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
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
NewsMuseums
$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
NewsMuseums
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
NewsMuseums
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
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
Mohammad Sharaf