Over 150 US cultural institutions sign statement against state censorship
On August 25, the Vera List Center for Art and Politics and the National Coalition Against Censorship issued a collaborative statement titled "Cultural Freedom Demands Collective Courage." Spanning three months of planning, the document urges unity among arts and culture organizations across the United States to safeguard their autonomy and resist self-censorship. So far, it has garnered support from more than 425 signatories, including 150 institutions and 275 individuals. This initiative follows substantial losses in National Endowment for the Arts funding, exceeding $27 million, and the recent withdrawal of artist Amy Sherald from a Smithsonian exhibit due to censorship fears.
Key facts
- Statement released on 25 August by NCAC and VLC
- Over 425 signatures from over 150 institutions and 275 individuals
- Title: 'Cultural Freedom Demands Collective Courage: a Nation-Wide Statement of Values and Principles for the Field of Arts and Culture'
- Over $27 million in NEA Grants terminated since May
- Trump administration pressured Smithsonian Institution, calling for review of exhibitions
- Trump posted on Truth Social complaining Smithsonian focused on 'how horrible our country is, how bad slavery was'
- Amy Sherald canceled exhibition at National Portrait Gallery due to censorship concerns
- Sherald's op-ed published on MSNBC on 24 August
Entities
Artists
- Amy Sherald
Institutions
- National Coalition Against Censorship
- Vera List Center for Art and Politics
- Smithsonian Institution
- National Portrait Gallery
- National Endowment for the Arts
- MSNBC
Locations
- United States
- Washington D.C.