Afghanistan
First the Taliban, now local planners—Afghanistan's World Heritage site Bamiyan Valley endangered further
Unesco warns of risks of construction works in the archaeological zone where the Bamiyan Buddha statues were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001
Do the Taliban regret blowing up the Bamiyan Buddhas? New government takes steps to protect heritage
Leaders of the new Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan says it favours the conservation of the tangible heritage—including pre-Islamic monuments—but economic sanctions are getting in the way
One year after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, artists stage remembrance festival of kite flying
International event—featuring storytelling, music, poetry and dance—aims to bring awareness to the continuing plight of Afghans
Afghanistan earthquake highlights need for investment in country’s undiscovered heritage
A week after the tragedy, it remains unclear whether cultural sites have been affected
New series of obscured portraits honour Afghan interpreters’ service in the fight against the Taliban
Photographs by former British army officer Andy Barnham capture the lives of the translators whilst hiding their identity from Afghanistan's extremist rulers
Taliban orders coal traders to leave Afghanistan's Bamiyan Valley—but its residents say this is an empty promise
Since August 2021, illegal excavations and rapid development have destroyed much of the landscape surrounding the at-risk Buddhist heritage site
New concerns for the Bamiyan Valley's future in Taliban hands surface on anniversary of monumental Buddhas' destruction
Evidence of encroaching development, looting and a new coal depot near the site poses major threats to its status—and its future
US bans import of art and antiquities from Afghanistan
Experts in the trade question whether items seized by US customs under the new four-year policy will be returned to the Taliban
Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Valley will collapse in the next ten years if looting and neglect continue, former Unesco representative warns
An increase in illegal development and excavations is damaging the structural integrity of the World Heritage Site that has stood for more than 1,000 years
'I'll do anything I can to save them all': an Afghan contemporary artist on life after narrowly escaping the Taliban
In our series "Dispatches from Afghanistan", we speak to artists about their experiences since the rise of the Taliban. Here, Jahan Ara Rafi calls on the international community to help rescue those still stuck in the country
National Museum of Afghanistan reopens—but staff are unpaid and Taliban are guarding the treasures
Recent images show militia taking photographs of artefacts on their mobile phones
Afghan artist wins $100,000 prize for video that reflects on life amid never-ending conflicts
Ukraine's PinchukArtCentre awards Aziz Hazara the Future Generation Art Prize 2021 for his five-channel film installation depicting children in Kabul
'Jobless, futureless, in constant fear': Afghan artists sign open letter to world leaders asking for help to escape the Taliban
Non-profit Artists at Risk issue letter to Boris Johnson, Joe Biden and other senior figures urging for better systems for those seeking asylum
Of teapots and rubabs: a story of breaking and mending in Afghanistan
In a country that has been at war with others and itself for decades, the danger lies in forgetting how to repair the damage, says archaeologist and cultural heritage specialist Bastien Varoutsikos
'I've started wearing a burka and hidden all my instruments': an Afghan musician on life under the Taliban
In our series "Dispatches from Afghanistan", we speak to artists about their experiences since the rise of the Taliban. Here, Sima shares how fearing for her life is making her physically ill
'Pessimism is a luxury. For people living in Afghanistan, that is never an option': an Afghan art organisation on life under the Taliban
In our series "Dispatches from Afghanistan", we speak to artists and cultural workers about their experiences since the rise of the Taliban
Castello di Rivoli helps bring Afghan artist and curator to Italy
Abdul Wasi Rahraw Omarzad set up a school for women artists and Afghanistan’s only art journal
How to help Afghan artists and cultural workers now at risk under the Taliban
As part of our ongoing series "Dispatches from Afghanistan", we have compiled a list of organisations supporting those vulnerable both inside and outside of the country
Major art trade groups join forces to stop looted Afghan artefacts reaching Western market
International trade groups including top British antique dealers vow to oppose trade of Afghan heritage artefacts under Taliban control
Desperate and in hiding, Afghan artists beg international community for help
Courageous artists confronted extremism from the frontlines. But now, driven underground and fearing for their lives, they feel abandoned
An Afghan cultural worker’s life under the Taliban: 'There is nothing left for us here and we can’t go anywhere else'
In a new series "Dispatches from Afghanistan", we speak to artists about their experiences since the rise of the Taliban. Here, Mansoor laments the world’s silence over Afghanistan's fate
Amid frenzied evacuation from Kabul, US embassy’s art is quietly shipped home
While many people with links to US military were left behind, State Department had arranged for art collection to leave Afghanistan
An Afghan artist's life under the Taliban: burning art, deleting social media accounts and living in hiding
In a new series "Dispatches from Afghanistan", we speak to artists about their experiences since the rise of the Taliban. Here, contemporary artist and curator Mina recounts the horrors of her failed escape attempt
Afghanistan: the threat of the Taliban to artists and heritage
Plus, artist Bill Fontana records Notre Dame's bells
Is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth from the British embassy in Kabul now in Taliban hands? UK politicians are stumped
Work left inside the British embassy will be protected, vow Taliban insurgents
An ancient Buddhist city is perched on top of an Afghan copper reserve worth $50 billion—what will happen to it under Taliban control?
Cultural heritage workers estimate they have five years to secure the heritage site’s contents before it is destroyed to extract the ore
New York human rights organisation ‘racing against the clock’ to get Afghan artists to safety
As the deadline for evacuation looms, the Artistic Freedom Initiative wants the US government to grant refugee status to individuals
Protocols are already available to help save Afghanistan’s cultural heritage
In 2015, the Association of Art Museum Directors established a structure under which museums can act to protect cultural property in immanent peril
Afghanistan: the historical sites of key concern after the Taliban's return
From the Bamiyan Valley to an ancient spiritual centre of Zoroastrianism and Buddhism, former Unesco senior official Francesco Bandarin looks at the embattled country’s most important landmarks
Unesco calls for Afghanistan’s heritage to be protected—but how will it seek enforcement?
UK government agrees that new regime must "safeguard the full diversity of Afghan culture"