Close Menu
  • Home
  • Europe
  • United Kingdom
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Travel
Trending

Jo Malone London launches ‘best ever’ new £59 perfume that smells just like ice cream

July 2, 2025

Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for 60-day ceasefire in Gaza

July 2, 2025

Clacton murder update as police picture son, 24, who admits killing own mum

July 2, 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
Se Connecter
July 2, 2025
Euro News Source
Live Markets Newsletter
  • Home
  • Europe
  • United Kingdom
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Travel
Euro News Source
Home»Culture
Culture

More than 900 Artists and Art Workers Call on Tate to Sever Ties with Donors Linked to Israel

News RoomBy News RoomDecember 1, 2024
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Copy Link Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Telegram

An open letter initiated by a coalition of over 900 artists, including prominent figures in the art world such as current Turner Prize nominee Jasleen Kaur and past winners Charlotte Prodger, Helen Cammock, and Lawrence Abu Hamdan, addresses the Tate Museum in London. The letter calls upon Tate’s leadership to actively oppose what the signees describe as the “artwashing of genocide and apartheid.” The initiative comes as a response to Tate’s affiliations with organizations whose founders have financial ties to Israel, specifically targeting the Zabludowicz Art Trust, Zabludowicz Art Projects, and Outset Contemporary Art Fund. The artists and art workers argue that these connections implicate Tate in complicity with ongoing violence against Palestinians, particularly in Gaza.

The accusations against the founders of the targeted organizations, Anita and Poju Zabludowicz, and Candida Gertler, appeal to international legal findings from entities like the International Court of Justice and the United Nations. These bodies have characterized Israel’s military actions as consistent with terms such as “plausible genocide” and “apartheid,” reinforcing the letter’s assertion that Tate has a moral obligation to sever its ties with these groups. Amnesty International has echoed this sentiment, denouncing Israel’s policies as crimes of apartheid. The letter emphasizes that Tate’s involvement with these organizations undermines its purported commitment to equality and social justice in the arts, reflecting a broader ethical responsibility within the art community.

Central to the artists’ arguments is the concept of “artwashing,” which they define as the practice of leveraging cultural partnerships to obscure contentious political affiliations. The letter posits that Tate’s ongoing collaborations with organizations linked to the Israeli state effectively diminish the museum’s social impact and commitment to equality. By maintaining these ties, the letter argues, Tate diminishes its ethical standing and fails to align its practices with its avowed values. The signees urge Tate to reconsider its partnerships to uphold a genuine commitment to cultural and social responsibility.

Importantly, the letter draws parallels with Tate’s prior decisions to divest from Russian donors after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This historic context provides a framework within which the artists and art workers advocate for a similarly decisive act against what they view as complicit behavior regarding Israel. The appeal for divestment highlights a tactic that Tate has utilized in response to geopolitical crises, urging the museum’s leaders to apply the same ethical scrutiny to their relationships with Israeli-affiliated organizations and funders. The artists’ call serves to reinforce the urgency of addressing moral dilemmas faced by cultural institutions today.

Recent developments, including successful student activism at Goldsmiths, University of London, which pressured the Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art to sever ties with Candida and Zak Gertler over their political associations, evidence a growing movement within the arts to hold institutions accountable. The signed letter reflects a broader cultural mobilization, following over 1,000 authors and artists’ participation in what has been termed history’s largest cultural boycott against Israel’s publishing sector. The collective response highlights a significant commitment among creatives to advocate for social justice and address perceived complicity in state-sponsored violence.

As the Turner Prize ceremony approaches, the timing of this open letter emphasizes the heightened sense of urgency surrounding these issues. The artists and activists involved are determined to ignite dialogue within the art community about its social responsibility and ethics in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine. Their collective stance signals a potential shift in how cultural institutions may engage with political and moral complexities, advocating for transparency, accountability, and a stronger commitment to human rights in the arts. Their call to action encourages Tate, and similar institutions, to reflect critically on their affiliations and consider the moral implications of their partnerships in the face of ongoing global injustices.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Email

Keep Reading

The secret’s out: Meet the artists behind Sweden’s whimsical mouse-size miniature worlds

Culture July 1, 2025

Backlash intensifies for Bob Vylan over Glastonbury controversy

Culture July 1, 2025

Get thee to a nunnery! What is Convent Summer, Gen Z’s latest obsession?

Culture June 30, 2025

Squid Game Season 3 ending: What the major surprise cameo means for the future of Netflix’s hit show

Culture June 30, 2025

Bezos wedding in Venice: hundreds protest over the city’s exploitation

Culture June 28, 2025

A portal to the past: This unique open-air attraction has been named the UK’s Museum of the Year

Culture June 27, 2025

Euronews Culture’s Film of the Week: ‘F1 The Movie’

Culture June 27, 2025

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s Venice wedding in pictures and numbers

Culture June 27, 2025

Blue lights, hexes and exes: Here are the best albums of 2025… So far

Culture June 27, 2025

Editors Picks

Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for 60-day ceasefire in Gaza

July 2, 2025

Clacton murder update as police picture son, 24, who admits killing own mum

July 2, 2025

Brit found dead in Arizona named 12 years later after scientific breakthrough

July 2, 2025

Harvey Willgoose texted dad about ‘knives’ at school days before fatal stabbing

July 2, 2025

Latest News

Men accused of shooting prison officer dead in ‘revenge’ pictured at Glastonbury

July 1, 2025

Two teenagers arrested after 38-year-old dad stabbed to death

July 1, 2025

Football chairman held dying wife in his arms after Costa del Sol jet ski crash

July 1, 2025

Subscribe to News

Get the latest Europe and World news and updates directly to your inbox.

Facebook X (Twitter) Pinterest Instagram
2025 © Euro News Source. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Contact

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below.

Lost password?