Cultural policy

As Saudi Arabia wins bid for 2030 World Expo, a new book lifts the lid on the Kingdom’s push to be a key art world player

Publication examines how the conservative Middle Eastern state is pouring resources into its culture sector

Parthenon Marbles row deepens after Rishi Sunak cancels meeting with Greek prime minister

The snub comes after Kyriakos Mitsotakis raised restitution issue with Labour leader Keir Starmer

World Press Photo ‘shocked’ at ousting of Hungarian National Museum director in LGBTQ+ exhibition row

Images of a care home in Manila by Hannah Reyes Morales fell foul of right-wing lawmakers

Retain and explain guidance on contentious UK heritage is published—at last

Government strategy underscores controversial monuments should stay in place, a move criticised by some culture professionals

Labournews

Spain seeks to improve artists' rights across EU but labour reforms at home fall short

MEPs back new support measures for creatives following Spain's Statute of the Artist decree, now in political limbo

New plaques on controversial City of London sculptures highlight links to slavery

Artists, poets and writers will also respond to statues of William Beckford and Sir John Cass following the introduction of the UK's "retain and explain" policy

German culture minister promises new powers for Nazi-looted art panel

Claudia Roth says the commission’s current mandate is “inadequate” and “we are not living up to our responsibilities"

Controversial Stonehenge tunnel scheme gets greenlight from UK government

Campaign groups say move is ‘as inexplicable as it is disgraceful’

First week of Italy's Pantheon price hike nets €200,000

Previously free, a standard tourist ticket to the ancient site now costs €5

Netherlands to repatriate nearly 500 looted objects to Indonesia and Sri Lanka

The Rijksmuseum will return six colonial artefacts, for the first time in its history

Italy announces museum ticket price hike as part of €2bn flood aid package

Admission will be raised by €1 to support relief efforts in the affected Emilia-Romagna region

Unesco chief vows to help rebuild Ukraine’s heritage and culture—but $6.9bn investment is needed

Audrey Azoulay met President Zelensky and toured sites in Kyiv, Chernihiv and Odesa during an official visit to the country this week

After a landmark election, will Nigeria now invest in its museums?

Nigeria’s art market has exploded in recent years—a newly elected government may now fund and build a museum sector

Nigeria’s pivotal election: what's the future of art and culture in the country?

Plus, the Met: a guard’s memoir and Hubert Robert at Stockholm's Nationalmuseum

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France makes art inroads in Saudi Arabia with Centre Pompidou project allegedly on the horizon

The outpost would be the gallery's latest international satellite and the latest of many France-driven arts initiative in the Middle Eastern country

'New French restitution laws should benefit the market—and maybe force change in Britain too?'

As the Washington Principles turn 25, the complexities of restitution in a global art world have mushroomed—leaving lessons to be learned for institutions, governments and art market players

Overdue review shakes up Germany's largest cultural institution

World-famous museums overseen by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation will be given more autonomy and their own budgets

Parthenon Marbles: is a breakthrough in sight?

Plus, Afghan culture in crisis and Kiki Smith’s New York murals

Hosted by Ben Luke. With guest speaker Sarvy Geranpayeh. Produced by David Clack, Aimee Dawson and Henrietta Bentall
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The last hurrah? Art world excess at Art Basel Miami Beach

Plus, UK culture cuts and Ukrainian Modernism in Madrid

Hosted by Ben Luke and Aimee Dawson. With guest speaker Anny Shaw. Produced by David Clack and Henrietta Bentall
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Now is not the time for culture cuts: England's fragile arts ecosystem needs more, not less, support

While Arts Council England slashed many organisations’ funding, the German government set aside nearly €1bn to help cultural institutions weather the financial storm

Arts fundinganalysis

'Everyone will be far poorer': England's art organisations respond to 'short-sighted and foolish' national funding cuts

Learning and community outreach programmes under threat as Arts Council England funding shift wreaks deep financial damage on institutions

Chinaanalysis

‘Walls close in’ on China's art world as President Xi Jinping lays out cultural agenda

An "ideological tightening" is spreading through the country as its leader begins a norms-defying third five-year term

Unboxed festival under new management as chief Martin Green joins Eurovision

Anticipated audience figures for event dubbed the Festival of Brexit will be released later this month

American billionaire's Cycladic antiquities collection unveiled in Athens as Greece and Metropolitan Museum of Art reach agreement

The Greek state is now the sole owner of the artefacts but all 161 pieces will be on a 25-year loan to the Met from January 2024

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss rules out deal with Greece over Parthenon Marbles

Move rebuffs George Osborne, the chair of the British Museum, who proposed a new collaborative arrangement

Horniman Museum in London hands over Benin bronzes to Nigeria

Major restitution development coincides with publication of new Arts Council England guidelines