The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) announces the launch of a new resource, Art Censorship Index: Post-October 7th, documenting the recent spike in censorship of art and artists invoking Israel or Palestine.
Artworks and artists referencing the subject of Israel and Palestine have long been subjects of controversy and/or censorship, but following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent retaliation in Gaza, arts censorship incidents have risen dramatically. This new map tracks instances of censorship specifically affecting audience access to the arts in the United States, whether visual, performance-based, or literary.
“Our cultural sphere is at its richest when artists and cultural institutions are able to reflect upon challenging social and political issues of our time,” said Elizabeth Larison, Director of NCAC’s Arts and Culture Advocacy Program. “By documenting these instances of art censorship, we hope to inspire greater accountability and dialogue within the artistic community and beyond.”
Through this initiative, NCAC aims to raise awareness of this most recent trend of art censorship, advocate for the protection of artistic freedom, and empower individuals and organizations to identify and resist censorship efforts.
The map will be continually updated with relevant art censorship cases as they arise, providing a real-time resource for researchers, journalists, activists, and policymakers interested in understanding and addressing this pressing issue.
The NCAC invites artists, cultural workers, and the general public to explore the map, share their experiences, and contribute to the ongoing conversation about artistic freedom and censorship.
The Index can be found at: https://ncac.org/art-censorship-index-post-october-7th