Museums express ‘deep concern’ over Whitworth Gallery row

Plans to remove a gallery director over a statement of solidarity with Palestine have sparked "deep concern" among the international museum community and demands he be able to keep his job.

Whitworth Art Gallery Director Alistair Hudson faced complaints over Cloud Studies, an exhibition staged last August by human rights research group Forensic Architecture that featured pro-Palestinian messaging. 

The message was withdrawn after advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) alleged it contained inaccuracies, then reinstated by the University of Manchester, which runs the gallery, on the grounds of contextualising different perspectives on the Israeli occupation.

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The university's decision since to ask Hudson to leave has drawn objections from more than 100 members of its staff, university students, British artists, the Museums Association, and the ethics committee of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM).

In publishing the statement with the gallery's support, Hudson fulfilled the Whitworth's vision to use art to drive social change and "excelled in his role as leader of the Whitworth Gallery", CIMAM says.

"That he now appears to be punished for the decision to put up an exhibition like Cloud Studies in its entirety… raises doubt as to the rightfulness of his removal.

"On a broader level, it also speaks to the silencing of dissent by pressure groups with capital and influence."

UKLFI says it called for disciplinary action against Hudson in September on the basis that "he had assured the Vice Chancellor that they had established the accuracy and legalities of the work presented".

The university's response to a Freedom of Information request by UKLFI later indicated that no such investigation had been made.

The University of Manchester rejected criticisms of having suppressed artistic or academic freedom.

"Indeed the university went to great lengths to ensure that the exhibition in question was uncensored and remained opened for the full period that had been planned."

But it did not respond to CIMAM's call for transparency around Hudson's situation, saying "staffing matters remain strictly internal".

Ethics compromised?

Museums Association Director Sharon Heal said the university's decision works against an understanding that museums should be able to promote debate on controversial issues.

Its code of ethics asserts a right to free speech for staff.

"People working in museums should not fear for their jobs as a result of this work, and it is vital that governing bodies defend their organisation’s freedom to explore contemporary issues," Heal said.

CIMAM said the university needs to be transparent about its request that Hudson resign.

"By bowing to such external pressure, the university has compromised the gallery and, by extension, spaces like it, setting a dangerous precedent for any attempts to platform marginalized voices."

Forensic Architecture’s British-Israeli Founder Eyal Weizman agreed it shrinks space for free artistic expression, and claimed the university is trying to stifle open debate and political art.

However, the university's initial statement from August makes clear it intended to keep the conversation open: "The Whitworth is a place where we may be able to debate, discuss and disagree well, within a safe and empathetic environment."

On Thursday (March 3) it added that it must consider "various rights and duties" around free speech and equality laws in its work.

Local fallout

Protests outside the university this week have accused it of racism against Palestinians.

Artists have also pulled out of the Manchester stop of a tour of the British Art Show in May, which would have exhibited at the Whitworth.

An open letter from University of Manchester staff says the incident shows the institution "will not support and defend its staff" in the face of outside pressure.

"We believe that this action sends a chilling message to all staff and students that they can lose their jobs or be expelled if an outside body disagrees with work being conducted on university campus."

CIMAM has sent a letter to Vice-Chancellor Nancy Rothwell asking for reconsideration of its stance: "We are waiting for a reply."