Protest

Cubacomment

A feeble congress and the raising up of poetry in Cuba

While the Eighth Congress of the Cuban Communist Party ignored the needs of the people, the activist group 27N published a manifesto encapsulating their aims for the future

Belarus culture figures face severe repression for criticising 'Europe's last dictator', amnesty report reveals

Artists among those being arrested and tortured for speaking up against President Aleksandr Lukashenko

Discoveries at Stonehenge highlight controversial new tunnel's threat to heritage

Recent excavation has uncovered late Neolithic and Bronze Age artefacts and human remains

Podcastspodcast

The fight against Putin: artists on the frontline

Plus, India reconstructs its history and Navid Nuur on Walter de Maria

Five Turkish students arrested over LGBTQ-themed work

Exhibition coincided with protests against the government's appointment of Melih Bulu as the new rector of Istanbul’s Bogazici University

Russianews

'To all Russian political prisoners': Pussy Riot release new video amid crackdown on pro-Navalny protests

Group faced prison sentence after filming a “punk prayer” against President Putin in 2012 at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Street art, social media, visibility: how the Arab Spring has changed art and culture, a decade on

We ask artists, writers and experts on Middle Eastern art about their memories of the revolutionary movements—and what they think the lasting legacies are

Goldsmiths art school—alma mater of Sarah Lucas and Damien Hirst—‘on edge of a precipice’

Lecturers have stopped assessing students after management consultants propose mass overhaul

Pussy Riot members and street artist among thousands detained at Russia's pro-Navalny protests

As demonstrations swept the country last weekend, Tima Radya as well as Masha Alekhina, Victoria Narakhsa, and Lucy Shteyn were held by police

Storming of US Capitol: art world condemns police hypocrisy in pro-Trump riot

Artists Dread Scott and Glenn Ligon among cultural figures pointing out stark contrast in how law enforcement handled the mob compared with Black Lives Matter protestors

Oxford University’s All Souls College drops Christopher Codrington’s name from its library—but refuses to remove slave owner’s statue

Decision comes as scrutiny mounts over the university’s colonial legacy, including at Oriel College where a commission on Cecil Rhodes monument has been delayed

Tania Bruguera under house arrest in Cuba as anti-government protests escalate

Authorities are “building a case against” the artist, says sister

Cubanews

Hunger strike against Cuba's human rights abuses left artist in ‘critical condition’

Activists and artists were trapped in Havana building following demonstrations against police action

Ai Weiwei, Anish Kapoor and John Akomfrah among artists condemning Thai state violence against democracy protestors

Almost half of the artists participating in the Bangkok Art Biennale opening this week have expressed "support for the struggle for democracy"

Russianews

For Putin’s birthday, Pussy Riot hangs rainbow flags on Moscow’s government buildings

The activist performance artists called their actions “a gift as a symbol of the love and freedom that are lacking” for LGBTQ communities in Russia

Police search for Benin Bronze protestor—found guilty of 'threatening behaviour'

Isaiah Ogundele, who demonstrated outside the Museum of London, Docklands for the objects' repatriation, failed to appear at his court hearing earlier this month

Protestanalysis

Student flash mobs in Thailand target ‘art scene run by elite old men’

Recent demonstrations break a long-held taboo–criticism of the Thai monarchy, an institution which protesters believe is the main obstruction to democracy

Dhakanews

Bangladeshi government officials storm protest performance in Dhaka

Organised by Drik Gallery, the event at Dhaka University aimed to highlight the extrajudicial killing of Bangladeshi civilians by government forces

Belarus art collector Viktor Babariko, rival to President Alexander Lukashenko, jailed before election

Former chairman of Belgazprombank, which owns works by Chagall and Soutine, was arrested in June on charges of laundering $430m but many suspect it was politically motivated

Podcastspodcast

Hong Kong: has the new law 'destroyed' the art scene?

Plus, art historian Alyce Mahon on Leonor Fini’s illustrations. Produced in association with Christie's

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson

Tribal leaders and organisations call for the removal of Mount Rushmore monument

Leaders argue that Trump's plan for a rally there is an "unforgivable affront"

Russianews

Forty protestors detained for defending Russian activist facing prison for posting art with LGBTQ message

Russia's arts community rallying behind Yulia Tsvetkova whose trial starts in July

'Radical black resistance': Dresden exhibition to focus on legendary activist Angela Davis

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, Albertinum show explores impact of her visit to East Germany in 1972

Oxford council says controversial Cecil Rhodes statue should go to museum after long-running stalemate

Thousands of protestors are demanding removal of statue of the Victorian imperialist from Oriel college

Art world workers join protests against injustice in New York—and aim to change racist systems in the culture sphere

Activists working at museums and galleries are bringing the fight for equality from the streets back into institutions

Hong Kong artists abroad launch pro-democracy platform as China's security law looms

Online project documents one year of anti-government protests in the territory and aims to rally support from international art community