Artists, curators, professionals and institutions across the cultural sector – with the support of luminaries from Anish Kapoor to Boltanski (Messager) and Obrist – have come together as “Museum at Risk” to oppose the shocking plan by the Flemish government to dissolve a leading contemporary art museum in Europe, the M HKA.
Artists at Risk (AR) was contacted with respect to the new name prior to launch, in a highly-appreciated ethical gesture. We immediately agreed, offering to help mobilise in the campaign against abolishing this important and venerated institution, and are freeing up resources to do so.
It is an un-precedented attack in western Europe that, if not reversed, could set a terrible precedent. AR has witnessed and stood by the side of institutions and leaders facing attacks on their independence, basic cultural orientation or even existence before: in Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and other far-right governments around the world. Trump’s recent takeover and bullying of major US institutions provides harrowing examples of dystopian future scenarios.
Democracy and artistic freedom is under threat. For this reason we must consider uniting to defend democratic institutions more generally. Do we need “Museums at Risk” (in the plural) and similar or even wider umbrella movements and platforms?
Attempts by politicians to make drastic changes lacking in broad democratic consultation and approval – as is the case for M KHA – must be stopped.
Join them in the spirit of solidarity!
👉 Sign the petition here: https://www.openpetition.eu/be/petition/argumente/oproep-tot-massaal-protest-hou-de-m-hka-collectie-in-antwerpen#petition-main
