France
Collection of Balthus drawings and paintings to be sold for €1.2m—so why no mention of his infatuation with pubescent girls?
The works are from the estate of the artist’s teenage “muse and model” Frédérique Tison, who was also his step-niece
French Senate votes unanimously for restitution to Benin and Senegal in 'act of friendship and trust'
Senate approves bill to return 27 colonial-era artefacts from museum collections to Africa within one year
Saudi Arabia continues relentless cultural drive with Jean Nouvel subterranean desert resort
The plans are part of a ten-year agreement between France and Saudi Arabia to develop the AlUla region into a tourism destination
Louvre and French museums close, while German museums await clarity in second coronavirus lockdown
Closing German museums would be “a hard blow for the institutions and society,” the country's museums association says
Congolese activist fined €1,000 for trying to seize African funeral pole from Paris museum
Emery Mwazulu Diyabanza and the other activists who removed the object from display at the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac say their actions are a protest against colonial looting
France’s National Assembly votes to return colonial-era artefacts to Benin and Senegal
Accelerated bill enabling restitution of 27 objects from French museums passes first vote in parliament
Trial of Quai Branly protestors in Paris centres on ‘political’ aspect of activist action
Court erupts after attendee shouts that African funeral pole "belongs to us"
France ordered to return three Derain paintings to heirs of Jewish dealer René Gimpel
Ruling by Paris court of appeal sets an important precedent for pending restitution claim over 16 paintings in French museum collections
How about an €8m Chanel makeover? Paris fashion museum reopens with help of luxury brand
Palais Galliera opens its doors during a hybrid physical and digital Paris fashion week with a major Chanel exhibition
Plans for world's biggest Picasso museum in south of France scuppered
Aix-en-Provence city council says that sale fell through after negotiations with artist’s stepdaughter broke down
Pack your goggles! France to open three underwater sculpture parks this autumn
Visitors will need to swim to see new exhibits submerged off the coast of Corsica, Marseille and Cannes
Vandals smash statue of Mary Magdalene in French chapel—apparently because she is naked
A note was left at the scene by the perpetrators saying they “did not accept” that the saint should be “represented in such a way”
French photographers demand President Macron puts his arts pandemic plan into practice
Signatories say that a ‘new deal’ is needed in France, enabling photojournalists to document the epidemic
Security questions remain after Nantes cathedral blaze: 'There's no European country where church fires are this common'
An arson investigation has been launched into the fire at the Gothic St Peter and St Paul Cathedral in western France
France takes first legal step towards restitutions to Benin and Senegal as cabinet examines new law
Twenty-six objects looted from Abomey Palace to return to Benin, Omar Tall’s sword to be transferred to Senegal
Notre Dame's spire to be rebuilt the way it was—but use of lead likely to spark new controversy
French President Macron makes u-turn after first suggesting the 19th-century spire, which was destroyed in the fire last year, should be replaced by a contemporary design
Musée Rodin in Paris casts new bronzes to offset losses from Covid-19 crisis
With an estimated shortfall of €4.4m in revenue, the museum is looking to "increase the offer and opportunities for sales to new markets"
Roselyne Bachelot is France’s new culture minister
The former health and ecology minister shares a passion for opera with newly appointed Prime Minister Jean Castex
'The show must go on': new Rencontres d’Arles director promises 'less is more' approach after pandemic scuppers this year's edition
Head-hunted from Paris Photo, Christoph Wiesner will begin role as Luma Foundation officially opens its headquarters in the French city
American collector to sue France over restitution of $1.7m Pissarro painting
Real estate developer Bruce Toll claims compensation after French High court confirms return of Pissarro's Pea Harvest to heirs of collector Simon Bauer
Paris dealer who sold golden sarcophagus to New York’s Metropolitan Museum charged with fraud and money laundering
The work was returned to Egypt last year after officials were shown evidence it might have been looted during the Arab Spring in 2011
Former Louvre curator among five arrested in Paris in antiquities trafficking investigation
Case involves "hundreds of objects worth millions" looted from the Near and Middle East
Artist of African descent must create France's new slavery memorial, campaign group says
Culture ministry launches open call for monument that will be sited near the Musée du Louvre
French museums reveal plans to re-open in June and July
Louvre is "is working towards a planned reopening on 6 July" with strict rules for social distancing and 70% of the museum open to the public
Five European museum directors explain their reopening strategies
From capped visitor numbers to surgical gloves and temperature checks, here's how cultural institutions are getting ready to leave lockdown
Strong sales as France restarts live auctions
Artcurial, the first auction house to reopen, doubled its sale estimate as lockdown seems to have "sharpened" buyers' appetite
‘In two and a half years, who knows where the world will be’—Lyon Biennale curators reveal why exhibition was pushed back from 2021 to 2022
Pressure on resources play a part as well as ethical issues in the wake of coronavirus
Amidst fierce criticism, Emmanuel Macron announces plans to help France's culture sector during the pandemic
French president says artists will be invited into schools and asked to create new commissions, but many art professionals say it is not enough
Director of France’s national furniture collection defends plans to sell 100 items at auction to aid healthcare workers
Move prompts fears that works from national museum collections could be sold off too
Lockdown drives digital boom at French museums—but where's the business model?
Podcasts, social media channels and virtual exhibitions are experiencing unprecedented traffic but do not make up for lost revenue