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The arts

John Simpson

Tears for a clown – but Philippe Gaulier leaves the stage in good humour

At an unconventional wake in Paris, ex-pupils tell tales of the entertainer who taught them with brutal and hilarious wit – and bought their secrets with champagne

Sun 22 Feb 2026

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Vanessa Thorpe
National Gallery’s £8.2m deficit reignites free museums debate

Sat 21 Feb 2026

National Gallery’s £8.2m deficit reignites free museums debate
Alex O’Connell
Monet’s snoozing son was captivating – and I almost slept through it

Wed 18 Feb 2026

Monet’s snoozing son was captivating – and I almost slept through it
Rose Tremain
What’s on my mind: Rose Tremain

Sun 8 Feb 2026

What’s on my mind: Rose Tremain
Elif Shafak
Jules Verne’s dystopia was a world without humanities. Don’t let it come true

Thu 5 Feb 2026

Jules Verne’s dystopia was a world without humanities. Don’t let it come true
Vanessa Thorpe
Why is just one candidate tipped for the troubled Tate’s top job?

Sun 1 Feb 2026

Why is just one candidate tipped for the troubled Tate’s top job?
Sir Richard Lambert
Trump’s attacks on the Smithsonian are straight from the autocrat’s playbook

Mon 12 Jan 2026

Trump’s attacks on the Smithsonian are straight from the autocrat’s playbook

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