News from Civsy, based on generative AI tools and retrieval-augumented real time data searchThe Museum of Forbidden Art in Barcelona, renowned for exhibiting censored and banned artworks, faced demanding and tumultuous times in 2025. Ultimately forced to close its doors on June 27, the institution grappled simultaneously with an intense labor dispute in its home city and a dramatic censorship controversy during its first international tour, each episode probing the museum’s resilience, convictions, and founding principles.
The Union Conflict: Labor Strife and Economic Fallout
In early 2025, the labor union Solidaridad y Unidad de los Trabajadores (SUT) organized strikes and daily picketing outside the museum. The dispute began with outsourced staff decrying poor conditions such as inadequate climate control, few breaks and seating, low pay, and limited holiday allowance. SUT’s demands were not only for better conditions but also called for an end to subcontracting, seeking direct employment for all museum workers—a direct challenge to the museum’s operational model.
The protests persisted for four months, evolving into a disruptive escrache campaign that discouraged visitors and resulted in steep attendance decline. Revenues plummeted 75% compared to the previous year, with a 95% reduction in projected growth. Museum management described the suspension as “painful and undesired, but unavoidable,” due to financial losses and ongoing disruptions.
The Andorra Incident: Censorship Demands and Exhibition Cancellation
As the Barcelona dispute played out, the museum prepared its first international tour for Espai Caldes in Andorra. However, just before the schedueld opening on 21. June, Escaldes-Engordany’s Consul Major (municipal head), Rosa Gili, issued an order to remove a controversial Charlie Hebdo magazine cover from the exhibition. The exhibition was effectively closed within hours of its launch, due to this censorship demand. True to its founding mission, the museum refused partial censorship and opted to cancel the entire event rather than comply. The artistic director, Carles Guerra, explained that removing the cover “meant undermining the message and integrity of the whole exhibition”.
Consul Major Rosa Gili’s Justification
Consul Major Rosa Gili justified her intervention by citing national security concerns and heightened terrorist threats, especially given an impending major sporting event in Andorra. She stated she preferred “to censor than to risk possible threats or incidents,” openly acknowledging her action was censorship but emphasizing her responsibility to safeguard public safety-in exceptional circumstances. The municipality claimed its commitment to freedom of expression but argued that, in this context, the removal was necessary to prevent potential danger to the community and maintain public order.
This episode starkly illuminated the vulnerability of artistic freedom—even institutions built to resist censorship can be subject to government power when security or political concerns arise.
https://monitor.civicus.org/explore/art-exhibition-cancelled-for-national-security-reasons/
https://tnamag.xyz/museum-heritage/the-museu-de-i-art-prohibit-closure-paradox/
https://www.museos.com/en/barcelona/museum-of-forbidden-art/
https://www.bonart.cat/en/n/45356/the-exhibition-on-censorship-at-espai-caldes-has-closed
