23 Artists Withdraw from British Art Show 9 Manchester Stop Over Whitworth Director's Forced Resignation

A total of twenty-three artists have opted out of the Manchester segment of British Art Show 9, which is set to take place at The Whitworth gallery. This decision comes in response to the University of Manchester's forced resignation of director Alistair Hudson, prompted by UK Lawyers for Israel. Hudson's exit stemmed from concerns over a 2021 exhibition by Forensic Architecture that featured a statement supporting Palestine. In their letter to university president Nancy Rothwell, the artists criticized the university’s actions as an infringement on political and artistic freedoms. Notable signatories include Zach Blas, Helen Cammock, Paul Maheke, Heather Phillipson, and Tai Shani. The artists caution that yielding to such pressures could create harmful precedents for cultural institutions and academia. British Art Show 9, curated by Irene Aristizábal and Hammad Nasar, debuted at Aberdeen Art Gallery on July 10, 2021, and is currently at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, with the Manchester event planned for May 13 at The Whitworth.