Whitworth director forced out over pro-Palestinian statement, museum bodies protest
Alistair Hudson has been ousted from his role as director of the Whitworth Art Gallery due to backlash from UK Lawyers for Israel over remarks made during a pro-Palestinian exhibition. This decision has sparked concerns from CIMAM, which warned against yielding to external pressure. In solidarity with Hudson, over 100 staff members from Manchester University have signed an open letter, while 23 artists have indicated they will boycott the forthcoming British Art Show 9 in Manchester. Additionally, the L'Internationale Museum Confederation, featuring key figures like Elvira Dyangani Ose and Charles Esche, urged the university to reconsider its stance.
Key facts
- Alistair Hudson was forced out as director of Manchester University's Whitworth Art Gallery.
- The dismissal followed a pro-Palestinian statement in a Forensic Architecture exhibition.
- UK Lawyers for Israel protested the statement's 'inflammatory language'.
- CIMAM's Museum Watch Committee expressed deep concern over Hudson's 'forced removal'.
- L'Internationale Museum Confederation called on the university to reverse its decision.
- Over 100 Manchester University staff signed an open letter protesting Hudson's dismissal.
- 23 artists will withdraw their work from British Art Show 9's Manchester stop.
- The statement from artists called the events a 'direct attack on political freedom and artistic expression'.
Entities
Artists
- Alistair Hudson
- Elvira Dyangani Ose
- Charles Esche
- Eyal Weizman
Institutions
- Whitworth Art Gallery
- Manchester University
- International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM)
- UK Lawyers for Israel
- L'Internationale Museum Confederation
- MACBA, Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona
- Van Abbemuseum Eindhoven
- Forensic Architecture
- British Art Show 9
- The Guardian
Locations
- Manchester
- United Kingdom
- Barcelona
- Spain
- Eindhoven
- Netherlands
- Syria
- Chile
- Palestine