France

After a stormy few years, Paris Biennale is laid to rest

The long-running French event will be replaced by a new art, antiques and luxury crafts fair at the end of November

Musée Rodin could be forced to release 3D scans of bronze sculptures—including The Thinker—to the public

Cosmo Wenman made a freedom of information request for the files and is taking the museum to court because it turned him down

Pushing the envelope: new technology reads 300-year-old letter without opening it

X-rays and computer algorithms preserve the complicated technique of letterlocking, which turn writing paper into envelope

Designnews

Richard Rogers-designed drawing gallery hangs dramatically off a French hillside

One of the architect’s final commissions before his retirement is the newest addition to the art- and architecture-studded Chateau La Coste vineyard in southern France

Podcastspodcast

Stonehenge: could a road tunnel ruin the ancient site?

Plus, French museums revolt against lockdown closures and artist Crystal Fischetti on Karla Black

Far-right mayor reopens four museums in southern France—without government’s permission

Although national museums are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Perpignan's Musée Rigaud, Casa Pairal, Musée Puig and the museum of natural history are open to the public again

Museum revolution: 100 French directors call for 'essential' reopening

Petition urges culture minister to lift coronavirus restrictions on museums and galleries so they can "take care of visitors now"

Amid child sexual abuse accusations, Paris authorities turn off Claude Lévêque light sculptures

The French artist is under police investigation over claims that he abused minors under the age of 15

Kamel Mennour gallery's representation of Claude Lévêque suspended after allegations of abuse of minors

According to French media reports, a police investigation has been launched into violations dating back to the 1970s

Prizesnews

Lithium mining and a Donald Judd horror film: nominees for Prix Marcel Duchamp—France's most prestigious contemporary art award—announced

The four artists will have their work exhibited at the Centre Pompidou in Paris for the prize, worth €35,000

Paris news

Champs Élysées—one of Paris’s most polluted roads—to be transformed into ‘extraordinary garden’

The major avenue will undergo a €250m makeover to restore its former splendour, following the 2024 Summer Olympics

Opening of Pinault's Bourse de Commerce postponed as French museums told to remain closed

Scheduled to reopen this week, cultural institutions must keep their doors shut after an increase in Covid-19 cases

French High Court orders retrial of Wildenstein art dynasty tax fraud case

Guy Wildenstein and his nephew were accused of hiding assets worth hundreds of millions but were acquitted in 2017 and 2018—now they are wanted back in court for a third trial

Congolese activist who tried to seize an artefact from the Louvre is fined €5,000

Mwazulu Diyabanza says that “museums do not deserve respect” as restitution debate intensifies

French restitution bill passes final hurdle in parliament

Vote by National Assembly paves the way for the return of 27 colonial-era artefacts to Benin and Senegal within one year, but “will not create a legal precedent”

French Senate and government lock horns on restitution

Deputies rejected senators' proposal for a national council to advise the government on future restitution claims

Revealed: the secrets behind Antonia, Modigliani’s ‘most complex work’

Researchers at C2RMF give an exclusive preview of their forensic study of all the artist's works in French museum collections

French museums dismayed as reopening pushed to 7 January

Three-week delay caused by rising cases of coronavirus in the country

Censored work showing faces of 4,000 French police officers goes on show in Berlin

Work was pulled after the intervention of France's interior minister amid protests against a new bill that would have criminalised the publication of images of law enforcement

Collection of Balthus drawings and paintings to be sold for €1.2m—so why no mention of his infatuation with pubescent girls?

The works are from the estate of the artist’s teenage “muse and model” Frédérique Tison, who was also his step-niece

French Senate votes unanimously for restitution to Benin and Senegal in 'act of friendship and trust'

Senate approves bill to return 27 colonial-era artefacts from museum collections to Africa within one year

Saudi Arabia continues relentless cultural drive with Jean Nouvel subterranean desert resort

The plans are part of a ten-year agreement between France and Saudi Arabia to develop the AlUla region into a tourism destination

Louvre and French museums close, while German museums await clarity in second coronavirus lockdown

Closing German museums would be “a hard blow for the institutions and society,” the country's museums association says

Francenews

Congolese activist fined €1,000 for trying to seize African funeral pole from Paris museum

Emery Mwazulu Diyabanza and the other activists who removed the object from display at the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac say their actions are a protest against colonial looting

France’s National Assembly votes to return colonial-era artefacts to Benin and Senegal

Accelerated bill enabling restitution of 27 objects from French museums passes first vote in parliament

Trial of Quai Branly protestors in Paris centres on ‘political’ aspect of activist action

Court erupts after attendee shouts that African funeral pole "belongs to us"

France ordered to return three Derain paintings to heirs of Jewish dealer René Gimpel

Ruling by Paris court of appeal sets an important precedent for pending restitution claim over 16 paintings in French museum collections

How about an €8m Chanel makeover? Paris fashion museum reopens with help of luxury brand

Palais Galliera opens its doors during a hybrid physical and digital Paris fashion week with a major Chanel exhibition

Plans for world's biggest Picasso museum in south of France scuppered

Aix-en-Provence city council says that sale fell through after negotiations with artist’s stepdaughter broke down

Pack your goggles! France to open three underwater sculpture parks this autumn

Visitors will need to swim to see new exhibits submerged off the coast of Corsica, Marseille and Cannes