The Berlin Senate has repealed a contentious anti-discrimination clause from its arts funding agreements following widespread protests and boycotts from the artistic community. The clause, which was based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, was criticized for potentially stifling pro-Palestine voices and limiting artistic expression. The backlash, which included multiple artists withdrawing from the @CTMFestival and led to weeks of protest, culminated in the city's decision to suspend the rule.
Berlin attempted to make culture funding contingent on support for the controversial IHRA working definition of antisemitism. On Monday, a boycott forced the city to back down. @chalravens reports 👇 https://t.co/b6pqy9sF1t
In Berlin, ‘art is free!’- unless it’s standing for a free Palestine. The Berlin senate has said artists must accept the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism or miss out on funding. https://t.co/HzQtfiGfAH
Following outcry, Berlin’s Culture Ministry scraps a controversial ‘anti-discrimination’ requirement for art grants. https://t.co/llKCzltQhz
Berlin’s culture bureau forced arts organizations to limit their criticism of Israel in order to receive funding—after weeks of protest and boycotts by artists, they've suspended the controversial rule. https://t.co/AJcFoC8gZ0
Let's check in on the arts after their full embrace of an activism-before-art strategy: "I lost work for refusing to promote concepts such as 'White Supremacy Culture' and 'Decolonization'..." — Theater director Kevin Ray (January '24). Art and ideology don't mix.
The Berlin Senate has retracted its controversial new anti-discrimination clause—which led to multiple artists withdrawing from @CTMFestival—with immediate effect. Read the news https://t.co/vU1b9PoUTk
The Berlin Senate has dropped the "anti-discrimination clause" from its arts funding agreements after protests against the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism https://t.co/vJ2Y8TfuvQ
Berlin has repealed an anti-discrimination funding clause that used a definition of antisemitism some said could be used to silence artists who are pro-Palestine amid mass protests from artists both in and beyond Germany. https://t.co/ovORD5ySkT