London Arts Institutions Face Racism Allegations from Black Staff

Ifeanyi Awachie, who serves as an assistant curator at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, has accused director Stefan Kalmár of appropriating her anti-racism initiative, 'Confronting the ICA,' to falsely portray the institution's dedication. Following her experiences with anti-Blackness and misogynoir at the ICA, she collaborated with artist Camille Barton to host workshops. Awachie asserts that Kalmár referenced her work in private communications without her consent, using it to support claims of antiracist actions. The ICA responded to social media posts from June 15, 2020, affirming their seriousness about the issue but refraining from public comments. Additionally, Teanne Andrews, a former education officer at the William Morris Gallery, reported systemic racism after her dismissal on May 22, 2020, with the gallery acknowledging her contributions while looking into her claims made public on June 17, 2020.