Noguchi Museum dismisses three staff over keffiyeh ban, sparking protests and broader institutional debate

Three gallery attendants at the Noguchi Museum in Queens, New York, were terminated last Wednesday for wearing keffiyehs, a Middle Eastern headdress associated with Palestinian solidarity, violating a new dress code. The policy, introduced on 14 August via email to 72 employees, prohibits 'political dress' and led to a petition signed by 54 staff members and a walk-out by eight on 21 August. On Sunday, artists, art workers, and local residents protested outside the museum, demanding the resignation of director Amy Hau. The Noguchi Museum, founded by Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi, is not alone in such actions; a staff member at the cultural centre 92NY in Manhattan allegedly lost their job under a similar policy banning patron-facing employees from expressing personal political views, with at least five others resigning. 92NY, founded in 1874, faced criticism last October for cancelling a talk by Pulitzer-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen after he signed an open letter supporting Palestine, leading to the resignation of all three staff at its Unterberg Poetry Center and indefinite suspension of the literary series. On 12 September, a 92NY spokesperson told ArtReview that no employee was fired due to the policy, which aims to ensure a neutral environment for diverse patrons amid geopolitical conflicts and national elections, applying only to public areas and not personal advocacy. The spokesperson emphasized the policy is broad and not specific to Israel or Palestine.