Politics
UK culture ministry shake up: Lucy Frazer named secretary for 'refocussed' department
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has overhauled the country's Department for Culture, Media and Sport Digital, dropping "digital" from its mandate
Satirical portrayals of president spark censorship row in South Korea
Shutdown of the exhibition "Goodbye in Seoul" is the latest in a series of censorship controversies around negative images of Yoon Suk-yeol
House of Lords report slams UK government’s 'complacent' and 'incoherent' approach to the arts
Committee warns the future of Britain as a cultural leader is at risk
US considers rejoining Unesco despite more than $616m membership debt and Israel-Palestine controversies
America left the United Nations heritage organisation in 2019 after its members voted to accept Palestine as a member state
Brazilian president-elect Lula appoints Bahian singer Margareth Menezes as culture minister
The singer Gilberto Gil and the politician Juca Ferreira held the role during Lula’s previous presidency
Russian arms dealer and artist Viktor Bout returns to Moscow via prisoner swap with US basketball player Brittney Griner
The man known as The Merchant of Death was exchanged for the American athlete, who was arrested for possessing cannabis oil at a Moscow airport in February
How the war in Ukraine reveals the heightened politics of Unesco
Boycotted Russia resigned as chair of the World Heritage Committee last month
Brazilian president-elect Lula pledged to reboot the country's culture ministry
As Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva prepares to return to office as Brazil’s president, the country’s arts sector eagerly awaits the reinvigoration of the ministry of culture, which Jair Bolsonaro dissolved
Can art actually help improve Saudi Arabia's abject human rights record?
Culture is being used by Saudi Arabia to project an image of a state that “enriches lives, celebrates national identity and builds understanding between people”
Unpredictable art critic vs hard right minister: Italy’s senior politicians clash over cultural policy
Issues such as free museums and safeguarding heritage are splitting the opinions of two officials in the Brothers of Italy party which swept to power in September
Tania Bruguera pays tribute to political prisoners in Miami performance
The artist and activist staged a performance at El Espacio 23 during Miami Art Week "to remind people what is happening in Cuba right now"
Miami mega-collector Jorge Pérez: 'I hate to see where America is now'
Other leading cultural figures also respond to Florida's swing to the right
Arts Council England's £446m grants: who are the biggest winners and losers?
The announcement signalled a shift of resources away from London, a broader range of venues beyond traditional art museums and an overall reduction in real terms
Losing the battle: Cuba’s dissident artists find ways around censorship despite government crackdown
Since the passage of the country’s repressive Decree 349, the state has gone to great lengths to silence critical voices—but artists refuse to be silenced
Should the world resume co-operating with the Taliban on protecting Afghanistan's heritage?
Conservation projects that have been paused due to sanctions on the new government may restart after Unesco intervention
Arts group takes on Polish government over political interference in cultural institutions
US-based Artistic Freedom Initiative will challenge in EU court the Polish government, saying it is “suppressing free and open artistic expression”
Myanmar's military junta releases outspoken artist Htein Lin who had been sentenced to a year's hard labour
The artist was set free in an amnesty of political prisoners, which included his British wife
Value for money? UK’s ‘Brexit’ festival organisers justify £120m cost of public funds with audience of 18 million
The National Audit Office will release detailed data on the eight-month "Unboxed" event next week
Revealed: the first photograph of the Louvre's Leonardo book that was spiked over Salvator Mundi fiasco
The story of the "Léonard de Vinci. Le Salvator Mundi" publication that was withdrawn from sale
Farewell to contemporary art in Russia: the cancellation of the Moscow Biennale marks the end of an era
Dozens of contemporary art shows have been forced to close since the outset of the war with Ukraine—but this one was meant to serve Putinist propaganda
Italy's Uffizi Galleries forced to stay shut over public holiday due to staff shortage
Culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano criticises museum for not opening on the Monday before All Saints Day but director Eike Schmidt says government must step in to find "reinforcements"
Artist robot goes to UK parliament—and gives politicians nightmares
“Contemporary art project” Ai-Da gave evidence to the House of Lords, taking questions from bemused members
A dark winter looms for UK museums as energy costs and fewer visitors continue to hit revenue
The UK's 15 nationally funded museums have seen visitor numbers drop by over a third compared to June 2019, thanks in large part to the pandemic. They are now facing price rises, with government support still unclear
Controversial $1.8bn redevelopment of Delhi’s parliament complex enters second phase
A number of the Indian capital's major cultural institutions, including the National Museum, will be rehoused
Italy’s far right weaponises culture in the interests of nationalism
Concern over Brothers of Italy policies ahead of 25 September election
Art and activist body a/political to open London space with exhibition by Russian artist facing trial over sex video
Pyotr Pavlensky has been ordered to stand trial in France over leaked sex videos that brought down a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron
Poland demands Russia return seven paintings it claims were looted during Second World War
Putin’s international cultural envoy, Mikhail Shvydkoy, says Poland’s request has no legal grounds
Cameras illicitly planted in Palestinian olive grove will broadcast life from the occupied West Bank to museums worldwide
The initiative from new activist group headed by Jewish South African artist Adam Broomberg and Palestinian activist Issa Amro aims to reveal the realities of the Palestinian struggle in the ancient city of Hebron
Michelle Donelan named new UK culture secretary
The former minister for universities has been promoted under the new prime minister, Liz Truss
Brazilian arts sector condemns federal culture management amid fears of military dictatorship revival
As the October presidential election looms, the Bolsonaro administration is being scrutinised for its poor support of the cultural sector, while opponent Lula promises reform