Politics

Censorshipcomment

From shadow bans to privacy laws: how the internet has become less free—by stealth

The chilling of artistic freedom is impacting artists and those they connect with

Canaries in the coal mine: is the art world facing a rising tide of censorship?

The death of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny last month, after years of confinement in a Siberian jail, and subsequent quelling of protest, emphasised the flourishing of censorship across a globe riven by geopolitical crises, in a year when democracy is put to the test in more than 70 countries. With the threat of electoral misinformation being boosted by AI-generated content and social media algorithms, artists have been warning of new kinds of censorship. The effect is being felt in real life, online and in social media

Despite the no vote, Australia reinforces First Nations voices

While a referendum to recognise Indigenous people failed, the country’s cultural institutions are striving to reflect their lives

How Poland’s new government has begun shaking up the arts sector

Donald Tusk’s coalition is revoking cultural leadership appointments made by the previous right-wing regime—but is cancelling Poland’s Venice Biennale artist a step too far?

Turkeynews

Istanbul mayor sees culture as ‘locomotive’ in re-election bid

Restoring ancient city’s heritage sites and opening Modern art venues is central to Ekrem İmamoğlu’s campaign

Taiwan’s cultural sector seeks higher profile as country heads to polls

As three contenders battle it out to become president, artists plead for them to see there is more to Taiwan than semiconductors

The Parthenon Marbles and the myth of the slippery slope

There are some very spurious arguments coming from those resisting the return of the marbles to Greece

Alexander Herman

Polish pavilion selection at Venice Biennale gets political as rejected artist cries censorship

Ignacy Czwartos was chosen to represent Poland but his exhibition concept has been ditched by the new government

India's first family of art looks back over 60 years of history and politics

Anniversary exhibition at Mumbai's oldest gallery, Chemould Prescott Road, dusted off the archives, featuring artists such as Mithu Sen and Atul Dodiya

Polandcomment

A change of regime in Poland presents challenges and opportunities for the culture sector

After eight years of the right-wing PiS-led government, breaking down the silos in the country's arts sector will be key

Jack Lohman
Russianews

President Putin boosts presidential bid at two prime Moscow culture spots

Run for fifth term held against backdrop of nationalist exhibitions while clampdown continues on artists and writers

New online magazine ‘celebrates and salutes’ Palestinian artists

Union Magazine, launched by the Berlin- and West Bank-based organisation Artists and Allies of Hebron, hopes to resist a polarised political climate

Argentina’s new president Javier Milei does away with culture ministry 24 hours after taking office

The new far-right president halved the number of government ministries (and devalued the peso by 50%) in a show of “control” over the nation and its economic troubles

Political art stays peripheral at Art Basel in Miami Beach

Fair’s stands largely remain neutral despite multiple hot-topic issues in the world today

Fears for artistic expression in Russia as ministry files motion to classify 'the international LGBT public movement' as 'extremist'

Members of the country's cultural sector are among those concerned about harsh punishments for perceived violations should the declaration be signed off

Uffizi director Eike Schmidt hits out at mayor of Florence—fuelling rumours of his own political ambitions

Schmidt has criticised Dario Nardella for plans to deploy security guards at shopping centres in the city, after suggestions for similar protection at the museum were rejected

Ahead of Argentina’s runoff election, the country’s art sector faces economic crisis and political upheaval

With far-right candidate Javier Milei slightly ahead in polls before the 19 November election, Argentina’s resilient cultural sector braces for turmoil

Three members of jury that voted on Poland's 2024 Venice Biennale pavilion show hit out at plans

The trio are part of a larger group of critics arguing that the exhibition follows the narrative of the current Law and Justice (PiS) government's “right-wing, martyrdom-oriented cultural policy”

‘We live in an age of escalating violence. Art teaches us to listen, to see, to wait for understanding’

As the world reels from wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and we face a global climate catastrophe, how should artists and cultural organisations respond?

Ben Okri

After referendum defeat, Indigenous Australian artists reclaim their voice in Adelaide

The Tarnanthi art festival features more than 1,500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists

Poland's arts community cautiously optimistic as right-wing ruling party fails to win majority

Poles voted in record numbers on the weekend, paving the way for the opposition parties led by Donald Tusk to form a coalition government

Tania Bruguera exhibition in Chile opens in modified form after uproar over artist's political stance

The Salvador Allende Solidarity Museum delayed the opening of the Cuban-born artist's solo exhibition amid pushback from Allende family members and supporters

Qatar Museums fly Palestinian flag in the aftermath of Hamas attack on Israel

Sheikha Al-Mayassa shared images on social media of the Palestinian flag projected on the façades of the Museum of Islamic Art and the National Museum of Qatar

Leaked report suggests Canada may abandon prime minister's crumbling home

The historic property in Ottawa needs more than $27m worth of repairs, but creating a brand new residence could cost more

Museums in line of fire ahead of Polish election

Opposition parties, not government, behind latest sacking of cultural leader

Labournews

Spain seeks to improve artists' rights across EU but labour reforms at home fall short

MEPs back new support measures for creatives following Spain's Statute of the Artist decree, now in political limbo

Russia’s boycotted Hermitage Museum inks culture deal with Iranian research institute

Cooperation agreement follows Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy strategy to forge closer ties with Iran

Unesco adds junta prison in Argentina to World Heritage list

As the ESMA Museum and Site of Memory in Buenos Aires gains international recognition, the history it seeks to safeguard is under attack by Argentina’s extremist frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election

France suspends cultural cooperation with three West African countries

France's culture minister said the country “never boycotts artists”, but artists and performers from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso will no longer be granted visas