James Bridle's Schelling Architecture Award Rescinded Over Israel Boycott Stance
The Schelling Architecture Foundation has withdrawn the 2024 Architecture Theory Prize from artist James Bridle following his endorsement of an open letter advocating for a cultural boycott against Israeli institutions. This announcement, made just days prior to the awards ceremony in May, references Bridle's commitment to opposing Israeli cultural entities involved in the oppression of Palestinians. This decision comes in light of a resolution by the German Bundestag that ties public funding for cultural initiatives to compliance with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism. Bridle's 2022 book, 'Ways of Being,' addresses Israel's separation wall. Many artists in Germany have experienced exhibition cancellations due to pro-Palestinian sentiments. The foundation is named after an architect affiliated with the National Socialist Party.
Key facts
- James Bridle's 2024 Schelling Architecture Foundation award was rescinded in May.
- The foundation cited Bridle's signature on an open letter boycotting Israeli cultural institutions.
- The German Bundestag passed a resolution linking cultural funding to antisemitism definitions.
- The resolution opposes boycotts of Israel and questions of Israel's right to exist.
- Bridle's book 'Ways of Being' discusses Israel's separation wall in the West Bank.
- Artists like Jumana Manna and Emily Jacir have had exhibitions cancelled in Germany.
- The Archive of Silence documents hundreds of censorship incidents in Germany.
- Strike Germany campaign launched in January to protest cultural repression.
Entities
Artists
- James Bridle
- Bryony Dunne
- Jumana Manna
- Emily Jacir
- Candice Breitz
- Johanna Hedva
- Mohammed Al-Hawajri
- Hannah Arendt
- Tobi Haslett
- Warren B. Kanders
- Ghassan Abu Sittah
- Erich Schelling
Institutions
- Schelling Architecture Foundation
- German Bundestag
- International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
- Amnesty International Germany
- Archive of Silence
- Whitney Museum
- Strike Germany
- Hamas
- Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement
- National Socialist Party
- Führer-Verlag
- German parliament
- Bundestag
- Guardian
- Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement
Locations
- Karlsruhe
- Germany
- Greece
- West Bank
- Israel
- Palestine
- Lebanon
- Gaza Strip
- New York
- US
- Mexico
- Jerusalem
- Athens