sally mann warns of government censorship

Photographer Sally Mann has spoken out about government censorship after her photographs were seized from the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Texas earlier this year. The controversy stemmed from her 1990s images of her children, which included nude depictions that some critics characterized as "child porn," leading to their removal from an exhibition following an open letter from the conservative Christian advocacy group Danbury Institute. Though the photos were returned and charges dropped, Mann expressed deep concern about the future of American museums, warning of a "new era of culture wars" and describing the situation as "Orwellian." She noted that social media has given censors more tools, and that the Trump administration is actively rolling out policies targeting museum programs, including a review of the Smithsonian.

antwerp contemporary art museum controvery

Belgium plans to revoke the museum status of Antwerp's Museum of Contemporary Art (M HKA) and transfer its 8,000-work collection to Ghent's Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art (Smak), canceling a promised $93 million new building. The proposal by Flemish culture minister Caroline Gennez has sparked resignations, legal challenges, and backlash from artists including Luc Tuymans and Anish Kapoor, who call it unlawful and a threat to cultural independence. A parliamentary hearing is expected in January 2026.

Participating Artists and Curators Push Back on Venice Biennale’s Relocation of Israeli Pavilion, Call for Exclusion of Russia, Israel, and US

Seventy-three artists and curators participating in the main exhibition of the 2024 Venice Biennale have issued an open letter objecting to the organizers' decision to relocate the Israeli national pavilion to the Arsenale. They argue this move creates an intimidating atmosphere contrary to the late curator Koyo Kouoh's vision of "radical solidarity" and will necessitate a heightened security presence. The signatories, which include key curators tasked with realizing Kouoh's exhibition, also call for the exclusion of Israel, Russia, and the United States from the event, citing their governments' alleged commission of war crimes.

venice biennale neutrality national pavilions russia israel

The Venice Biennale is facing intense international backlash following its decision to allow Russia to return for the 2026 edition after a hiatus caused by the invasion of Ukraine. High-ranking politicians from 22 European nations, along with thousands of artists and curators, have signed open letters condemning the move as a platform for state-directed cultural diplomacy and war-crime whitewashing. The Biennale has defended its stance by claiming a policy of non-censorship, asserting that it accepts any nation recognized by the Italian government.

British Museum did not remove Palestine from labels due to pressure campaign, museum sources say—as backlash continues

Over 200 cultural figures, including musician Brian Eno and writer Laleh Khalili, have signed an open letter condemning the British Museum for allegedly removing the word "Palestine" from labels in its Ancient Levant gallery. The letter, published in March, accuses the museum of historical revisionism and links the action to pressure from the advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel, while also criticizing the museum's broader ties to Israel.

open letter support barbican director devyani saltzman

Over 250 prominent cultural figures have signed an open letter protesting the abrupt departure of Devyani Saltzman from her role as Director of Arts and Participation at London’s Barbican Centre. Saltzman, who was appointed just last year to modernize the institution's programming, is set to leave in May following the recent arrival of new Chief Executive Abigail Pogson. High-profile signatories, including Salman Rushdie, John Akomfrah, and Isaac Julien, are demanding transparency regarding the decision-making process and the future of the position.

flemish government eliminates m hka smak museum controversy

The Flemish government has announced a plan to close the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA), Belgium's oldest contemporary art museum, and transfer its collection of around 8,000 objects to the S.M.A.K. in Ghent, which will be rebranded as the Flemish Museum of Contemporary and Current Art by 2028. The decision, part of a broader reform of Flanders' museum landscape, has sparked outrage: M HKA's board chairman Herman De Bode resigned, and staff published an open letter and launched a petition that gathered over 2,600 signatures, accusing the government of acting without transparency or consultation.

Brian Eno and 200+ Artists Urge British Museum to “Stop Erasing Palestine”

Brian Eno and 200+ Artists Urge British Museum to “Stop Erasing Palestine”

Over 200 artists and cultural groups, led by musician Brian Eno, have published an open letter demanding the British Museum stop what they call the "erasure of Palestine." The letter accuses the museum of altering wall texts in its Middle East Galleries, such as replacing "Palestinian descent" with "Canaanite descent," following pressure from the pro-Israel group UK Lawyers for Israel. The signatories also criticize the institution's past ties to the Israeli embassy and sponsor BP, issuing demands for an expert review of labels and an apology for hosting an Israeli embassy gala.

Artists and Organizations Rally Against Censorship in Open Letter

Hundreds of arts organizations and professionals have signed an open letter denouncing censorship, titled 'Cultural Freedom Demands Collective Courage: A Nation-Wide Statement of Values and Principles for the Field of Arts and Culture.' The statement, issued by the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and New York’s Vera List Center for Art and Politics, responds to the National Endowment for the Arts terminating over $27 million in grants. This follows President Donald Trump's second term, which has banned diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in federal government, forcing DEI offices at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Smithsonian Institution to close. The White House also published a list of artworks at the Smithsonian it deems to feature 'improper ideology.' The letter aims to rally cultural institutions against increasing pressure on programming decisions.

Open letter calls for ousting of Art Gallery of Ontario trustee who led vote against Nan Goldin acquisition

A major controversy has erupted at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) following the revelation that trustee Judy Schulich led a successful effort to block the acquisition of a new work by photographer Nan Goldin. The museum's Modern and contemporary curatorial working committee voted 11-9 against jointly purchasing Goldin's video piece *Stendhal Syndrome* (2024) with two other institutions, after Goldin was reportedly labeled antisemitic and compared to Nazi propagandist Leni Riefenstahl for her criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza. The decision prompted the resignation of the AGO's curator of modern and contemporary art and two volunteer committee members.

An open letter to La Biennale di Venezia calls out inaction in the face of global atrocities

A group of 74 artists and curators invited to the 61st Venice Biennale have issued an open letter to the institution's president, Pietrangelo Buttafuoco. The signatories are protesting the decision to relocate the Israeli Pavilion to the Arsenale, placing it in close proximity to the central exhibition 'In Minor Keys' curated by the late Koyo Kouoh. The letter demands the exclusion of official delegations from countries accused of war crimes—specifically Israel, Russia, and the United States—and accuses the Biennale of complicity through its silence on global atrocities.

DePaul Faculty, Artists Put Pressure On University To Save Art Museum

DePaul University faculty, students, and community members are mounting a public campaign to reverse the university's abrupt decision to close the DePaul Art Museum (DPAM) on June 30. An open letter led by philosophy professor Sean Kirkland has garnered nearly 3,800 signatures, while the museum's advisory board issued a separate statement condemning the closure as "egregious." Critics argue the decision was made without faculty consultation and undermines the institution's academic mission.

mfa boston denies racial layoffs

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) has laid off 33 employees, approximately 6.3% of its staff, to address a projected $13 million structural deficit. Among those let go were the museum's only Black, Muslim, and Indigenous curators, leading to accusations that the cuts disproportionately targeted staff of color and undermined diversity initiatives.

ukraine russia icom expulsion open letter

A group of arts professionals, including art historian Konstantin Akinsha and Francesca Thyssen Bornemisza, has published an open letter in Le Monde calling for the International Council of Museums (ICOM) to expel Russia for violating its code of ethics. The group threatens to take ICOM to court in France if it fails to act, citing Russia's systematic erasure of Ukraine's cultural identity since the 2022 invasion, including looting of museum collections and destruction of cultural sites documented by UNESCO. Signatories demand the exclusion of ICOM Russia and Russian museum staff involved in looting, and seek either negotiation or legal proceedings in a French court.

Finland Pulls Back Venice Biennale Presence Over Return of Russian Pavilion

Finland’s political leadership has announced it will boycott the Venice Biennale if the Russian Pavilion proceeds with its planned exhibition. While Finnish public officials will still attend to support their own national artists, the Ministry of Education and Culture stated that Russia should be excluded as long as the war in Ukraine continues. This move follows an open letter from 22 European nations and a warning from the European Commission regarding potential sanctions violations.

cuban cultural leaders international aid open letter

More than 100 Cuban artists, curators, and cultural workers, including the nation's Culture Minister and prominent intellectuals, have issued an open letter titled "Cuba is Not a Threat" appealing for international intervention. They argue the US economic embargo, particularly restrictions on oil and fuel shipments, has crippled the island's infrastructure and exacerbated a severe humanitarian crisis, making stabilization efforts impossible.

unt faculty open letter victor quinonez exhibition cancelation

Faculty at the University of North Texas's College of Visual Arts and Design have issued an open letter protesting the abrupt and unexplained cancellation of a solo exhibition by artist Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez. The letter, addressed to university leadership, argues the removal violates UNT's own policies on academic freedom and non-discrimination based on content, and demands an explanation for the decision.

Why is the French government spending millions on art no one sees?

The French government agency Centre national des arts plastiques (CNAP), established in 1982 to support living artists and collect their work, has come under scrutiny following two opposing government reports. A July white paper by Martin Bethenod recommended refocusing CNAP's acquisitions on France-based artists and galleries, while a November report from the Cour des Comptes by Julien Aubert found the agency financially fragile and redundant, noting that 24,472 works—one quarter of its collection—have never been exhibited. Aubert recommended closing the CNAP by 2030, sparking backlash from over 1,000 art professionals who signed an open letter criticizing the ideological attack on public cultural service.

Canadian foundation with ties to Israel’s biggest real-estate company ceases funding for Toronto Arts Foundation following protests

The Azrieli Foundation, a major Canadian philanthropic organization with ties to Israel's largest real-estate company, has ended its funding agreement with the Toronto Arts Foundation. The decision follows a sustained two-year protest campaign by the group Artists Against Artwashing, which included disruptions at a major Toronto arts event and an open letter signed by over 450 artists and cultural workers.

fita campaign group threatens leicester university trans inclusive museum guidelines

A campaign group called Freedom in the Arts (FITA) has threatened to sue the University of Leicester in the UK over its “Trans-Inclusive Culture” guidelines for museums and galleries, demanding their removal. The guidelines, published two years ago by the university’s Research Center for Museums and Galleries (RCMG), aim to help cultural institutions create inclusive spaces for transgender people. FITA, co-founded by choreographer Rosie Kay and former Arts Council England staffer Denise Fahmy, argues the guidance misrepresents the legal definition of “sex” under the Equality Act 2010, following a UK Supreme Court ruling that “woman” and “sex” refer only to biological women and biological sex. The group claims the guidelines could encourage unlawful policies, such as allowing toilet access based on gender identity, and discriminate against staff with gender-critical beliefs.

icom russia president slams calls to eject russia from icom for violating code of ethics as political libel

ICOM Russia president Vasilij Pankratov has denounced calls for Russia's expulsion from the International Council of Museums (ICOM) as "political libel." The controversy follows an open letter published in Le Monde on May 5, in which a group of art experts—including art historian Konstantin Akinsha, Francesca Thyssen Bornemisza, and Vitalit Tytych—accused Russia of systematically erasing Ukraine's cultural identity since the 2022 invasion. The signatories threatened to take ICOM to court in France if it failed to oust Russia for violating the organization's code of ethics. Pankratov dismissed the accusations as unfounded, arguing that Russian museum workers operate within the country's constitution and local ethical criteria, and denied claims that Ukrainian cultural property has been appropriated by Russian museums.

UNT Faculty Denounce Closure of Victor Quiñonez Show in Open Letter to University President

Faculty at the University of North Texas College of Visual Art & Design have issued an open letter to university leadership, protesting the sudden and unexplained closure of artist Victor "MARKA27" Quiñonez's solo exhibition, 'Ni de Aqui, Ni de Allá,' just nine days after it opened. The letter demands an explanation for the cancellation, which occurred before a scheduled public reception, and cites university policies protecting artistic expression and academic freedom.