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The Art Institute of Chicago acquires superb Sebastiano del Piombo painting

The new acquisition, arranged with Colnaghi, testifies to just how productive the nurturing of museum-dealer relationships can be

11 Jul 2016
Spanish police arrested seven people in connection with the theft of five Francis Bacon paintings earlier this year

How technology is changing the way we tackle art theft

Smartphones and digital cameras are new sources of evidence for investigators, but they can also aid art thieves

7 Jul 2016
NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images

Brexit will happen. The British culture sector needs a new plan

If anything is going to come out of this shock to the system, there are lessons to be learned

5 Jul 2016

What is a European Capital of Culture for?

Can San Sebastián, one of this year’s European Capitals of Culture, provide some answers?

27 Jun 2016

The secret lives of the great art dealers

The art dealer memoir offers a rare chance to gain access into the life of even the most elusive art dealer

27 Jun 2016
Contemporary Istanbul 2015

Art and instability in Istanbul

Anyone who witnessed Istanbul’s rise as a cosmopolitan hub over the past decade will notice the stark change that has come over it this year

Switch House, Tate Modern

Why has Tate consigned painting to history?

Painting isn’t dead, but it has been prematurely buried in Tate Modern’s Boiler House

20 Jun 2016
Screenshot from ISIS video showing the destroyed 'mermen' statues of the seven sages at the Fish Gate, Temple of Nabu, Nimrud, Iraq

The centre of learning destroyed by ISIS in Iraq

The Temple of Nabu at Nimrud was home to a library, whose surviving texts form a vivid picture of everyday life in ancient Assyria

17 Jun 2016

Making space for Dublin’s artists

There is a crisis of artists’ studio space in the city – but the artists are organising against it

16 Jun 2016

Inside the UNESCO conference to save Syria’s heritage

Experts gathered in Berlin to share ideas, but coming up with a coordinated strategy is impossible when the situation is so volatile

10 Jun 2016

Why Manifesta makes sense in Marseille

The roving contemporary art biennial comes to France in 2020, but what does it mean for Marseille?

5 Jun 2016

Irish ire over heritage ‘downgrade’

The term’s been dropped from the title of the government department in charge of culture

1 Jun 2016

What does the Jameel Prize mean for contemporary Islamic art?

The award seeks to inspire a Renaissance in Islamic art, and is deliberately casting its net wide

31 May 2016
Xavier Bray is to take over as director of the Wallace Collection

Wallace Collection appoints Xavier Bray as new director

It will take both ambition and creative thinking to lead the museum: thankfully, Bray’s record so far suggests he has plenty of both

27 May 2016
Mirror valve: game of chess, from the Louvre collection

Antique ivory poses no threat to elephant conservation: in fact, it needs protection itself

Antiques dealers have cause for concern, but there’s also an opportunity to broaden the debate…

25 May 2016
The Narthex and south entry door to the Church os St Simeon Stylites. Much of the structure on the right hand side of the great doorway has been severely damaged by the blast on 12 May 2016.

While the world watches Palmyra, another of Syria’s heritage sites risks destruction

The Church of Saint Simeon near Aleppo is the greatest treasure of the Christian-Byzantine era in Syria – but it’s suffered extensive damage

20 May 2016

We should all get behind the #Unite4Heritage campaign

Heritage groups around the world need to harness social media to spread their message. This campaign makes that much easier

12 May 2016

The Endeavour won’t tell us anything new about Cook’s voyage, but that’s not the point

The ship that took Captain Cook around the world ended up as the ‘Lord Sandwich’ at the bottom of Newport Harbour

9 May 2016

Why the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum’s stolen art may never be found

Unfortunately, some stolen works are simply too famous to sell, and too dangerous to keep

4 May 2016

Drawing in museums is a form of respect – let’s not ruin it

It’s annoying that we can’t sketch knickers at the V&A, but more annoying that footfall takes precedence over engagement

30 Apr 2016

Can we trust in museum trustees?

Trustees serve a vital purpose in the culture sector, but only if politicians avoid the temptation to meddle…

29 Apr 2016
Chisenhale Gallery has closed its doors for the full duration of conceptual artist Maria Eichhorn's solo show...

A London gallery has shut its doors in the name of art. Is that acceptable?

If you want to see Maria Eichhorn’s solo show at Chisenhale Gallery – you can’t. Believe it or not, it’s more than a gimmick

28 Apr 2016

Big Lebowski pad acquired by LACMA

The LA museum has acquired its first home – what does this unusual architectural acquisition mean for the city?

27 Apr 2016

One year on: an update from Nepal’s earthquake-damaged heritage sites

Restoration work will take years, and some monuments will never be rebuilt – but progress is being made