A concise roundup of everything you need to know about effects of the war in Ukraine on arts and culture industries in the UK and abroad.
As conflict in Ukraine still rages, and humanitarian support efforts from all over the world keep mounting, the knock-on effects on economic and cultural industries have been enormous. Here are the major stories from the past seven days that have happened across arts and culture, with a specific focus on sanctions and reactions in the UK.
UK sanctions Russian oligarch behind major Fabergé egg loan to V&A exhibition
The Government has placed sanctions on mining and oil billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, whose foundation loaned a major work to the V&A Fabergé exhibition in London. The foundation lent to the UK museum the first imperial Easter egg, known as the Hen egg, made in 1884-5 for Tsar Nicholas’s father, Alexander III, as a present for the Empress Maria Feodorovna…
Viktor Vekselberg hat seine Beteiligungen an Oerlikon und Schmolz+Bickenbach abgebaut. (Archiv)
Elite auction houses cancel Russian art sales in London
The auction houses Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Bonhams have cancelled sales of Russian art in London in June, part of the art market’s response to western sanctions on Russia as punishment for its invasion of Ukraine.
Non-profit Artists at Risk has launched a print sale to raise funds for Ukraine
Artists At Risk
Help artists who’ve been affected by the war in Ukraine by purchasing or supporting their work. Visit solidarityprints.artistsatrisk.org.
YouTube blocks Russian state-funded media channels globally
YouTube announced on Friday that it had begun blocking access globally to channels associated with Russian state-funded media, citing a policy barring content that denies, minimizes or trivializes well-documented violent events.
Russia Today has UK broadcast licence revoked by Ofcom – but Kremlin calls decision ‘madness’
The media regulator cited the fact the channel was funded by a state which has recently invaded a neighbouring country but RT said the decision showed Ofcom was “nothing more than a tool of government”.
‘You are my heroes,’ Schwarzenegger tells anti-Putin protesters
Arnold Schwarzenegger has issued an impassioned appeal for President Putin to end the war in Ukraine, praising the strength of “heroic” Russians rising up against a Kremlin crackdown on freedoms.
Arnold has something to say to Russianspic.twitter.com/jusA7l9coR
— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) March 17, 2022
Harrods admits ‘mistake’ after Russian vodka sold ‘under the counter’
Harrods has insisted it “mistakenly” sold expensive Russia vodka, after it came under fire in parliament over its approach to sanctions. The Knightsbridge-based department store said its Beluga vodka stock – bottles of which sell for nearly £100 – was removed from sale and held in storage ahead of it being moved off site.
And don’t miss…
A Conductor on Why He Stayed in Russia After the Invasion Began
Estonian-American conductor Paavo Järvi chose to remain in Moscow temporarily to lead a Russian youth orchestra: “I felt a responsibility.”
