Gareth Harris

Gareth Harris is the Chief Contributing Editor of The Art Newspaper

Looted African works that France has promised to return to Benin will be shown in Paris museum for one last time

The exhibition Benin: the Restitution of 26 Works from the Royal Treasures of Abomey at Musée du quai Branly–Jacques Chirac will be on view for five days in October

James Turrell and Sebastião Salgado among international recipients of £400,000 Japanese art prize

Japan Art Association drew up the all-male winners list for award dubbed ‘Nobel Prize for the Arts’

After UK government slashes arts education funding it is now offering £10m extra cash—for a lucky few institutions

A select group of 16 specialist colleges, including the Royal College of Art and the Courtauld Institute of Art, have been given a lifeline

Book ClubInterview

‘Caravaggio was a major-league asshole’: the long tradition of scandal in art

According to Noah Charney’s new book, infamy in the art world—be it contrived drama to drum up publicity or genuine artistic rivalry—is as old as art itself

Eye of the Collector tries out new fair format in a neo-Gothic setting

The no-stands format of the London event in Two Temple Place is a refreshing change, although some visitors found the lack of labels confusing

Book ClubFeature

Extract | How the colours in ancient Pompeian frescoes ‘spoke’ to Mark Rothko

A new book by the art historian Ben Street attempts to demystify how we look at art and argues for reacting instinctively to what we see

Billionaire collector Nicolas Berggruen turns Venetian palace into cultural thinktank

The Berggruen Institute also announced that philosopher Peter Singer was the recipient of its annual $1m prize

Bank of England removes ten slave trader works

But contentious statues of politicians involved in slave trade still remain in city's Guildhall building

First Kanye West now Drake? Damien Hirst plugged by A-list musicians—but the internet is rolling its eyes

The Canadian rapper Drake yesterday posted a new album cover designed by the British artist

Cultural activist Osman Kavala remains imprisoned in Turkey without conviction almost four years after his arrest

Turkish authorities behind the legal saga have been criticised by the European Court of Human Rights

Liverpool audio installation revisits history of slaver statue toppled 40 years ago

Sound piece at site where William Huskisson sculpture was brought down is part of citywide Statues Redressed project

New York human rights organisation ‘racing against the clock’ to get Afghan artists to safety

As the deadline for evacuation looms, the Artistic Freedom Initiative wants the US government to grant refugee status to individuals

'No gallery is an Island': Nordic galleries gather for Chart art fair

Twenty-six dealers participate in the "essential" re-booted regional event in Copenhagen

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pre-Raphaelite paintings go on show in his refurbished historic London theatre

Composer has funded a two-year, £60m renovation of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane to turn it into a public gallery and heritage attraction

Unesco calls for Afghanistan’s heritage to be protected—but how will it seek enforcement?

UK government agrees that new regime must "safeguard the full diversity of Afghan culture"

Could new Banksy works help seaside spot become the next UK City of Culture?

Several works recently sprayed in the area by street artist "may be an endorsement", Great Yarmouth Borough Council says

Ancient history? Worcester University to close its archaeology department in another blow to heritage sector

Decision is a "canary in the coal mine" for other arts and humanities subjects, warns museums body

Amid Taliban insurgency, culture sector fears looting as Kabul descends into chaos

British Council in Afghanistan among international heritage organisations that have suspended operations during the conflict

‘Slap in the face’: Poland passes law effectively blocking Holocaust-era art restitutions

Lawyers and collectors weigh in on new rule that sets a 30-year limit on claims to property that was stolen by Nazis and Communist leaders

Instagram backtracks on decision to ban Pedro Almodóvar lactating nipple film poster

The social media platform removed the image earlier this week for breaking its "rules against nudity”

Book ClubFeature

Extract | How Mayor Rudy Giuliani went from ‘patting on the back’ to trying to pull the plug on Sensation show

Two decades after one of the most controversial exhibitions of recent times, Arnold Lehman, the former director of the Brooklyn Museum, reveals all in a new book

The best art books for summer—as recommended by curators, directors and dealers

As we enter the final weeks of the season, check out these riveting reads, from “the best novel about painting” to a book with no words at all

Compiled by José da Silva and Gareth Harris

Queen Victoria statue defrocked after ex-politician Nigel Farage blasts public art project addressing UK’s slavery history

Right-wing commentator says he is "tired of this endless conversation about the UK's complicity with slavery"

UK government approves 50% funding cut for arts and design courses

Education secretary Gavin Williamson says money will be directed towards Stem subjects