THE FIVE BEST EXHIBITIONS

Turks (Royal Academy, London)

Culturama of Ottoman artefacts and objects, from AD600 to 1600, tracing developments in textiles, metalwork, ceramic, script. (020-7300 8000) to 12 Apr

Turner, Whistler, Monet (Tate Britain, London)

Tying together this top-drawer trio: atmospherics, light, night, water, the Thames, the Seine, Venice... (020-7887 8000) to 15 May

Ready to Shoot (Norwich Gallery)

A feast of TV and video projects from the early years of conceptualism, with Keith Arnatt, Robert Smithson and more. (01603 610561) to 26 Feb

ZAfrica Remix

(Hayward Gallery, London)

Giant survey of the continent's contemporary art, from Algeria to Zimbabwe and all points between. (0870 380 0400) to 17 Apr

Bob and Roberta Smith

(Baltic, Gateshead)

Help Build the Ruins of Democracy: new work by the artist, using sculpture, social narrative and text. (0191-478 1810) to 3 Apr

AND ONE TO AVOID...

Bruce Nauman (Tate Modern, London)

The artist fills the Turbine Hall with sound. Even he admits he can't stand to be around his own work for too long.