Censorship pressures mount on US museums

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Censorship Pressures

According to a recent survey from PEN America, the Association of Art Museum Directors, and the Artists at Risk Connection, US museum directors are facing significant pressure when it comes to exhibiting works by Palestinian artists. The survey found that 18 percent of the directors who responded said they were likely to receive complaints about showing art by Palestinians, compared to 13 percent who had similar concerns about displaying works by Israeli artists. One museum director reported experiencing “considerable pressure from donors and some members of the public not to exhibit the work of Palestinian artists, especially if it addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or the history of Israel.” In one case, museum staff urged the removal of a painting depicting a watermelon, a symbol often used by activists due to its colors resembling the Palestinian flag.

The director refused, interpreting the watermelon as simply a fruit in this context. These issues arise not just from the content of the artworks but also from the artists’ past statements. The survey highlights an ongoing pattern of censorship against Palestinian art that has persisted for years in the US.

Censorship concerns at US museums

Similar tensions have been observed internationally, particularly in Germany. A notable finding from the survey is that many museum directors lack policies to address censorship.

Ninety percent of respondents reported that their institutions had no written guidelines on what constitutes censorship. The survey recommended establishing written policies to identify and address potential censorship situations, which could also serve as a protective measure against future censorship attempts. It is clear from the survey results that US museum directors are deeply concerned about censorship and the need for structured guidelines to navigate these challenges.

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The reported instances underscore the ongoing complexities surrounding the exhibition of Palestinian art in the United States.

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