News

Dorset, in a Mediterranean light

John Craxton is known today for his sparkling paintings of Greece. But he first found inspiration in the colder, darker landscapes of rural England

Drastic reform is the only way to save England’s churches

Good news, then, that the Chancellor is forming a task force to look into the issue

The Rake’s progress: last week in gossip

This is reckless restoration of the very best kind

Elizabeth Price's new video is an audacious act of extrapolation, that asks deep questions about our impulse to preserve, restore, and destroy

Zaha Hadid’s death leaves British architecture immeasurably poorer

The UK was slow to appreciate Zaha Hadid's uncompromising attitude to architecture, but she was one of the most important British architects of the past 100 years

Forget digital recreations. Palmyra’s own future must come first

Syrian government forces have recaptured Palmyra from IS militants. What happens next is crucial

Winners and losers in the giddy melee of Art Basel Hong Kong

Key talking points and selfie-stops from this year's fair, which was as much of a cultural melting pot as ever

Is it time to reform art export in the UK?

Christopher Brown and Bendor Grosvenor debate the pros and cons of the current UK export licensing system

The legendary bookseller of Cairo

The death of Cairo's self-styled ‘friend of researchers’ feels like another great loss at an already difficult time

We need ethnographic museums today – whatever you think of their history

Ethnographic collections need to be living collections, representative of cultural diversity and mindful of traditions

Why collect only women artists?

Valeria Napoleone discusses her unusual collection, and the importance of her relationships with artists

Three cheers for Bob Rauschenberg!

The artist’s foundation is going to give away images of his work. We salute them

Can the UK government’s Culture White Paper live up to its own rhetoric?

DCMS's updated mission statement for 'Our Culture' sounds promising, but is short on new commitments

For devotees of drawings: highlights of Salon du Dessin

Salon du Dessin attracts the world's most committed drawings collectors. What should they look out for this year?

The Singapore museum redrawing the map of Southeast Asian art

The National Gallery Singapore opened to justified acclaim last year. But will its mission be hampered by the country's constraints on free expression?

What’s in store at the State Hermitage Museum?

The Hermitage has more than 3 million items in its collection, so making its stores accessible is quite a feat

The Met Breuer’s biggest strength is its ability to make you think

Two fresh and distinct inaugural exhibitions could set a new blueprint for the museum

The threat to Yemen’s heritage

Three world heritage sites are at risk as a result of the civil war

Loss of Westport House signals wider problems for Ireland’s heritage

Historic property goes on sale after long battle for the Browne family

Has the BBC made art boring?

If anything, the corporation should be taken to task for its desperate bid for accessibility

Christo prepares to walk on water

Christo and his wife and collaborator Jeanne-Claude wanted to walk on water nearly 40 years ago. The Floating Piers project this summer will achieve their dream.

One museum’s tribute to the murdered Syrian archaeologist, Khaled al-Asaad

How the MFA Boston is paying tribute to a respected scholar and humanist

Boris Johnson and the GLA are the true vandals of London

The mayor's expansionist ambitions are ruining the city's historic character