains an obstacle
NewsPolitics
US to pull out of Unesco by 2018
The State Department says the decision was based on concerns over funding and anti-Israel bias in the cultural organisation
NewsCultural policy
Cultural push for Japan and UK post-Brexit
New Japan-UK season will bring together artists at the forefront of virtual reality and robotics
NewsPolitics
What defunding the NEA would mean for US museums
The country's cultural institutions speak out about the importance of the National Endowment for the Arts, as President Trump's office drafts a new budget
NewsPolitics
President Trump: the knowns and unknowns
First reactions to property tycoon’s election to the White House and what it could mean for the arts
NewsCultural policy
Amid growing censorship, international culture chiefs gather in Moscow to discuss soft power
Speakers at the World Cities Culture Forum Summit addressed culture development as a driver for social progress, while Russian liberals warn of a slip back into Stalinism
NewsCultural policy
Royal British Columbia Museum to establish department for repatriation of First Nation cultural heritage
The Canadian province has committed $2m to the project, which gives indigenous groups the lead
NewsPolitics
London mayor Sadiq Khan ditches Olympicopolis name, but presses ahead with East London cultural hub
Politician is determined to develop arts project on Olympic site in Stratford
NewsCultural policy
German Parliament passes controversial law to protect cultural heritage
Collectors, dealers and high-profile artists campaigned hard against tightening import and export rules
BlogThe Buck stopped here
The new London mayor Sadiq Khan woos the culture sector
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Belgium eliminates federal taskforce to fight trafficking in cultural property
Interior minister says art and antiquities crime is ‘not considered a priority’
CommentCensorship
Qatar would like to be one of the world’s leading arts destinations—but can that ever be achieved without freedom of expression?
Cristina Ruiz attended the Art for Tomorrow conference and found a resounding silence from the Qatari and Western art world alike on this crucial issue
News
UK government publishes its first Culture White Paper in half a century
Key proposals from culture minister Ed Vaizey’s statement include widening access to the arts and a protection fund for cultural heritage in combat zones
News
The really white cube: New York’s culture groups less diverse than they think
Survey conducted by the city’s cultural affairs department finds workforce does not match up with demographics
NewsCultural policy
Fears of political crackdown in Cairo after Townhouse Gallery is closed
Officials inspect the established culture venue as the Arab Spring anniversary draws near
NewsCultural policy
Louvre's director draws up 50-point plan in response to Isil's destruction
Jean-Luc Martinez calls for safe havens for antiquities, European centre to combat smuggling and reconstruction fund
News
Canadian Prime Minister pledges to boost cultural investment
Arts professionals are generally optimistic about the country’s new leadership—although some worry promised changes could be too little too late
NewsCultural policy
The London culture landmark that escaped redevelopment
News
Art is a weapon as Russia and US fight cultural war
Relations worse than ever after federal US judge imposes $43.7m fine over Jewish Orthodox library
News
New York mayor makes slow progress on election promises
Bill de Blasio slashes budgets for big capital projects and has yet to deliver on other fronts
NewsLaw
German culture ministry tones down controversial cultural property bill
After widespread protests this summer, the government releases a new proposal to calm concerns from leading artists, collectors and dealers
News
Unofficial Iranian art ‘embassy’ to open in Jerusalem
Launch of the performance and exhibition space pushed back to October as more artists joined the project
News
US election 2016: which of the presidential frontrunners gets the arts?
Our guide to who’s running for the White House and what they have funded—or cut
News
Baselitz puts German culture minister in the firing line
Art trade up in arms over implications of draft bill that aims to protect the import and export of cultural property
NewsCultural policy
York Art Gallery expansion reveals collection's quality and building's long-hidden spaces
Outgoing head takes tough decision to introduce charging after funding cut
NewsArtists
Non-profit converts public buildings across New York into affordable studio spaces
Spaceworks’ initiatives span Brooklyn and the Bronx, but concerns are raised about their long-term impact
NewsArtists
Have passport, will travel: where will Ai Weiwei go?
The Chinese artist-activist is due to visit Berlin, London and Melbourne
NewsCultural policy
West Kowloon Cultural District gets its fourth chief executive
Duncan Pescod takes charge of Hong Kong’s vast new arts district
NewsArt exports
Georg Baselitz leads fight against German cultural minister's radical proposals
Monika Grütters faced by "storm of protest" as other artists vow to withdraw works on loan to German museums if export restrictions become law
NewsPolitics
Henry Moore's 'Old Flo' belongs to east London council, High Court rules
New mayor of Tower Hamlets scraps disgraced predecessor's decision to sell public sculpture
News
British Museum to send star objects to the Gulf
Assyrian reliefs among the 500 loans earmarked for long stay in Abu Dhabi
News
Pompeii in a fix despite cash boost
Funds for Great Pompeii Project could be withdrawn as lack of staff and red tape stifle efforts to save site
CommentCultural policy
Mikhail Piotrovsky—Hermitage chief for 26 years—is an Old Master of diplomacy
Russian museum is pursuing global expansion with long-term plans under way for Barcelona and China
Alison Cole