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It’s time museum leaders stopped talking to themselves – and started listening instead
They’re eager to express their support for social justice – but without listening more attentively, museum directors will never make good on their rhetoric
Is this what Shakespeare really looked like?
A dumpy effigy in a church in Stratford-upon-Avon has been mocked for centuries, but new research claims it’s the most accurate likeness of the playwright there is
Why was Mexico so determined to stop a sale of ancient artefacts in Paris?
Laying claim to its archaeological heritage is central to Mexico’s identity as a modern nation
Art really does work on the radio – especially if it’s cast as true crime
A new series on BBC Radio 3 delves into the notorious life of Benvenuto Cellini – and it’s a binge-worthy Renaissance thriller, Christina Faraday writes
For the future of scholarship, the National Art Library must be protected
The V&A says it’s protecting the jobs of librarians (for now), but the fate of the greatest art library in the UK remains uncertain
Remembering Christopher Monkhouse (1947–2021), a renowned curator for whom collecting was a way of life
Christopher Monkhouse transformed the decorative arts holdings at major museums in Providence, Minneapolis and Chicago, and built his own remarkable collections of books and drawings – and friends
Anti-vaxxers have been around for centuries – and artists have always been on hand to debunk their claims
There’s a healthy tradition of art to challenge vaccine sceptics – from satirical cartoons to contemporary sculptures
In defence of the Stonehenge road tunnel
Plans to sink a dual carriageway beneath Stonehenge have been heavily criticised – but the tunnel will improve our experience of the site, writes Timothy Darvill
Has the UK government abandoned the arts?
Former arts minister Ed Vaizey and leading culture writer Charlotte Higgins on whether the government should be doing more for the hard-hit arts sector
Bye, Robot: a farewell to Daft Punk
Daft Punk weren’t always robots – but it’s how they’ll be remembered
If shops can reopen in April, why can’t museums?
Museums in England will have to wait until May to reopen but shops, gyms and libraries are set to open in April. What’s the logic in that?
American museums should not be selling their art to keep the lights on
Deaccessioning rules for US museums have been relaxed to raise money for collection care – and even the Met may take advantage. It’s a slippery slope, says Thomas P. Campbell
Have scientists solved a mummy murder mystery?
The latest mummy to go through a CT scanner is Seqenenre Tao II – and researchers are now convinced that he died in a grisly execution ceremony
The culture minister should take an interest in museums – but he can’t tell them how to interpret the past
It’s no bad thing for the government to sit down with museum directors, says Charles Saumarez Smith, but imposing its own version of history is another matter
Can the Netherlands make good on its restitution promises?
The Dutch government’s pledge to return artefacts stolen from former colonies is the first step in a long process, writes Sally Price
Thoroughly good eggs: how Fabergé became the last word in luxury
From princes to plutocrats, the super-rich have rarely had the power to resist Fabergé’s fabulous baubles
The British government thinks archaeology doesn’t matter. It couldn’t be more wrong
Funding for archaeology has been slashed by the UK government – and it’s a moronic mistake
Tigray’s people and their heritage urgently need protecting
Reports of atrocities in the Ethiopian region include the targeting of Tigray’s unparallelled cultural treasures
Has the blockbuster exhibition had its day?
In our pandemic-stricken world, vast, crowd-pleasing exhibitions are out of the question for museums. But will sell-out shows ever return?
Repairing the Houses of Parliament will cost so much that no one dares put a figure on it
What do decades of neglect look like? For the Houses of Parliament, a repair bill upwards of £12 billion
In homeschooling hell? Then try packing your kids off to a virtual museum
With lockdown boredom well and truly setting in, it’s time to stick the kids – with their crayons – in front of a museum website
There’s a soggy Stars and Stripes in the Oval Office – and it’s a perfect emblem for the task ahead
Childe Hassam’s rain-soaked flags have hung in the White House before, but next to Joe Biden’s desk they feel more fitting than ever
The art world put its weight behind Biden. Will he repay the favour?
The new administration is better disposed to the arts, but that doesn’t mean there’ll be more federal funding
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MacKenzie Scott has given away billions with no strings attached – and it’s time arts donors followed suit
Too often arts patrons hinder the organisations they set out to help by imposing conditions on their gifts