Artists slam Royal Academy of Arts’ ‘shameful anti-Palestinian censorship’

Hundreds of arts professionals have today condemned the Royal Academy of Arts’ anti-Palestinian censorship after it removed two artworks from its Young Artists’ Summer Show, including a photograph of a protestor holding a placard that reads, “Jews Say Stop Genocide on Palestinians. Not In Our Name”.

In an open letter published today by Artists for Palestine UK, the signatories, including more than 100 Jewish creatives, decry as “shameful” the Royal Academy’s removal of the picture.

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 artists and public figures, 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.

“Far from protecting Jews, the RA is lending support to a racist, anti-Palestinian campaign that aims to silence expressions of support for Palestinian people,” they said in the statement.

“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,” they added.

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