A trustee at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Judy Schulich, advised the museum's acquisitions committee not to acquire a Nan Goldin video installation, *Stendhal Syndrome* (2024), due to Goldin's pro-Palestine statements and criticism of Israel's war in Gaza. The AGO had planned to purchase the work jointly with the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Walker Art Center, but the AGO withdrew after internal concerns were raised. The controversy led to the resignation of two committee members and one curator, and the museum promised a review of its acquisition process.
This incident highlights the growing tension between institutional acquisition policies and the personal political views of trustees and committee members, raising questions about censorship, donor influence, and the limits of artistic freedom in museums. The case also underscores the broader cultural and political divisions within the art world over the Israel-Gaza conflict, as well as the potential chilling effect on acquiring works by artists who take controversial political stances.