Artists accuse Western museums of silencing Palestinian voices

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: ART News
3 Dec 2023 13:00
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Up to 1,300 artists are accusing Western institutions of 'silencing' Palestinian voices.

Demonstrators with banners gather at Dam Square and march to Museumplein (Museum Square) to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza during a rainy day in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on November 26, 2023. (AFP)

Actress Olivia Coleman and artist Molly Crabapple are part of a group exceeding 1,300 visual artists, writers, and actors who have endorsed an open letter accusing Western cultural institutions of engaging in "silencing and stigmatizing" Palestinian voices and perspectives.

According to ARTnews, the individuals endorsing the letter argue that these actions encompass "targeting and endangering the livelihoods of artists and art professionals who show solidarity with Palestinians, along with canceling performances, screenings, talks, exhibitions, and book launches."

Published on November 30, the letter originated from Artists for Palestine UK, an organization that had previously released a widely circulated letter in October, urging a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. The call for a ceasefire came after the Israeli aggression on Gaza resulted in thousands of Palestinian martyrs due to Israeli airstrikes.

Pro-Palestinian exhibitions delayed, closed

This recent letter specifically highlights instances such as Lisson Gallery delaying a London exhibition by Ai Weiwei after the artist posted a now-deleted tweet criticizing US aid to "Israel". Additionally, it addresses Museum Folkwang abruptly closing curator Anaïs Duplan's contribution to a group show due to Duplan's involvement with pro-Palestine content on social media.

The letter also mentions Saarland Museum canceling a solo exhibition by South African artist Candice Breitz, who had advocated for a ceasefire while simultaneously "condemning Hamas".

Major conferences are being canceled and workers are getting fired in the #US for the sole purpose of supporting #Palestine in light of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.#PalestineGenocide #GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/Jwlwdf6Mku
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 22, 2023

“In each case, the institution attributed the cancellation to comments made by the artist in support of Palestinian rights and unrelated to the content of their professional work,” the letter states, adding that the art organizations mentioned have a “disturbing double standard”: “Expressions of solidarity readily offered to other peoples facing brutal oppression, have not been extended to Palestinians”.

The letter also brings attention to the Arnolfini, Bristol’s International Center for Contemporary Arts. The center received criticism for canceling two events scheduled as part of the city's Palestine Film Festival. In an official statement, the institution explained that it withdrew from hosting the poetry reading and film screening because, as an arts charity, it believed it was not allowed to endorse activities that might be interpreted as political.

The letter further cautions that numerous artists are opting not to collaborate with institutions that do not fulfill these fundamental obligations of safeguarding freedom of expression and preventing discrimination in discussions related to Palestine.

Poetry Foundation boycotted

In November, over 2,000 poets committed to boycotting the Poetry Foundation after its journal declined to publish Joshua Gutterman’s review of Sam Sax’s collection PIG due to its exploration of anti-Zionist politics, as reported by Lithub.

Four poets—Noor Hindi, Summer Farah, Omar Sakr, and George Abraham—released an open letter addressed to the Poetry Foundation's board and the editors of its sister publication, Poetry. In the letter, they urged fellow poets to join the boycott, emphasizing that the organization must prove its alignment with humanity before its support is reinstated.

#Palestinian users were deprived of their freedom of expression during the 2-week war on #Gaza by "Israel" last year, by having their content blocked on Facebook and penalizing Arabic-speaking users more heavily than those who spoke Hebrew. pic.twitter.com/DZC2NLV6sW
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 26, 2022

At the same time, writers, artists, and curators are participating in a boycott of Artforum after the dismissal of editor David Velasco, which occurred after the publication of a letter advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza and the liberation of Palestinians.