Politics

Poland demands Russia return seven paintings it claims were looted during Second World War

Putin’s international cultural envoy, Mikhail Shvydkoy, says Poland’s request has no legal grounds

Cameras illicitly planted in Palestinian olive grove will broadcast life from the occupied West Bank to museums worldwide

The initiative from new activist group headed by Jewish South African artist Adam Broomberg and Palestinian activist Issa Amro aims to reveal the realities of the Palestinian struggle in the ancient city of Hebron

Michelle Donelan named new UK culture secretary

The former minister for universities has been promoted under the new prime minister, Liz Truss

Brazilian arts sector condemns federal culture management amid fears of military dictatorship revival

As the October presidential election looms, the Bolsonaro administration is being scrutinised for its poor support of the cultural sector, while opponent Lula promises reform

UK culture secretary Nadine Dorries resigns amid party leadership change

Dorries, the 10th culture secretary in 12 years, was closely aligned with former prime minister Boris Johnson

First the Taliban, now local planners—Afghanistan's World Heritage site Bamiyan Valley endangered further

Unesco warns of risks of construction works in the archaeological zone where the Bamiyan Buddha statues were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001

Do the Taliban regret blowing up the Bamiyan Buddhas? New government takes steps to protect heritage

Leaders of the new Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan says it favours the conservation of the tangible heritage—including pre-Islamic monuments—but economic sanctions are getting in the way

‘It’s time to ditch the culture war rhetoric’

The next UK prime minister should abandon the war on "woke" and return to nuanced debate

Russian museum founder and former mayor faces prison for criticising Ukraine invasion

Yevgeny Roizman, who established the Nevyansk Icon Museum in Yekaterinburg, was until yesterday the last prominent opposition politician in Russia to not have been arrested for speaking out against the war

Outspoken Myanmar artist Htein Lin arrested by military government and sent to infamous prison

Artist and his British wife Vicky Bowman are the latest detainees of the brutal junta that has killed thousands of citizens

'Indian art is in deep crisis': Anish Kapoor on his home country, 75 years after independence

Freedom of expression in India is dead because of Modi's "Hindu Taliban", the artist says

Cubanews

Health concerns raised over Cuban artist and activist held in jail

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara was sentenced to five years in prison in June

One year after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, artists stage remembrance festival of kite flying

International event—featuring storytelling, music, poetry and dance—aims to bring awareness to the continuing plight of Afghans

Nancy Pelosi's controversial trip to Taiwan puts museum in the spotlight

US Speaker of the House visits National Human Rights Museum amidst tense relations between Taiwan and China

UK prime minister Boris Johnson resigns—here are the art world's reactions

From Cold War Steve and David Shrigley's creative responses to Bob and Roberta Smith's warning that bigger issues are at play

There is a ‘deal to be done’ with Greece over Parthenon Marbles, says British Museum chairman George Osborne

The comments from the former chancellor signals dramatic shift in museum’s policy and attitude ahead of planned protests this weekend

What’s with dictators and bad art?

Imelda Marcos is just one of a series of despots with appalling taste

Museums take action after report finds 'astonishing, nearly absurd' levels of government interference

State meddling is “annihilating capacity of institutions”, says commissioner of Museum Watch Governance Management Project

Letter from... Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan gallery owner Saskia Fernando says artists have found ‘an opportunity to use their art for greater purpose’ in response to the country’s economic and political turmoil

‘A shock to the community worldwide’: directors of Tate, Guggenheim and MoMA condemn ousting of Polish museum head

Critics say the sudden dismissal of Jarosław Suchan is the latest attempt by Poland's right-wing government at exercising greater control over cultural institutions

Anny Shaw. With additional reporting by Gareth Harris

The hunt for looted Cambodian objects—are they hidden in the West's museums?

Plus, the dark truth of the Marcos family’s extravagance and Ruth Asawa at Modern Art Oxford

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Politicscomment

Partygate: debaucherous celebrations captured by artists through the ages

As Sue Gray report detailing the British government's breach of lockdown rules is published, we look at similar scenes in art history

Britain’s major messaging failure on Parthenon Marbles

The UN says it has facilitated a meeting for British officials to discuss restitution with the Greek minister of culture, but Britain denies this

President Macron appoints Rima Abdul Malak as France’s new minister of culture

Culture pass, restitution issues and metaverse will be on her agenda

Missing Picasso painting resurfaces during Philippines president-elect's celebratory visit with his mother, Imelda Marcos

Picasso’s ‘Reclining Woman VI’ was one of the many works Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos Sr bought with billions siphoned off from the state

Philippines election: artist explores Marcos family’s ill-gotten art and jewels as son Ferdinand Jr leads presidential polls

As the country elects new leader, Pio Abad tells us about the Marcoses’ misinformation and cynical use of mythology, which is the focus of his new show

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

How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will reshape Eastern Europe’s cultural scene

Amid the death and devastation caused by the war, it has strengthened cultural connections and collaborations between Ukraine and the rest of the world