Arts professionals are generally optimistic about the country’s new leadership—although some worry promised changes could be too little too late

While government moves to limit right to strike by reclassifying museums as “essential public services” on a par with schools and hospitals

Interest grows in younger generation active in Tehran’s lively art scene and the Iranian diaspora

Plea comes as Boris Johnson publishes guidance for councils, planners and developers on protecting arts venues

Toy maker has refused to supply materials for artist’s installation in Melbourne

Exhibition of Western and Iranian art agreed in historic German-Iranian deal

But a visit to Ai Weiwei Royal Academy show is not on the agenda

Visitors snap up Greek artist Stelios Faitakis's limited-edition prints at Frieze

Artist Abdulnasser Gharem filmed "life-drawing" class in school that he founded

Belgian artist’s paintings for exhibition in Qatar address “the ongoing story of violence and ignorance”

Union members reached agreement with gallery over work conditions

In his keynote speech at the Moscow Biennale, Yanis Varoufakis discussed the perils of cultural collapse and why the euro is doomed—from an artistic standpoint

Newly elected left-wing leader of Labour Party promises increased funding for the arts and backs National Gallery strikers

The incarceration rate—especially for African American men—is an “epidemic” that artists should help cure, the non-profit says

The School of Kiev opened against the odds to focus on knowledge rather than art and breathe new life into old institutions

Our guide to who’s running for the White House and what they have funded—or cut

Anish Kapoor, Antony Gormley and Tracey Emin pledged support to charity, which numbered Damien Hirst among long-standing donors

Drawings by the Sudanese artist will be shown in full for the first time in Istanbul this month charting an arc from hope to violence

Archives reveal the Iron Lady’s decisive views on the portraits of Great Britons that she wanted for Downing Street

Ancient sculpture from Italian museums to go on show in Tehran after Iran lends Greek statue to Fondazione Prada

Overtures include Louvre director’s planned visit to Tehran, while Italy lends classical sculpture

Relocation could take place in two years’ time

New mayor of Tower Hamlets scraps disgraced predecessor's decision to sell public sculpture

And why this major overhaul of the country’s state museums can still go very wrong due to vested interests and bureaucracy