Imports and Exports

UK government pledges to cut red tape around art imports

Customs processes to be streamlined to boost the domestic art market and simplify the importing of art and antiques in the wake of Brexit

Art trade figures voice major concerns over new EU import licensing regulations

The restrictions will focus on imports of non-European cultural property

Art marketanalysis

Plunging arts exports, cancelled fairs and increased regulation: how Brexit is endangering the UK art market three years on

On the anniversary of the UK's departure from the European Union, dealers and politicians warn Britain is slipping behind its competitors as a cultural leader

'Will it end up on a yacht—or in a museum?' Art export licences should be reformed, suggests UK arts minister

The world is “much more connected than it was” but the criteria for issuing export bars have remained unchanged since 1952, Stephen Parkinson explains

Italian police stop sale of 'exceptional' Artemisia Gentileschi painting that may have been illegally shipped to Vienna

If judges rule that the owners of the work broke the law, the painting will be definitively confiscated by the state and could be donated to a museum

Art marketanalysis

UK art market: too little, too late?

Britain’s share of the global market is at its lowest in a decade and art imports have plummeted. Without government action, experts say, the fallout from Brexit could devastate the industry

Anny Shaw. With additional reporting by Gareth Harris

'The art in Spain stays mainly off the plane': grim Brexit news from the art buying frontline

I've learned the new political lessons about art shipping the hard way—so you don't have to

Legal battle over €15m Leonardo discovery: owner, Tajan auction house and French government fight it out

An export ban was placed on the drawing in 2017 but the French culture ministry has not purchased the drawing as planned

Boo to NFTs! Hang on, think of no customs fees

As Brexit makes buying anything from Europe almost impossible, purchasing questionable digital art is almost tempting

Roman bust seized in Germany after confusion around import laws for artefacts in transit

The bronze was taken because German law requires archaeological objects have export licences from the country of origin—but it was only travelling through to Austria from the US

In a swift post-Brexit move, UK rejects EU’s strict import rules on cultural property

The rules, aimed at preventing trafficking, have been opposed by the trade and UK government's decision not to continue may put EU art market at a disadvantage

Brexitnews

Art specialists pore over the Brexit trade deal—and deliver their verdict

Artist’s resale right, import VAT, red tape, and smuggling directives are addressed by our experts

Art marketcomment

The art trade benefits from the UK's low import duty. What will happen to it after Brexit?

As talks with the EU resume to reach a last-ditch trade deal, the lawyer Louise Williamson looks at what UK import rules might look like after 1 January

Freeport debate rages on after UK government commits to establishing ten vast storage facilities

Labour MP Owen Smith calls the tax-free zones “self-storage for art thieves”

UK art market recovered in 2018, with hike in exports to UAE while trade with Switzerland declines

Global art and antiques imports and exports in and out of the UK increased last year but are yet to reach the levels seen during the 2015 peak

Otto Dixarchive

Germany's attempt to permanently retain Otto Dix print collection belonging to George Economou fails

Tycoon keeps 500-strong collection after German campaign to include it in national heritage list is thwarted

Collectorsarchive

Californian collectors hit by tax rise

The rates for use tax and sales tax has increased to 7.5%

Newsarchive

Terracotta warriors on display in Hamburg deemed fake by Chinese authorities

Problems with their export and provenance seem to indicate the warriors are not quite what they seem

Tatearchive

Tate launches appeal to buy Turner's Blue Rigi

The Blue Rigi has been sold to an overseas collector, and after last year's loss of the Dark Rigi the pressure is on

Tatearchive

Tate to launch campaign to buy Turner’s Blue Rigi for £5m–the highest price it has ever paid for a work of art

The gallery is hoping to display all three Rigi watercolours in January, uniting them for the first time

Turner seller might have done better with Tate

Why was The Dark Rigi sold privately, when a public sale would have given valuable tax breaks?

Tatearchive

How the US National Gallery and Tate were beaten to Turner masterpiece

The Dark Rigi has become embroiled in murky legal waters

China and Italy team up to fight illicit trade

The joint effort will use satellite technology to help protect archaeological sites

Tatearchive

Final effort for Tate to save Reynolds’ Archers

The Tate continues to fiercely pursue their fundraising campaign in the hopes that this great work may remain in the UK

Unescoarchive

Switzerland to implement 1970 UNESCO Convention legislation on 1st June

Switzerland’s is known for its pivotal presence in the underground network that moves illicitly excavated artefacts from country to country

Tatearchive

Omai to go on loan to Tate

Is this a prelude to its sale to the gallery?

Tatearchive

Reynolds’ Portrait of Omai to remain in the UK, but in private hands

The painting which was bought at Sotheby's was banned from leaving the country - now what?

Unescoarchive

Long the hub of the illicit antiquities trade, Switzerland is moving towards ratification of the 1970 Unesco Convention

Switzerland also debating new national legislation to make the movement of art and artefacts more transparent

Cambodiaarchive

US imposes import restriction on certain Khmer artefacts

“The pillage of such items from Cambodia is an emergency”