Just hours before opening, the satirical cartoon exhibition Licence to Offend was abruptly cancelled by TownSq gallery in Kingston, London. Featuring works by top UK political cartoonists like Morten Morland, the show depicted public figures including Trump, Starmer, and Musk. Citing potential offense and staff safety, the gallery pulled the exhibit. Morland criticized the move as a blow to free expression. Organizers seek a new venue.
Freedom in the Arts (FITA) has launched Afraid to Speak Freely, a powerful report revealing growing censorship, self-silencing, and ideological pressure within the UK’s arts and cultural sector. Based on responses from 483 professionals, the report calls for urgent action to protect freedom of expression and support viewpoint diversity across institutions in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
