Dani Collette and Allora McCullough, Planting Seeds, Sprouting Hope, 2024, Installation view.
Today the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) expressed alarm at the cancellation of an exhibition at Craft Alliance, an art organization in St. Louis, MO. Following a complaint from a volunteer, the venue asserted that the project, which draws attention to the plight of Palestinians, was in violation of its policies on diversity, equity, inclusion, violence, and bullying.
While cultural institutions are justified in wanting to create spaces free of violence, discrimination, and harassment, DEI initiatives should not be weaponized to censor art. Concerns about artwork on view, and whether it violates noted policies, should be objectively assessed with consideration of the artist’s intent and the context in which the work is presented. Otherwise, artists’ ability to participate in exhibitions will be at the mercy of individuals who may object to their work, no matter how few they are, or how broadly they misinterpret the work.
In addition to adopting a policy upholding artistic freedom, NCAC urges Craft Alliance to establish procedures for receiving and responding to complaints against artworks.
Read NCAC’s full letter to Craft Alliance here: Click here for a full-screen view: