Controversies

National Trust's report on colonial and slavery history did not breach charity law, regulator says

Research commissioned by the trust provoked complaints from Conservative politicians amid UK culture war around controversial monuments

‘Things have to change’: third speaker pulls out of Science Museum Group climate talk in protest against oil sponsorship

Broadcaster Robin Ince joins George Monbiot and Mark Lynas in withdrawing from the Climate Talks event over the UK institution's funding from oil companies BP and Equinor

Bank of England wades into UK's escalating culture war on controversial monuments, saying it will remove images of slave owners

“Retain and explain” or restrain and refrain? Culture chiefs raise the alarm on government’s policy to keep problematic statues ahead of crucial meeting

Cy Twombly foundation ‘absolutely prepared to take legal action’ after Louvre ‘destroys’ artist’s ceiling painting in renovation works

The US artist's foundation says that it was not consulted over the French museum's changes to the Salle des Bronzes—the Louvre argues it does not have to

Keep problematic monuments and ‘explain them’, UK government to tell cultural leaders

Opponents argue that some public statues reinforce racism, chauvinism, sexism and homophobia

Podcastspodcast

Stonehenge: could a road tunnel ruin the ancient site?

Plus, French museums revolt against lockdown closures and artist Crystal Fischetti on Karla Black

Amid child sexual abuse accusations, Paris authorities turn off Claude Lévêque light sculptures

The French artist is under police investigation over claims that he abused minors under the age of 15

Executed Chinese prisoners likely used in UK exhibition

Cadavers on display in 'Real Bodies' show were provided by Dalian-based firm known to have acquired corpses from police

UK government announces new laws to protect controversial historic monuments from 'woke worthies and baying mobs'

Proposed plans have been criticised as distraction tactics from the state's "lethally failed response to the pandemic and the consequences of a disastrous Brexit"

Kamel Mennour gallery's representation of Claude Lévêque suspended after allegations of abuse of minors

According to French media reports, a police investigation has been launched into violations dating back to the 1970s

Rex Whistler’s Tate Britain restaurant mural is ‘offensive’, ethics committee says, threatening closure

Tate now faces the dilemma of what to do with a room decorated by a major early 20th-century artist

Tate suspends curator for publicly criticising its decision to delay Guston show

Mark Godfrey has been disciplined after posting a long statement on his Instagram account describing postponement as "extremely patronising to viewers"

Madrid's Prado museum accused of misogyny in open letter after misattributing work to female artist

Uninvited Guests exhibition has "been done from a misogynistic point of view and still projects the misogyny of the 19th century,” says one signatory

Podcastspodcast

What does the Philip Guston delay tell us about museums and race?

Plus, Maggi Hambling on making love with paint

Hosted by Ben Luke and Margaret Carrigan. with guest speaker Louisa Buck. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson

Philip Guston’s KKK paintings ‘are not asleep—they’re woke’: catalogue contradicts museum statement controversially halting show

Essays from African American artists such as Glenn Ligon and Trenton Doyle Hancock show that issues were being addressed

Critics, scholars—and even museum’s own curator—condemn decision to postpone Philip Guston show over Ku Klux Klan imagery

Move is deemed “cowardly” and “patronising” after joint statement from host museums including National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC and London’s Tate Modern

Podcastspodcast

Cancelled: should good artists pay for bad behaviour?

Plus, Tavares Strachan on Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty. Sponsored by Christie's

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska, David. Clack and Aimee Dawson

After allegations of child abuse imagery in their archive, Magnum photo agency announce major review

Experts call for a “transparent” investigation ran by an independent expert in child protection, and to “urgently investigate the conduct” of some its members

Picasso murals ripped from Oslo building as legal battle intensifies

Daughter of the works' co-creator Carl Nesjar says safeguarding the sandblasted works is imperative

World Press Photo—which has all-white supervisory board—accused of structural racism

Photographers have criticised the Amsterdam-based photojournalism organisation, which states its core values are “accuracy, diversity, and transparency”

Sydney's Powerhouse Museum saved from sell-off, but debate rages on

NSW government scraps controversial billion-dollar relocation plan but faces questions from community groups and parliament

Danish art school on brink of closure after director resigns following misconduct allegations

Open letter from current and former students accuses Fatamorgana's founding director Morten Bo of “unpleasant, degrading, discriminatory” behaviour

Musée d'Orsay cuts ties with Montreal Museum of Fine Arts over sacking of director Nathalie Bondil

International museum leaders speak out against the treatment of "the best, most dynamic, and most innovative art museum director in North America"

Controversiesinterview

With demolition of Oslo's Picasso-Nesjar murals imminent, Norwegian sculptor’s daughter speaks out

Carl Nesjar’s daughter talks about the Norwegian sculptor’s long collaboration with the Modern master and shares exclusive images of the pair

Mary Rose Museum 'appalled' by David Starkey's racist remarks as British historian steps down as trustee

Tudor specialist has been widely condemned for remarks on slavery and Black Lives Matter in YouTube interview

Pace Gallery shuts down homophobic slurs on Instagram over Peter Hujar photographs

In Pride Month post, gallery speaks out against "individuals who wish to degrade marginalised communities"

Racism on walls of UK government? British Empire murals spark controversy

Politician raises concerns over Sigismund Goetze painting in the Foreign Office depicting Africa as a naked boy

Statues of slavers around London could be pulled down under mayor’s new diversity plan

Sadiq Khan wants to review and improve "the diversity of public landmarks" after protestors toppled the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol