Today’s war, tomorrow’s loot: attempts at stemming the illicit trade in art

The article examines the ongoing challenge of preventing the illicit trade in cultural property looted from conflict zones. It discusses the Hague Convention of 1954 and its protocol, which require signatory countries to prevent theft and pillage during armed conflict and to seize and repatriate unlawful exports. However, the protocol only applies to situations of 'occupation,' leaving a gap for looting that occurs in the chaos of war beyond formal occupation. The article also notes UN Security Council Resolutions that restrict unlawfully removed cultural property from Iraq and Syria, but no similar consensus exists for countries like Afghanistan, Libya, Ukraine, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, and Iran. EU Regulation 2019/880 is highlighted as a measure that prohibits introducing goods removed unlawfully from their place of origin into the EU, though its scope has expanded beyond its original anti-terrorist financing purpose.

US exhibition unearths the Etruscans and their enduring cultural influence

The Legion of Honor in San Francisco will present "The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy" from 2 May to 20 September, featuring nearly 200 objects including jewellery, sculptures, and vessels from the ancient Etruscan civilisation. The exhibition highlights recent archaeological discoveries, such as the Liber Linteus Zagrabiensis—the longest surviving Etruscan text—and grave objects from the Regolini-Galassi Tomb, many making their US debut. Curator Renée Dreyfus aims to correct negative portrayals of the Etruscans by Greeks and Romans and showcase their cultural achievements.

Mexican President Calls for Stricter Gun Control After Deadly Shooting at Teotihuacán Pyramids

A gunman opened fire on tourists at the Teotihuacán archaeological site in Mexico, killing a Canadian woman and injuring at least 13 others. The shooter, identified as Julio César Jasso Ramírez, acted alone and later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after planning the attack over multiple visits to the site.

‘I want people to see nature as a wondrous work of art’: Jon McCormack’s best phone picture

Photographer Jon McCormack captured a striking image of the Remarkable Rocks on Kangaroo Island, Australia, framing the Southern Ocean through a naturally eroded granite hollow. The photograph, taken at sunset, emphasizes the graphic simplicity and sculptural quality of the ancient rock formations, which have been shaped by wind and salt over 10,000 years of isolation.

Joyce Awards to Relaunch After Yearlong Pause with $100,000 Unrestricted Grants for Great Lakes Artists

The Chicago-based Joyce Foundation has announced the relaunch of its Joyce Awards after a year-long hiatus, introducing a significant shift in its funding model. Starting with the 2026 cycle, the program will move from project-based grants to providing four artists annually with $100,000 in unrestricted funds, alongside a $40,000 grant for a partner nonprofit. The awards will now operate on a biennial rotation between specific Great Lakes states and allow for self-nominations for the first time.

us holocaust museum canceled programming angering trump

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) has reportedly removed educational content and canceled programming to avoid potential conflict with the Trump administration. Former employees allege that the museum preemptively scrubbed web pages linking Jim Crow laws to Nazi-era policies and rebranded or canceled workshops on the "fragility of democracy" to avoid being labeled as "woke." While the museum claims these decisions were based on funding challenges, internal records show a significant increase in net assets during the same period.

Nasa’s Orion spaceship four days into Artemis II mission: in pictures

NASA's Orion spacecraft, carrying the four-person crew of the Artemis II mission, is four days into its journey to orbit the moon. The mission marks the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years and is a critical test for NASA's deep space exploration systems.

German Provocateur Artist Sentenced to 8.5 Years in Prison in Russia After Mocking Putin

German carnival float artist Jacques Tilly has been sentenced in absentia to 8.5 years in a Russian prison. A Moscow court convicted him on charges of spreading false information about the Russian military and insulting religious feelings due to his satirical floats depicting President Vladimir Putin, including one showing Putin in a blood-filled bathtub painted like the Ukrainian flag.

Ancient Roman Cargo Lost for 2,000 Years Resurfaces in Swiss Lake

A team of Swiss archaeologists and the nonprofit Octopus Foundation have recovered a 2,000-year-old Roman cargo from Lake Neuchâtel. The haul consists of approximately 600 remarkably preserved artifacts, including stacks of brand-new ceramic plates, bowls, goblets, weapons, tools, chariot wheels, and a wicker basket, dating from between 50 B.C.E. and 50 C.E. The ship itself was not found.

‘How can you forget me’: show details Filipino Americans’ rich history

Antonio Somera discovered 26 steamer trunks belonging to early 20th-century Filipino migrants in a Stockton, California basement in 2005. The trunks' contents, including a pillowcase embroidered with the phrase "HOW CAN YOU FORGET ME," form the core of the exhibition "How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories" at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington DC, offering an intimate look at the lives of the Manong Generation of laborers.

Kim Kardashian’s Maximalist ‘All’s Fair’ Wardrobe Is Up for Grabs

Kim Kardashian auctioned 24 outfits worn during the first season of the Hulu legal drama 'All's Fair' through her Kardashian Kloset platform, raising $247,200 for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. The sale was dominated by two high-value archival designer sets, one by Dior and one by John Galliano, each selling for over $100,000, though a bidding glitch temporarily inflated one lot to $80 million. Ten unsold outfits remain available for immediate purchase at their original starting prices.

Centuries-old pottery firm Denby set to call in administrators

The 217-year-old British pottery firm Denby has called in administrators, putting nearly 600 jobs at risk and threatening the closure of the historic Derbyshire manufacturer. The company, which also owns the Burleigh brand, struggled with soaring gas costs, higher labor expenses, tighter financial markets, and softening consumer demand for its premium homeware, leading to a 17% sales drop in its most recent accounts.

How museum funding in Denmark has become reliant on visitor numbers

Danish museums have recovered strongly from the pandemic, with 2025 attendance matching 2024's record levels of around 9 million visitors. However, a new state-funding model introduced in January 2025 now makes government subsidies increasingly dependent on measurable outputs, primarily visitor numbers. Institutions must meet minimum thresholds for annual visitors and income, and produce peer-reviewed research to secure and retain funding.

Footballer Erling Haaland Gifts Rare Viking Saga Manuscript to Hometown Library

Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland, along with his father Alf-Inge Haaland, purchased a rare 1594 manuscript containing Viking sagas for a record 1.3 million Norwegian crowns and donated it to his hometown. The manuscript, a first printed edition of Snorri Sturluson's chronicles translated by Mattis Størssøn, must be permanently displayed and made publicly accessible at the Bryne library in the Time municipality.

giorgos tsagarakis dealer arrested stolen antiquities

Greek authorities have arrested Athens-based art dealer and television personality Giorgos Tsagarakis following an investigation into a suspected criminal network involved in the theft, forgery, and illegal trade of antiquities. The arrest, executed by the Organized Crime Division, led to the seizure of hundreds of paintings, ancient ceramics, Byzantine artifacts, and a rare 1745 gold-plated Gospel manuscript. Investigators were reportedly alerted to the illicit items after Tsagarakis posted a video of the artifacts on social media.

artificial intelligence ai art galleries report

A new report by the art industry network First Thursday reveals that 84 percent of commercial galleries are now using artificial intelligence in their daily operations. Despite this widespread adoption for tasks like drafting press releases, translation, and market research, only 8 percent of these institutions have formal policies governing AI use. The study, which surveyed 103 gallery professionals globally, highlights that most AI integration is happening informally through staff using personal accounts rather than through leadership-driven strategy.

Comment | All hail the rise of the art internship

Sotheby's auction house and Sotheby's Institute of Art, through their parent company Edconic, have launched a formalized, paid fellowship program. The initiative places 20 master's students from the Institute's New York program into 12-week paid internships at the auction house, with plans to expand to London and eventually involve 60 students. The program aims to provide practical, credit-earning work experience directly within the art market.

Statue Removed from Delaware During Black Lives Matter Protests to Be Reinstated in Washington D.C.

A statue of Caesar Rodney, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who enslaved over 200 people, is set to be reinstated in Washington D.C.'s Freedom Plaza. The National Park Service plans to place the statue as part of the nation's 250th birthday celebrations, six years after it was removed from Wilmington, Delaware, during Black Lives Matter protests.

Eid al-Fitr at Lakemba mosque in south-western Sydney – in pictures

Thousands of worshippers gathered at Lakemba Mosque in south-western Sydney to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan. The event, one of Australia's largest Eid gatherings, saw families and individuals congregating at dawn for prayers and community festivities.

Fort Lauderdale Still Fighting Removal of Rainbow Crosswalks: ‘We Are the Last Man Standing’

Fort Lauderdale is the final Florida city continuing a legal challenge against a state directive to remove painted street art, specifically its rainbow crosswalks. A hearing is scheduled for May. The directive, part of Governor Ron DeSantis's Safe Streets program, prohibits pavement art with "social, political or ideological messages" and threatens cities with the loss of transportation funding if they do not comply.

Margareta Magnusson obituary

Margareta Magnusson, the Swedish author and artist who popularized the concept of 'death cleaning' (döstädning), has died at age 92. In her 80s, she wrote the international bestseller 'The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning,' which advocated for the mindful decluttering of one's belongings to spare loved ones the burden after one's death.

Comment | Climate change is forcing tough choices—how much heritage can we save before it is too late?

Climate change is accelerating the degradation of archaeological sites worldwide, forcing archaeologists to make urgent, difficult choices about what to save. From thawing permafrost in the Canadian Arctic threatening Inuit heritage to landslides endangering ancient Buddhist temples in Nepal, researchers are now deploying innovative technologies like ground-penetrating radar, 3D scanning, and even cosmic-ray muon detectors to digitally document and monitor at-risk sites before they are lost.

‘Where have all our front gardens gone?’: Sydney’s supersized driveways eat into yards

A new research paper reveals that Sydney's suburban front gardens are shrinking dramatically due to residential redevelopment, with the average front garden declining by 46% in areas where older homes have been replaced by larger modern houses. The study, analyzing 370 properties, found that driveway footprints and artificial surfaces increased by 57%, while tree canopy coverage was reduced by 62%.

University challenges: how students changed one Ohio town – in pictures

Photographer Rich-Joseph Facun documents life in Athens, Ohio, in his project '1804,' focusing on the profound influence of Ohio University on the town. His images and interviews capture the socioeconomic and cultural dynamics, including strained housing markets, a nightlife economy driven by students, and the town's identity as a "company town" shaped by the university's calendar and employment.

So you think you can sell art? Reality TV show hunts for next Larry, Jay or Peggy

The BBC is launching a new six-part reality TV series called 'The Big Deal,' which follows amateur art dealers competing for a prize of £50,000 worth of British art. Hosted by Steph McGovern, the show tasks contestants with navigating the art market, from discovering artists to securing sales, under the guidance of a panel of industry judges.

abortion nonprofit claims artwork in malta biennale was censored

The second edition of the Malta Biennale is facing accusations of censorship from the abortion rights nonprofit Women on Waves. The organization claims that organizers first demanded the removal of the word "pills" from a banner reading "Need Abortion Pills?" before ultimately attempting to dismantle the installation entirely, citing a failure to meet "aesthetic quality standards." While the Biennale's communications director maintains the work remains in place and frames the dispute as a matter of "curatorial direction," activists provided video evidence of an attempted removal and argue the intervention is a suppression of critical health information.

Egyptian Tour Guide Arrested for Drawing on Pyramid in Viral Video

egyptian tour guide pyramid drawing arrest video

Egyptian authorities arrested a tour guide after a viral video showed him sketching a stick figure onto the 24th-century BCE Pyramid of Unas in Saqqara. The guide was reportedly using the drawing as a visual aid to explain the site's history to a group of tourists before attempting to wipe the mark away with his hands. Following a report from an antiquities inspector, the man confessed to the act, and the Ministry of the Interior confirmed that the drawing has since been removed.

in leaked transcript unt dean cites politics as the reason behind cancelation of show with anti ice art show

University of North Texas (UNT) Dean Karen Hutzel revealed in leaked transcripts that the cancellation of artist Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez’s exhibition was an "institutional directive" driven by political pressure. The show, titled “Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá,” featured art critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and was abruptly shut down shortly after opening. Hutzel warned faculty that the university is "vulnerable" to retaliation from Texas state officials who have previously targeted academic programs and funding at other state institutions over ideological disagreements.

with new bill israel moves to expand control over ancient west bank sites

The Israeli Knesset's Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved a first reading of a bill that would grant Israel's Heritage Minister sweeping authority over antiquities in the West Bank. The legislation allows for the appointment of a governing council, the designation of antiquity sites, and the expropriation of land and artifacts across the occupied territory, including areas currently under Palestinian civil control.

digitally rebuilding lighthouse of alexandria as 3d model

A team of historians, architects, and programmers is digitally reconstructing the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Pharos Project, led by archaeologist Isabelle Hairy, is scanning thousands of submerged granite blocks and artifacts from the seabed to create a comprehensive 3D model of the structure, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1303.