UK politics

Arts Council England under the microscope in government review

Mary Archer to try and identify how arm’s length funding body can make 5% saving

Police investigating Pro-Palestine protesters’ vandalism of painting at Cambridge University

A pair of activists sprayed and slashed the work depicting Arthur Balfour, whose 1917 letter advocated the creation of a ‘national home for the Jewish people’ in Palestine

Budget 2024: UK museum leaders welcome tax incentive announced by Chancellor

Museums and Galleries Exhibitions Tax Relief has been made permanent in this year's spring statement

Arts Council England rows back on 'reputational risk' guidelines

The public body “will not remove or refuse funding” over political work, it has confirmed following backlash

'It's censorship': Arts Council England under fire over new policy deterring 'overtly political statements'

Update to guidelines warns partner organisations that funding arrangements could be jeopardised by "reputational risk"

High Court battle over London building could set ‘precedent’ for UK heritage development, say campaigners

The retailer M&S wants to demolish and rebuild the unlisted Orchard House, but the politician Michael Gove and activists are pushing back

'Shameful waste of money'? New King Charles portrait causes controversy

Official photograph by Hugo Burnand depicts monarch in full military regalia and will be offered to every UK public body in £8m scheme

Revealed: the latest set of pictures adorning UK prime minister’s house

Nine works from the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle, displayed as part of the “museum in residence” programme, are a mirror to life in the north-east of England

Parthenon Marbles row deepens after Rishi Sunak cancels meeting with Greek prime minister

The snub comes after Kyriakos Mitsotakis raised restitution issue with Labour leader Keir Starmer

British art market yet to reap ‘Brexit dividends’, new report suggests

Clare McAndrew's British Art Market in 2023 survey shows a growing gulf between UK and US art markets, prompting key players to lobby government

Director of Restore Trust, campaign group putting pressure on National Trust, steps down from role

Zewditu Gebreyohanes said she had made the decision six months ago, and that it was not connected to members rejecting the group's councillors and resolutions at the weekend's general meeting

Retain and explain guidance on contentious UK heritage is published—at last

Government strategy underscores controversial monuments should stay in place, a move criticised by some culture professionals

Arts fundinganalysis

Private sector picks up the pieces as UK government cuts art education funding

While university arts departments are being dismantled, dealers and auction houses provide learning programmes

Thangam Debbonaire appointed UK shadow culture secretary

The Labour MP, who has held the position before, campaigned for the removal of Bristol's Edward Colston statue

Sotheby’s UK profits dropped by almost a quarter last year amid 'Brexit red tape'

An auction house spokesperson says Companies House figures do not represent full scope of business

Statue of wartime code-breaker Alan Turing proposed for London's fourth plinth

UK defence secretary Ben Wallace made the suggestion following a review of LGBTQ veterans' experiences—but critics point out the minister's contradictory voting record

Art worldcomment

'We need to talk about class in the art world'

A recent list of young art "disruptors" published by a UK newspaper underlines the insidious dynamics of privilege which continue to define our industry

Controversial Stonehenge tunnel scheme gets greenlight from UK government

Campaign groups say move is ‘as inexplicable as it is disgraceful’

Special report: Funding cuts and weak economy send UK’s visual arts into crisis

From regional galleries becoming “unsustainable” to brutal cuts to funding of museums, galleries and arts and humanities education, the sector is in an increasingly perilous state

Labour’s education revolution will put the arts and culture centre stage

The UK's shadow culture minister sets out the Labour party's plan for arts and culture if they win the next election

Lucy Powell. UK Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Diaryblog

New career in art beckons for Boris Johnson

The former UK prime minister has painted his vision of the 'perfect' cabinet meeting

UK and Greece should share Parthenon Marbles says London mayor Sadiq Khan

The Labour party politician encourages the British Museum and the UK government to advance talks with the government of Greece and Athens's Acropolis Museum

Sculpture of whistleblowers Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden makes appearance in UK's Parliament Square

The work invites audience participation and is about defending "freedom of speech", says its creator Davide Dormino

Windrush 75th anniversary marked by series of royal art commissions including portraits by Sonia Boyce and Amy Sherald

Also commemorating the arrival of the vessel from the Caribbean is a new exhibition at London's V&A and a display in London's Piccadilly Circus

Memorial to peace activist Brian Haw to stand opposite London's Imperial War Museum

The campaigner began protesting the Iraq war outside the Houses of Parliament in 2001 and remained camped at the site until his death in 2011

Ivorynews

UK government to extend ivory ban to include hippos, sperm whales, narwhals, orcas and walruses

Ministers hope to close loopholes that see aquatic mammals vulnerable to poaching, but dealers in antique scrimshaw works of art say it will destroy their business

Declassified documents on Parthenon Marbles reveal rift between UK government and British Museum

Foreign Office was dismissive of the museum's attempts to lobby for the contested sculptures in 1983

Ai Weiweiinterview

‘It is a crime against humanity’: Ai Weiwei discusses refugees in the UK, moving on from Covid and why Lego is his medium of choice

Design Museum exhibition brings together more than a million pieces collected by the artist including spouts and Stone Age tools