Cultural heritage
Is Ukraine's cultural heritage under coordinated attack?
Sites are suffering widespread destruction, but a coalition of organisations is working to provide evidence of deliberate targeting by Russian forces
‘Putin’s Palace’ architect investigated over alleged €50m tax bill
Italian authorities seize valuable paintings in Lanfranco Cirillo's collection, including works by Picasso, Cézanne and Kandinsky
Chinese heritage sites see boost from local tourists as pandemic closes borders
The travel restrictions—and political encouragement—have driven increasing domestic demand for cultural travel experiences in China, prompting concerns over preservation
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
Ancient Chinese sites hit by flash floods this summer
Deadly rains in central Henan province threatened key Unesco World Heritage sites and hundreds of national relics. Experts warn the disaster may be a taste of future trouble
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
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
Under the Biden administration, can US cultural policy better reflect American values?
Building relationships with all stakeholders—from dealers and collectors to museums and archaeologists—is vital
Liverpool loses Unesco world heritage status—'really disappointed' mayor plans appeal
Committee finds that construction projects have reduced cultural value
African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grants $3m to Black historic landmarks
The $50m grant programme, launched in the wake of the Unite the Right rally, aims to preserve histories beyond Confederate heritage
Now is the time for Unesco to call Venice's authorities to order
For decades, short-termism and conflicting interests have prevented a sustainable plan for Venice from being developed or enacted
Unesco warns that Stonehenge will go on its danger list unless plans to build tunnel beneath it are modified
World Heritage Site status may also be removed from Liverpool's waterfront after excessive development
Hallelujah! Former studio of 'nun-turned-artist' Corita Kent designated historic cultural landmark
The Hollywood studio where Kent made works challenging social injustice in the 1960s was due to be demolished to make room for a parking lot
China's destruction of Uyghur cultural property evidence of 'genocidal intent', UK MPs declare
Members of Parliament send warning to China ahead of motion to acknowledge human rights abuses against minorities in Xinjiang region
Oxford college will not remove controversial statue of British imperialist Cecil Rhodes
Independent commission recommends contextualising the sculpture instead
Archaeologists rush to record the Rio Grande’s art amid threat from flooding and drug cartels
Ancient rock art near Texas-Mexico border could be lost forever
Looted Libyan sculpture seized at Heathrow Airport heads back home with help from the British Museum
The funerary piece was illicitly excavated from the ancient city of Cyrene which is under threat from property developers
After objections, Cambodian government rejects proposal for theme park on the outskirts of the Angkor Wat temple complex
Culture and Fine Arts Ministry signals a potential openness to a scaled-down proposal
Keep your distance, former culture ministers warn UK government
Independence of museums and heritage bodies is at risk, say Ed Vaizey and Chris Smith, as Johnson’s government pushes ‘anti-woke’ agenda
Stonehenge: could a road tunnel ruin the ancient site?
Plus, French museums revolt against lockdown closures and artist Crystal Fischetti on Karla Black
5,000 years in 350 objects: Victoria and Albert Museum reveals details about its epic 'immersive' Iran show
With ten sections covering ancient Iranian history to contemporary art, London museum plans to open delayed show in February
Finally, rebel experts come to the rescue of Unesco’s failing World Heritage programme
New organisation, Our World Heritage, is putting Unesco's feet to the fire
From the Dalai Lama’s tailoring to beekeeping in Kenya, British Museum saves world's dying skills
Endangered Material Knowledge Programme will be extended for seven more years with £8.8m grant from Arcadia fund
Gli, the cat of the Hagia Sophia, has died, aged 16
The famous feline was born at the UNESCO World Heritage Site that was controversially converted into a mosque earlier this year
Australia pledges millions towards repatriation of Aboriginal artefacts from overseas collections
Government extends pilot project to return objects to Indigenous peoples—including those held by private collectors
Jair Bolsonaro, long criticised for anti-black statements, removes a painting of Afro-Brazilian deities from presidential offices
The Brazilian president allegedly requested the removal of Os Orixás by the artist Djanira da Motta e Silva at the behest of his wife, an Evangelical Christian
Why we should be concerned about President Erdogan turning museums into mosques
Hagia Sophia and the Chora Church will remain “open to all”, Turkish government promises—but restricted access may not be the primary worry
First Hagia Sophia, now Turkey's 'Sistine Chapel of Byzantium' will be turned back into mosque
The 14th-century mosaics at Chora Church—which was converted to a museum in 1945—risk being covered up and remaining part-restored
Russia to fund small-scale replica Hagia Sophia in Syria that will be used as a church
Tactical move comes after Turkish president ordered historic Istanbul site to be turned into a mosque