‘We are trying to preserve the memory of our people’: archaeologists create map tracking damage to Iran heritage sites

Iranian archaeologists Sepideh Maziar and Mehrnoush Soroush have launched an interactive online map to document and geolocate cultural heritage sites in Iran damaged by military strikes. The map, hosted by the University of Chicago's CAMEL Lab, currently lists 69 verified sites, including the historic Sa'dabad Palace complex in Tehran, and is updated as new information becomes available.

Airstrikes, rockets and fields of mustard: photos of the day – Tuesday

The Guardian's picture editors curated a global selection of photographs from March 24, 2026. The images depict scenes of conflict, including a distraught woman in Beirut after an Israeli airstrike, rockets fired from Lebanon towards Israel, an Iranian missile embedded in the West Bank, and damage in Tel Aviv from a missile barrage. Other photos show people sheltering in Kyiv during an air raid and firefighters in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.

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.

world monuments fund 2026 commitment heritage sites

The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has pledged $7 million for 2026 to fund 21 new heritage preservation projects globally. These projects, selected from its 2025 Watch List and other sites, range from restoring mural paintings at the Church of Saint-Eustache in Paris and gardens at Safdar Jang’s Tomb in New Delhi, to repairing earthquake damage in Japan and supporting community-led stewardship at Bear’s Ears National Monument in Utah.

san francisco california college of the arts close 2027

California College of the Arts (CCA) in San Francisco will close by the end of the 2026-2027 academic year. Founded in 1907, the financially struggling nonprofit art school has entered an agreement to sell its campus to Vanderbilt University, which plans to establish undergraduate and graduate programs there, including art and design, and operate a CCA Institute that will house the Wattis Institute of Contemporary Arts and maintain CCA archives. The closure follows years of financial crisis, including a $20 million budget deficit in 2024 and declining enrollment, despite a $22.5 million gift from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's foundation in March 2025.

glow nanshan shenzhen 2025 26

Glow Nanshan, a light-art festival in Shenzhen's Nanshan district, has transformed the city's coastline into an outdoor museum of light art through installations, projections, and interactive works. The event, which serves as the heart of the larger Glow Shenzhen festival, coincides with the 45th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and the 15th Five-Year Plan. Highlights include 'Island of Light' by Even Space, 'Anooki: Les Complices' by French studio Inook, and 'COSMOS' by Heyl & Van Dam Studio, alongside works by SKGPLUS in collaboration with Epson. The festival runs through March 3, 2026.

nazi bullet holes marseille madonna

A restoration of the Madonna and Child statue atop Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille has revealed seven bullet holes from Nazi gunfire during World War II. The 37-foot-tall copper and iron statue, known as the Bonne Mère, was shot after the city's liberation in 1944, when German artillery units fired on the church, piercing the bell tower, breaking stained-glass windows, and destroying the ceiling mosaic. The bullet holes were discovered near the end of a five-year restoration that included re-gilding and the installation of a new crown via helicopter.

after museum heist syrian cultural authorities face scrutiny over lack of transparency

Syria's Ministry of Culture briefly published details of artifacts stolen from the Damascus National Museum, including six Roman-era marble statues of Venus and gold ingots, only to delete the post hours later. The theft occurred on Sunday night and was discovered Monday morning when a broken door was found. International media reported the theft citing anonymous sources, and the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) confirmed an investigation but provided no further details. The museum, which houses thousands of antiquities, had reopened in January after closing during the civil war and the fall of the Assad regime.

heritage experts call for international task force to oversee palmyra restoration

Heritage experts, international officials, and Syrian residents gathered in Switzerland for the first comprehensive conference on restoring the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra since the end of Bashar Al Assad's regime. Organized by UNESCO and the Aliph Foundation, the group recommended establishing an international expert task force to remove Palmyra from UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger. Rehabilitation efforts will focus on the Palmyra museum, restoration of artifacts at the Damascus Museum, and repair of the footbridge, with work expected to begin in January 2026.

typhoon halong scattered huge trove yupik artifacts along southwestern alaskan coast

Typhoon Halong severely damaged an archaeological site near Quinhagak, Alaska, that had been preserved in permafrost. The storm scattered thousands of Yup’ik artifacts—including wooden masks and tools—along the southwestern Alaskan coast. Archaeologist Rick Knecht of the University of Aberdeen raised the alarm about climate change threats, and salvage efforts are underway with the Nunalleq Museum to recover and conserve the items.

protest sparks over sijena murals

A small protest of fewer than 50 demonstrators, organized by the Catalan National Assembly and joined by former Catalan president Laura Borràs and ANC president Lluís Llach, gathered outside the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) on Monday morning as Aragonese technicians arrived to inspect a set of contested 13th-century Romanesque murals. The murals, originally from the Sijena Monastery, were ordered returned by Spain’s Supreme Court after more than a decade of litigation, concluding that the original religious order never lawfully transferred ownership after the works were removed in 1936 following a fire during the Spanish Civil War. The inspection team, led by restorer Natalia Martínez de Pisón, began with less fragile sections using photogrammetry to assess transport viability, while MNAC officials warn that moving the more delicate frescoes could cause irreversible damage and plan to formally contest the execution order on conservation grounds.

romanesque murals return sijena monastery court ruling

Spain's Supreme Court has ruled that 13th-century Romanesque murals removed from the Sijena Monastery during the Spanish Civil War must be returned to their original home in Aragon. The artworks have been housed at the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) since 1936, after a fire gutted the monastery's chapter house. The ruling dismisses previous agreements that Catalan authorities claimed legitimized their custody, finding that the Sijena religious order never ceded ownership. The decision caps over a decade of legal battles and jurisdictional disputes between Aragon and Catalonia.

nonprofit russia ukraine icc systematic and organized plunder

A French nonprofit, For Ukraine, For Their Freedom and Ours!, has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) accusing Russia of the systematic and organized looting of Ukrainian cultural heritage since the 2022 invasion. The complaint, submitted on July 11, calls for arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and eight senior Russian officials, alleging that the plunder was planned at the highest state level and constitutes war crimes under international law. The group identified a modus operandi involving Russia's Ministry of Culture, museum directors, and intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin.

terracotta warriors china damage tourist mausoleum qin shi huang

A 30-year-old Chinese tourist damaged two ancient terracotta warriors at the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang in Xi’an, China, on Friday. According to local officials, the man climbed over guardrails and a protective net, jumped more than 15 feet into Pit No. 3, and pushed and pulled the clay figures, causing varying degrees of damage before being restrained by security. Authorities suspect the man suffers from mental illness, and the case remains under investigation. The site reopened the following day.

ancient archeology site chan chan peru vandalized graffiti

Authorities in Peru are searching for a vandal who spray-painted a penis image on a wall of Chan Chan, a 600-year-old pre-Columbian archaeological city and UNESCO World Heritage Site located 300 miles north of Lima. The act was filmed and posted on Facebook on May 12, prompting the Ministry of Culture to launch an investigation and file a criminal complaint. The suspect could face up to six years in prison under Peru’s Penal Code. A restoration team has been sent to clean and repair the damaged mud plaster wall.

chan chan peru marked with obscene graffiti

Authorities in Peru are searching for a suspect after a video posted on Facebook on May 12 showed a person spray-painting an obscene graffiti image—a penis—onto a mud plaster wall at Chan Chan, a pre-Columbian UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ministry of Culture condemned the act as a serious disrespect to historical and cultural legacy, launched an investigation, filed a criminal complaint, and sent a restoration team to clean the 600-year-old wall. The suspect could face up to six years in prison under Peru's Penal Code.

Frieze Art Fair at Santa Monica

The article reports on Frieze Los Angeles, a three-day international art fair held at the Santa Monica Airport from February 26 to March 1. The event featured numerous international galleries and artists, with displays ranging from works costing thousands to millions of dollars and attracting over 32,000 visitors. A highlight was the "Frieze Projects: Body & Soul" interactive installation, which encouraged public reflection. The piece also spotlights Santa Monica College alumni Cosmas and Damian Brown, whose outdoor installation "Fountain: Sources of Light" was an interactive steel and ceramic work that allowed audience participation by manipulating the sound and flow of water.

Everyone's chasing their cat: the exhibition exploring the many facets of the feline at Fluctuart — our photos

A new free exhibition titled "Everyone's Searching for Their Cat" ("Chacun cherche son chat") has opened at Fluctuart, a floating urban art center in Paris, running from May 7 to August 23, 2026. The show features works by about ten street artists—including Madame, Kraken, Ardif, and Wenna—who explore the multifaceted nature of cats through installations, paintings, and interactive pieces. Highlights include Ardif's anamorphic cat installation, Kesadi's narrative works, and Veks Van Hillik's Schrödinger's cat-inspired piece.

Faith Art Prize

Christian Art has launched the Faith Art Prize, a rebranded international award formerly known as the Laudamus Award, celebrating contemporary art that engages with faith, prayer, and the sacred. The prize offers a total fund of £30,000, including a £25,000 first prize donated by John J Studzinski CBE, and is open to artists worldwide working in any medium. Up to 100 shortlisted works will be exhibited at Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral Hall from 9–13 November 2026, with a People's Choice Award of £5,000 selected by public vote. The exhibition coincides with the Christian Art Conference 2026 at the QEII Centre, London.

Saudi pavilion at Venice Biennale turns fractured heritage into monumental art installation

Saudi Arabia has unveiled a large-scale installation by artist Dana Awartani at the 61st Venice Biennale, held at the Arsenale. Titled "May your tears never dry, you who weep over stones," the work covers the entire floor of the Saudi national pavilion and incorporates over 29,000 sunbaked clay bricks and mosaic patterns inspired by Islamic geometric art. The installation references 23 heritage sites across the Arab world that have been damaged or destroyed by conflict, and was produced over nearly 30,000 artisan hours with 32 craftspeople at a studio outside Riyadh. Curated by Antonia Carver with assistant curator Hafsa Alkhudairi, the piece emphasizes traditional craftsmanship and collective skill-sharing.

This ICA Exhibition Skewers Art’s Culture of Capitalism

The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) has opened a new exhibition titled "Genuine Fake Premium Economy," featuring works by artists Jenna Bliss, Buck Ellison, and Jasmine Gregory. Curated by Nicole Leong, the show critiques the culture of capitalism within the art world, using appropriation and mimicry to highlight contradictions and hypocrisies. The artists, all born in the mid-1980s in the United States, came of age professionally after the 2008 financial crisis, and their works incorporate advertising imagery, reality television, luxury brand aesthetics, and private wealth management vocabulary. Bliss's video works include a scripted reality TV episode set in an art fair booth before the crash, while Ellison has invented a fictional private bank called Orlo & Co., and Gregory reproduces Patek Philippe advertisements with the watches erased.

Coalition’ art exhibition draws massive turnout in Ibadan, eyes Guinness World Records

Over 900 art enthusiasts attended 'The Coalition' art exhibition in Ibadan, Nigeria, held from April 24 to 26, 2026, at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The three-day event featured more than 600 artworks by 60 Nigerian artists, showcasing abstract works, portraits, and contemporary pieces exploring identity and culture. Organizers, including Constance and Sons Art Gallery founder Dunmade Ayegbayo, reported strong visitor engagement and sales, highlighting the commercial potential of Nigerian art.

Aaron Goldschmidt of The Shine Studio on Art, Inspiration, and Creativity

Aaron Goldschmidt, founder and director of The Shine Studio in Bridgehampton, discusses the studio's first art exhibition, "The Lost Works" by multidisciplinary artist Adam Baranello. The show features 70 pieces of "lost art" recovered from a gallery that closed, representing Baranello's work from 2015 to 2020. The exhibition runs through the end of April, with works sold at original prices.

SAD, MAD, THINKING birthday - Celebrating Studio A’s Diamond Decade

Studio A, a leading Australian supported studio for artists with intellectual disability, is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a retrospective exhibition titled "SAD, MAD, THINKING birthday." The show features iconic Archibald Prize portraits by the studio's finalists, works that inspired major public artworks, and standout pieces from across the studio's artists. It culminates in a dining room installation created in collaboration with designers and brands including Mud Australia, Canberra Glassworks, Alémais, Erth, and Armadillo.

Rare documents from National Archives’ Freedom Plane tour draw history buffs and more to USC Fisher Museum

The USC Fisher Museum of Art is hosting the "Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation," a traveling exhibition of rare founding-era documents from the U.S. National Archives. The show, which runs through May 3, includes items such as a rare engraved copy of the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris (1783), and a Senate markup of the Bill of Rights (1789). USC is the only university stop on the eight-city national tour, and the documents arrived in Los Angeles on a special Boeing 737. The exhibition has drawn history students, faculty, and the public, with USC Distinguished Professor Peter C. Mancall bringing his class to study the documents up close.

Sertoma Arts Center Gallery Exhibitions

The Sertoma Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, is hosting a series of exhibitions throughout 2025 and 2026, featuring a wide array of local and regional artists. The current exhibition is the 47th annual Sertoma Parks Artists Association (SPAA) show, featuring over 30 artists, running from February to April 2026. Upcoming shows include a May-June 2026 exhibition highlighting artists like Adam Cooley and Natacha Sochat, and the center regularly presents themed exhibits such as its annual Student, Instructor, and Patron exhibition.

Governor’s Art Show, one of Colorado’s largest fine art exhibitions, returns to Loveland

The 35th annual Governor’s Art Show has returned to the Loveland Museum, showcasing a juried selection of fine art from across Colorado. This year’s exhibition features approximately 60 artists, including 10 first-time participants, selected through a competitive blind jury process. The show includes a diverse range of media, from Lorri Acott’s life-size bronze animal sculptures to Jane DeDecker’s new works blending bronze with fused glass, and Faye Crowe’s Western-influenced abstract paintings.

Experience Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel art at new NJ exhibit

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition has officially opened at the Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey. This immersive showcase features life-size, high-definition replicas of all 34 frescoes from the Vatican’s famous ceiling and altar, including the iconic "The Creation of Adam" and "The Last Judgment."

Salem chamber art gallery featuring local student artists

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Gallery of Art is hosting its fifth annual exhibition featuring over 60 works by approximately 55 local student artists. The show includes a diverse range of media, such as watercolor paintings, colored pencil drawings, ceramics, and gouache works, representing talent from six different regional school districts including United Local, Leetonia, and Wellsville.

Hundreds attend gallery opening at historic homestead

The historic Rototāwai homestead in South Wairarapa, New Zealand, has officially opened a new public art gallery and cultural space. Facilitated by the Anna Bidwill Foundation, the site features Bidwill’s extensive private art collection housed within her restored childhood home. The opening ceremony, which included a traditional pōwhiri and an address by Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith, marks the culmination of a four-year restoration project since Bidwill repurchased the estate in 2020.