Museums in Germany have recently been canceling shows, book prizes have been suspended, and artists have been barred from receiving commissions due to concerns that they support a boycott of Israel, which is considered antisemitic by the German Parliament. This increased sensitivity comes after recent Hamas terrorist attacks in October. Arts administrators are now scrutinizing artists’ public comments about Israel, including references to war crimes or apartheid.
Billions of dollars flow through cultural programs in Germany annually, supporting artists’ livelihoods. However, the series of cancellations have raised questions about Germany’s reputation as a haven for free expression and risks isolating international artists whose views on Israel do not align with Germany’s unequivocal support for the country. Many artists and intellectuals have started declining invitations to work in Germany due to the current atmosphere of censorship.
The cancellation trend has affected various areas of the arts, from museum exhibitions to literary events. The Frankfurt Book Fair canceled an event honoring a Palestinian author, while the Peter Weiss Prize was postponed due to the recipient’s support for a boycott of Israel. The German government has urged the denial of public funding to those who support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement or question Israel’s right to exist. These actions have been met with criticism from cultural leaders who feel artistic freedom is being stifled.
Some German institutions have rejected artists due to their views on Israel, such as the Cologne Cathedral’s exclusion of nominees who had supported boycotts. These actions have sparked debate on balancing free speech and combating antisemitism. The cancellations have led to accusations of antisemitism and fears that dialogue and discourse are being stifled. Jewish artists have also been affected, with exhibitions being canceled due to their views on Israel, prompting concerns over artistic freedom.
