Two years after the 7 October 2023 attacks, Israeli museum directors report feeling isolated from the international art world. Tania Coen-Uzzielli, director of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, says most international collaborations were put on hold, delayed, or cancelled. The museum, which has a history of political activism, closed partially during protests against judicial reforms and has taken a public stance to end the war and suffering in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Tel Aviv-Yafo City Museum, which opened just after the attacks, shifted to documenting wartime reality and supporting artists, but has received no direct support from international colleagues. The National Library of Israel repeatedly deinstalled and secured its collections during Iranian missile attacks, reopening when safe.
This matters because it highlights a growing rift between Israeli cultural institutions and the global art community, which has largely remained silent on the conflict. The isolation threatens long-standing international partnerships and exchange programs that are vital for museums. The directors emphasize their institutions' civic roles in documenting trauma and fostering dialogue, including programs like "Tel Aviv Museum speaks Arabic," but feel misunderstood by critics who conflate Israeli government policy with its cultural sector. The situation underscores how geopolitical conflict can fracture the art world's networks and challenge museums' missions to remain open, inclusive, and connected.