Politics

Museum ethics body blasts dismissal of Polish museum director

Jaroslaw Suchan will be replaced at Łodz Museum of Art by the artist Andrzej Biernacki

Podcastspodcast

Macron wins: what now for the French art scene?

Plus, Walter Sickert at Tate Britain and Gordon Parks at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh

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Politicsanalysis

French elections: what's at stake for culture and the arts?

As Macron and Le Pen face off in the second round of the presidential battle, cultural policy is likely to continue taking a back seat

Art marketanalysis

The G7 countries have banned art exports to Russia—we asked legal experts what this really means

While it is still legal to sell art to a Russian individual, conducting business with anyone on a sanctions list could result in fines or a prison sentence

South Koreaanalysis

Pro-arts but pro-sexism? New South Korean president ushers in a contentious era after 'incel election'

Against a backdrop of misogynistic rhetoric, President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol promises to create half a million jobs in the Korean cultural industry

France launches €1m fund to help Ukrainian and ‘dissident Russian’ artists fleeing war

Culture ministry initiative will offer three-month residencies and an emergency telephone service

Art Dubaianalysis

Biggest-ever Art Dubai fair offers smoke machines, escapism and, of course, NFTs: here’s what sold so far

The event's 15th edition dedicated a whole building to the "rapidly expanding digital arts space"

Russia-Ukraine war seeps into Art Dubai fair

Georgian gallery lays down Ukrainian flag in its booth while fair says it will donate 25% of ticket sales to Ukrainian refugees

Hong Kongcomment

Hong Kong's last British governor on how Beijing's crackdown is corroding the city's vibrant cultural scene

The Chinese government is demolishing the freedoms that once made the special administrative region special, says Chris Patten

Museum ethics organisation criticises ‘forced resignation’ of Manchester gallery director

Cimam is demanding "greater clarity" over the reasons for Alistair Hudson’s proposed removal

Ukraine urges sanctions against Russian art sector

Statement from leading art world figures calls for a ban on Russian participants in international exhibitions such as the Venice Biennale and Documenta

Former Russian culture minister Vladimir Medinsky is leading peace talks with Ukraine

Controversial political figure was in post for eight years from 2012

Oscar Murillo among slew of artists to pull out of Manchester show in protest at treatment of reportedly ousted director

More than 20 artists have withdrawn from British Art Show 9 in support of "political freedom, and artistic expression in cultural institutions and universities across the UK"

Manchester gallery director forced out over Palestine statement in exhibition

Alistair Hudson, head of the Whitworth, leaves over text in Forensic Architecture's show last year

A brush with... Ai Weiwei

An in-depth interview with the artist on his cultural experiences and greatest influences, from Marcel Duchamp to ancient Chinese ceramics—and why Romanticism is not for him

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Top Croatian government official sentenced for corruption involving art

Nadan Vidosevic, former head of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, was found guilty in December of buying art for himself with public money

UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries signs arts agreement with Saudi Arabia

Ceremony signing a memorandum of understanding took place at the Diriyah Biennale in Riyadh

Restitutionanalysis

Why Macron's radical promise to return African treasures has stalled

Four years after a landmark pledge to hand back colonial loot, French government has opposed a new restitution bill backed by the Senate

Boris Johnson becomes an NFT: artists react to scandal of leader attending parties during Covid lockdowns

Cold War Steve depicts UK prime minister hiding in a fridge in his interpretation of "Partygate" while David Shrigley labels him an "arsehole"

The ugly pursuit of beauty: how traditional architecture has become a battleground for right-wing politicians

With the culture wars in full swing, reactionary ideas on city-making are again in the ascendant, argues architecture and heritage critic Robert Bevan

Russianews

Russia's oldest human rights society Memorial ordered to close as dissent clampdown continues

International Memorial documented the crimes committed under Stalin's Great Terror and its sister organisation Memorial Human Rights Centre chronicled today's abuses

Belgium plans to hand back colonial loot to DR Congo

New law will set up expert commission to sift through thousands of objects at the Royal Museum for Central Africa

Pussy Riot members jailed over social media posts

Masha Alekhina and Lucy Shteyn, who have previously served prison terms, were sentenced to 15 days following charges of "propaganda of Nazi symbolism"

Macron's Gulf tour: UAE's Louvre Abu Dhabi contract extended to 2047 and more French-Saudi culture deals

Renewal of Abu Dhabi deal means the Louvre can partner with the network of museums planned for Saudi Arabia's AlUla region

'Jobless, futureless, in constant fear': Afghan artists sign open letter to world leaders asking for help to escape the Taliban

Non-profit Artists at Risk issue letter to Boris Johnson, Joe Biden and other senior figures urging for better systems for those seeking asylum

A portrait of power: photographer traces Angela Merkel’s ascent in new book and show

A new publication and forthcoming exhibition explore Herlinde Koelbl’s chronicle of the extraordinary 30-year political career of Germany’s first woman chancellor

Podcastspodcast

Fraud: the case of Inigo Philbrick

Plus, Warhol’s Catholicism and Moscow’s new museums

Hosted by Ben Luke. with guest speaker Georgina Adam. Produced by Julia Michalska, Aimee Dawson and David Clack. With Henrietta Bentall
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Germany’s incoming government plans to improve Nazi-looted art restitution

Proposals include eliminating statutes of limitation for claims, creating a central court for cases and strengthening the advisory commission

Colonial loot restitution debate enters UK parliament with new committee on African reparations

An all-party parliamentary group headed by the MP for Streatham aims to “start a discussion and educate people”