Politics

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More than 20 artists have withdrawn from British Art Show 9 in support of "political freedom, and artistic expression in cultural institutions and universities across the UK"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

Sponsored byBloomberg Connects

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
Sponsored byChristie's

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”

Boris Johnson says British Museum trustees must decide fate of the Parthenon Marbles

The British Prime Minister met with Greek leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who reiterates that the ancient sculptures should be shown at the Acropolis Museum

‘I’m proud of myself as a mini political prisoner’: Artist Moe Satt on his gruelling time in a Myanmar prison

He spent over three months in prison after being arrested at a protest against the military dictatorship that has been ruling the country since February

Review: Hong Kong's highly anticipated M+ museum opens—but can it withstand political pressure?

This world-class institution is a magnificent achievement, but it faces a profoundly different political environment today from its inception 25 years ago

Experts raise alarm over fate of Georgia's leading art museum amid political upheaval

Concerns persist that a government-backed renovation of the Shalva Amiranashvili Museum of Fine Arts in Tbilisi could endanger its collection of 139,000 ancient and modern works

Conservatives scrap arts premium for schools promised in 2019 UK general election manifesto

Arts education policy amounting to £270m was missing from autumn budget announcement last week

Sanctioned Chechen leader appoints 22-year-old daughter as culture minister

Aishat Kadyrova marked her appointment by announcing an exhibition in the Chechen capital of historic weaponry from the State Hermitage Museum

Castello di Rivoli helps bring Afghan artist and curator to Italy

Abdul Wasi Rahraw Omarzad set up a school for women artists and Afghanistan’s only art journal

Brexit blues: Frieze dealers despair as customs and transport issues delay art shipments

Some European gallerists say they may not participate in future London fairs because of how "extremely complicated" it has become

'Don't go drink mojitos in a fun bubble': Tania Bruguera calls on art world to boycott 14th Havana Biennial over state violence

Artist and activist who has fled her home country says it is “immoral” to travel to Cuba "when there are so many people [there] who have been wrongfully imprisoned”