More than 150 cultural institutions across the United States have issued a joint appeal against mounting political interference and censorship, warning that artistic and intellectual freedom are at risk. Led by the National Coalition Against Censorship and the Vera List Center, the statement calls for solidarity and courage as funding cuts and government intervention threaten the independence of museums, theatres, and cultural organizations nationwide.
Art museums lack policies, leaving them vulnerable to rising censorship threats and external pressures, according to a new report made by PEN America, the Association of Art Museum Directors, and Artists at Risk Connection.
UC Berkeley's "A Counter-Imaginary in Authoritarian Times" project is a significant initiative aimed at confronting artistic and academic censorship. The $2.6 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will fund this multi-year, interdisciplinary effort to address the complex challenges posed by modern forms of authoritarianism and censorship.
