Politics

Nicaraguan government moves to tighten its grip on free expression

A trio of pending laws has human rights groups raising the alarm that artists and institutions critical of President Ortega could be forcefully silenced

European academies issue joint manifesto to protect freedom of arts

Signatories of the “Berlin Manifesto” include the Académie française and Arts Council England. It has been endorsed by Wim Wenders, Ken Loach and A. L. Kennedy among others

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

Trump descends into hell—the state of America as seen by artist Jim Shaw

New London show at Simon Lee Gallery also takes a swipe at art world excess

Politicscomment

Philip Guston drew Richard Nixon's face as a hairy scrotum and phallus—what would he make of President Trump?

The physiognomy of deviousness, greed, ruthless opportunism, risible self-importance and gobsmacking albeit garden variety stupidity provides artists of Guston’s bent and calibre with a virtually bottomless well of imagery

Activist groups condemn 'unjust' imprisonment of Sudanese artists including award-winning filmmaker Hajooj Kuka

Human Rights Watch among the organisations criticising the decision by Khartoum court to convict pro-democracy collective that were rehearsing a performance

Belarusian opposition leader and arts promoter Maria Kolesnikova charged with organising a coup d'état

Aleksandr Lukashenko regime continues to crackdown on Belarus’s contemporary arts community

Jair Bolsonaro, long criticised for anti-black statements, removes a painting of Afro-Brazilian deities from presidential offices

The Brazilian president allegedly requested the removal of Os Orixás by the artist Djanira da Motta e Silva at the behest of his wife, an Evangelical Christian

Fundingcomment

'Be commercially minded or lose future funding': UK government's threat puts museums in peril

In a letter leaked to The Art Newspaper, the culture minister Oliver Dowden tells directors they must raise their own funds during the pandemic—but how?

Brazilnews

Cinemateca Brasileira, the largest audiovisual institution in South America, under threat by Bolsonaro government

The government has fired all 41 technical staff, who safeguard an important collection of more than 250,000 works

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

First Hagia Sophia, now Turkey's 'Sistine Chapel of Byzantium' will be turned back into mosque

The 14th-century mosaics at Chora Church—which was converted to a museum in 1945—risk being covered up and remaining part-restored

German activist art group sells 'anti-fascist' works on eBay to support left-wing organisations

Peng collective auctions off ten objects bought from committed anti-fascists for €10,000

Belarus protest work—painted with a police baton—sells for three million rubles

Contemporary artists in the country are reacting to the crisis after allegations of election fraud and police brutality

Cultural love-in between Italy and Russia sets ‘soft power’ alarm bells ringing

Growing unease as the special relationship between the two countries gains momentum during the Covid-19 crisis

Sydney's Powerhouse Museum saved from sell-off, but debate rages on

NSW government scraps controversial billion-dollar relocation plan but faces questions from community groups and parliament

Brazilnews

Bolsonaro appoints son’s former aide the president of the National Arts Foundation as public ministry files lawsuit to remove him

Luciano Querido, trained as an IT technician, has been in the role provisionally since May despite lacking the federal qualifications for the role

Germany's Holocaust memorial sites fight against surge in far-right threats

Former concentration camps are being increasingly drawn into culture wars by “normal-looking” people challenging guides and disrupting tours

How the art industry is grappling with its systemic race inequality

Galleries, fairs and auction houses are issuing solidarity statements and re-evaluating the diversity of their staffs. But "performative wokeness” will not fix the market’s whiteness

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
Hong Konganalysis

Some artists planning to leave Hong Kong in response to new national security law

Concerns over freedom of expression and self-censorship on the rise after introduction of new rules

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
Cubanews

Tania Bruguera reportedly detained by Cuban authorities hours before anti-racism protest in Havana

The artist’s final message posted on social media this morning was “they are taking me”

Brazilnews

Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro appoints actor Mário Frias the new secretary of culture, sparking controversy

Frias is the fifth person to hold the role since Bolsonaro dissolved the ministry of culture after his election in 2019

Russianews

Culture crackdown ahead of Putin's referendum

Artist Pyotr Verzilov was sentenced to 15 days in prison for "petty hooliganism" in latest clampdown on the arts in Russia

Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture plagued by delays after top curators quit

Turkey’s national modern art collection, closed off for much of its 80-year existence, will be hard-pressed to open $25m new building this year

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

Protestsgallery

Art for a good cause: artists show their support for Black Lives Matter

Portraits of George Floyd and other victims of police violence and racial injustice raise awareness and funds for activist groups