The Latest Breaking News from Arts Council

Michael Phillipson writes: John’s eccentric humour was certainly visible in his painting from the beginning

Cutting the Tightrope: The Divorce of Politics from Art, at the Arcola in London, tackles freedom of expression – with particular focus on Gaza, writes Brian Logan

No 10’s meddling is corrupting the integrity of public postings, and turning institutions into political pawns, says the Guardian’s chief culture writer, Charlotte Higgins

Letters: In response to Charlotte Higgins’s article on a collapse in arts funding Neil Mendoza says Arts Council England boosts cultural projects across the country; plus letters from Dr Alexis Bennett and Andrew Dailey

‘Good’ singers performing great music by dead people. Who’d listen to that?

Review will assess ‘ambition and quality’ of ACE-funded projects after sustained political scrutiny of council

Council pursues legal costs after judges ruled musician Debelle did not face racial discrimination while working for it

Earlier this month, during the climax of Chicago rapper Noname’s headline gig in London, she paused, cut the accompaniment, and addressed her sold-out audience. “Can I hear you say free Palestine?” It was, of course, not the first time I’d been at a concert where the artist had made some…

In today’s newsletter: Artists reacted with fury to the warning that ‘overtly political or activist’ statements could lead to a withdrawal of funding. But it is just the latest example of the paucity of support for the arts

Funding body says it believes in freedom of expression, after policy changes sparked fears of censorship of artists

Robert Macfarlane, Feargal Sharkey and Matt Haig are among artists to react with fury to message about funding risks