Disasters & destruction

Attacker sprays oil in Berlin museums, damaging sarcophagi, sculptures and frames

Sixty-three objects were sprayed with an oily liquid on 3 October at the Pergamon, Neues Museum and Alte Nationalgalerie

Museum of Memory dedicated to victims of state violence wins prize in Nicaragua

While its physical location was closed by the combined impact of government reprisals and the global pandemic, the museum lives on as a digital space

Vandals smash statue of Mary Magdalene in French chapel—apparently because she is naked

A note was left at the scene by the perpetrators saying they “did not accept” that the saint should be “represented in such a way”

Beirutnews

Unesco, Icom and Louvre rally to help Beirut as museums tackle extensive explosion damage

A coalition of international museums and heritage organisations are working to provide expertise to Lebanese institutions

Hannah McGivern. with additional reporting by Gareth Harris
MaXXInews

MaXXI to open new museum in earthquake-ravaged L'Aquila in October

Contemporary art outpost of Rome museum will be housed in an 18th-century palace rebuilt with Russian government funds

Beirut's art world mourns widespread death and destruction following explosions

With homes, galleries and studios entirely destroyed, Lebanese artists respond in the aftermath of Tuesday’s carnage

Huge explosion in Beirut decimates city and leaves art scene in disarray

Several galleries and museums have been destroyed or severely damaged following the blast and fire that shook the Lebanese capital on Tuesday

Snap! Tourist takes a selfie on a 19th-century Canova sculpture—and breaks off two toes

Concerns raised about how the visitor gained access to the Paolina Bonaparte cast

Rescue and assessment efforts underway for gutted Brazilian museum

Maintenance was under par at Museum of Natural History and Botanical Gardens of the University of Minas Gerais

The unluckiest museums in the world? Croatia faces string of natural disasters

Zagreb was hit by an earthquake in March at the height of Covid-19, and now by a severe storm

Security questions remain after Nantes cathedral blaze: 'There's no European country where church fires are this common'

An arson investigation has been launched into the fire at the Gothic St Peter and St Paul Cathedral in western France

Controversiesinterview

With demolition of Oslo's Picasso-Nesjar murals imminent, Norwegian sculptor’s daughter speaks out

Carl Nesjar’s daughter talks about the Norwegian sculptor’s long collaboration with the Modern master and shares exclusive images of the pair

Podcastspodcast

The destruction of Australia’s ancient Aboriginal heritage

Plus, art under threat in Putin's Russia and George Shaw on Thomas Jones. Produced in association with Christie's

Hosted by Ben Luke. with guest speaker Sophia Kishkovsky. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson

Suspected arson damages Andy Goldsworthy’s Spire in San Francisco’s Presidio park

The 100ft-tall sculpture is still standing after a major blaze, but crews will determine if it can remain in place

Mosulnews

Unesco's plan to ‘revive spirit’ of devastated Mosul gets under way

Initiative involves local communities in rebuilding their historic landmarks and neighbourhoods

Mining company Rio Tinto apologises for destruction of 46,000-year-old Aboriginal site

Blasting of two ancient rock shelters at Juukan Gorge was authorised in 2013 by Western Australia state government

Significant art emerged from traumas of the past—will the pandemic prove different?

As the coronavirus crisis stretches on, we look at how artists have captured confinement in recent history and what is being done now

Explosion in chemicals factory threatens Venice with cloud of toxic smoke

The fire is now under control, but the mayor warns people to stay indoors and keep their windows closed

Battle to save concrete Picasso murals in Oslo intensifies after MoMA steps in

“Workers at the Y-Block site have started drilling, but it’s worrying as once they start moving the mural, it will crack,” says co-creator’s daughter

Glasgow School of Art will be back as a 'working art school' but restoration is mired in delays

Almost two years after fire ravaged the Mackintosh building, debate intensifies over future plans for the site

Fire breaks out at Berlin’s Humboldt Forum

Fire service says one person was injured in the blaze caused by a gas cylinder exploding

Thieves arrested for stealing stones from Notre Dame in Paris

Drunk perpetrators may have wanted to sell the items on the black market

Zagreb Cathedral’s spire damaged in major earthquake

City is "fighting two enemies" as it continues to deal with the spread of coronavirus

Mass museum shutdown in northern Italy—including Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Fondazione Prada—as coronavirus spreads

Public and private institutions in Venice, Milan and Turin will stay closed for at least a week as more than 200 cases of Covid-2019 are confirmed

Chinacomment

Where is the West? Art world should be supporting China during coronavirus crisis

Our beleaguered art colleagues need our help and we must not turn our backs on Chinese art institutions, says Philip Dodd, head of Made in China

Coronavirus impact on China’s art world now eclipses Sars

The region’s art scene has experienced relentless growth since the 2002-03 epidemic. Will it be able to recover from the latest health crisis as quickly as it did almost two decades ago?