Royal Academy slammed for anti-Palestine censorship after painting removal

Royal Academicians Jock McFadyen, Rana Begum, Vanessa Jackson, Oona Grimes and Helen Sear are among hundreds of arts professionals condemning the Royal Academy of Arts’ anti-Palestine censorship after it removed two artworks from its Young Artists’ Summer Show.

Royal Academy: stop the Palestine censorship

In an open letter published by Artists for Palestine UK, the signatories, including more than 100 Jewish creatives, decry as “shameful” the removal of a photograph of a protestor holding a placard that reads, “Jews Say Stop Genocide on Palestinians. Not In Our Name”.

Visual artists Rosalind Nashashibi, Adam Broomberg, curator David Campany, and writers Natasha Walter, Kamila Shamsie, Sabrina Mahfouz, Fatima Bhutto and Gillian Slovo are among those saying that The Royal Academy has “stigmatis[ed] the work of the young artists” and has “colluded with the erasure of Jewish contribution to solidarity with Palestinians.”

The Royal Academy removed the artworks after pressure from right-wing lobby group the British Board of Deputies.

A spokesperson for the Royal Academy told the Guardian that it apologised for “any hurt and distress” caused:

As an organisation committed to freedom of expression, works in the exhibition often reflect current societal and political topics that matter to young people, from women’s rights to global conflict.

We are aware of concerns about two artworks that relate to the Israel/Palestine conflict. We have discussed the matter thoroughly and have also received external guidance.

The artists and public figures who signed the open letter, including fashion designer Bella Freud, directors Mike Leigh, Peter Kosminsky and Farah Nabulsi, musicians Brian Eno, Ana Tijoux and Robert Wyatt, photographer Shahidul Alam and actors Juliet Stevenson, Alia Shawkat and Adam Bakri are joined by several Jewish organisations including the Jewish Socialists’ Group. They add:

Far from protecting Jewish people, the RA is lending support to a racist, anti-Palestinian campaign that aims to silence expressions of support for Palestinian people.

Failing to stand up to ‘bullying’

A spokesperson for Artists for Palestine UK commented:

By failing to stand up to deplorable bullying and ludicrous accusations against young artists, the Royal Academy is in breach of its ethical responsibilities and duty of care. This needs urgent repair.

Also, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) launched a new e-action which has been sent to its 300,000 supporters, asking them to send a letter via email to the chief executive of the Royal Academy.

The PSC letter states that “in silencing solidarity for Palestine, the Royal Academy is complicit in shielding the state of Israel from accountability for its actions” and added that it should not “be regarded as inherently illegitimate for artists to draw comparisons between one genocide and others in history.”

PSC tells the Royal Academy:

Your decision to remove these artworks violates your duty to uphold freedom of expression, and contributes to the dehumanisation of Palestinian people and the erasure of the facts of their history.

Featured image via the Royal Academy