Qatar wants to be taken seriously as a cultural contender –  last year it was the biggest buyer of contemporary art with the royal family spending close to $1bn in the past seven years. The country is also investing billions of dollars in entertainment with the goal of transforming the country into a world-class destination in time for the 2022 World Cup. [The Independent]

Gao Ping, owner of Gao Magee and Beijing’s Iberia Centre for Contemporary Art, was arrested in Madrid for money laundering. He was one of the 80 people who has been detained as part of Operation Emperor. [The Art Newspaper]

The Armory Show selected Liz Magic Laser to be their commissioned artist for the 2013 fair. [Gallerist NY]

An interview with sculptor Antony Gormley discussing how his installations explore the way humans act, react and interact. [New Scientist]

New York’s Court of Appeals just ruled that lap dances ARE NOT considered as performance art therefore they CANNOT be exempt from taxes. Nice try Nite Moves! [Gothamist]