Arnolfini censorship row deepens as artists refuse to work with the Bristol institution
about 5 months ago (12/14/2023)
Arnolfini censorship row deepens as artists refuse to work with the Bristol institution Art market Museums & heritage Exhibitions Books Podcasts Columns Technology Adventures with Van Gogh Search Search Censorship news Arnolfini censorship row deepens as artists refuse to work with the Bristol institution The dispute was sparked by a decision to cancel Palestine Film Festival events Gareth Harris 14 December 2023 Share Signatories say that the Arnolfini's cancellation is "part of an alarming pattern of censorship and repression within the arts sector" Courtesy Artists for Palestine UK More than 1,000 cultural figures—including the artists Ben Rivers, Brian Eno and Tai Shani—are refusing to work with the Arnolfini contemporary arts centre in Bristol, UK, after the institution cancelled two events last month as part of the city’s Palestine Film Festival. In an open letter , the signatories say that “the decision by a publicly funded venue to censor Palestinian film and poetry events is a particularly concerning part of an alarming pattern of censorship and repression within the arts sector.” Arnolfini receives funding from Arts Council England and the University of the West of England; the Arnolfini was contacted for comment. The Bristol Palestine Film Festival, hosted across five venues from 2 to 10 December, is described as "the very best in contemporary Palestinian cinema, arts and culture".