German Foreign Office Criticizes Goethe-Institut Over Exhibition Featuring Palestinian-American Artist

The German Foreign Office has formally reprimanded the Goethe-Institut for its involvement in an exhibition in Vilnius, Lithuania, that included work by Palestinian-American artist Basma al-Sharif. The exhibition, titled 'Bells and Cannons - Contemporary Art in Times of Militarization,' ran from mid-October to early March and was a collaborative project between the Contemporary Art Centre Vilnius (CAC), the Goethe-Institut's Vilnius branch, and the Academy of Arts in Berlin. The Foreign Office stated that events organized by German cultural institutions must leave no doubt about the German government's firm rejection of antisemitism and hatred toward Israel. It emphasized that greater care in planning and conceptualizing events with partners is necessary and expected. The Goethe-Institut, which receives substantial public funding from the Foreign Office, responded that the CAC curated the exhibition, and al-Sharif's contribution was a work called 'Deep Sleep.' A spokesperson clarified that no antisemitic content was displayed in the exhibition itself. However, the institute acknowledged that some posts on al-Sharif's Instagram account, which it was previously unaware of, contradict its values by denying Israel's right to exist. The Goethe-Institut expressed regret over this and reaffirmed its opposition to all forms of antisemitism, stating that recognizing Israel's existence is non-negotiable. This incident follows previous controversies involving al-Sharif, including allegations of antisemitism related to her appearances at the Düsseldorf Art Academy and the European Media Art Festival in Osnabrück.