Who is ANGA?
ANGA is an international group of artists, curators, writers, and cultural workers who have come together to call for the exclusion of Israel at the Venice Biennale. We invite you to share the ethical and political position expressed in the open letter to the Venice Biennale and to be part of our address. ANGA is a collective with no sole authors. This open letter is authored by all who sign it. We commit to the power of collective action and the principles of shared responsibility. The more of us there are, the more of us there are.
Is calling to exclude Israel from the Biennale anti-Jewish or antisemitic?
A national pavilion at Venice is an official cultural representation of the state in question. Calling for the exclusion of Israel from the Biennale is not anti-Jewish or antisemitic, neither is criticising the state of Israel for its actions. All 193 Member States of the United Nations are responsible to obey international law and Israel cannot be the only exception. Asking for the exclusion of Israel's state-funded pavilion is a matter of holding an apartheid state, presently on trial at the International Court of Justice for plausible genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, accountable. ANGA's campaign is about addressing human rights, equality, and justice, rather than targeting individuals based on their religion or ethnicity.
Isn’t art a bridge between cultures, and between people?
A bridge cannot connect an apartheid state occupier with those it occupies. Equal partners can perhaps strive to connect by a bridge, but in the asymmetrical context of an occupier that forces degraded terms of existence on the occupied, there can be no bridge. The reduction of art's function to that of a mere "bridge" is a deceptive facade, ultimately catering to agendas of diplomacy and power. The systematic destruction of cultural institutions and essential infrastructure in Palestinian territories undermines any semblance of cultural exchange and perpetuates a cycle of injustice and inequality. In the face of such grave offenses, mere artistic expressions cannot bridge the chasm of suffering and loss experienced by Palestinians under occupation. No "bridge" can connect Palestinians to the libraries, galleries, mosques, bookshops, and schools that Israel has destroyed and eradicated in Gaza. Art cannot transcend the contexts in which it exists.
How can you ensure freedom of expression while calling for excluding Israel?
We reject censorship and subscribe to the internationally accepted definition of freedom of expression as stipulated in the United Nations’ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). We reject on principle boycotts of individuals based on their identity (such as citizenship, race, gender, or religion) or opinion. The Israel Pavilion is an official representation of the state of Israel, and the artist and curators Ruth Patir, and Mira Lapidot and Tamar Margalit have been commissioned by the state to represent it. By accepting this role, they are official representatives of the state of Israel, promoting a nation that is subject to the International Court of Justice ruling that it is plausibly committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The call to exclude Israel’s pavilion is not a suppression of individual artists’ freedoms. It is a recognition that the sponsorship of art by an apartheid state acting in gross violations of international law is not and can never be an expression of freedom.
Are you calling to boycott any individual artist?
No. In high profile cultural events that involve the representation of nation states, delegations include not only the artists and curators but also official state representatives, some of whom are serving a government that is on trial for genocide. When artists take up the opportunity to be an official representative of their state, they take responsibility for embodying its principles and behaviours on the world stage. The call to exclude the Israeli pavilion highlights the role of art-washing and the normalisation of an apartheid state on trial at the ICJ. It is not directed at individuals.
Who is behind Art Against Genocide Alliance (ANGA)?
ANGA is an international group of artists, curators, writers, and cultural workers who have come together to call for the exclusion of Israel at the Venice Biennale. We invite you to share the ethical and political position expressed in the open letter to the Venice Biennale and to be part of our address. ANGA is a collective with no sole authors. This open letter is authored by all who sign it. We commit to the power of collective action and the principles of shared responsibility. The more of us there are, the more of us there are.
Was Russia really excluded from the previous biennale?
In 2022, the Venice Biennale and its curator issued numerous public statements in support of the Ukrainian people’s right to self-determination, freedom, and humanity, including a condemnation of "the unacceptable military aggression by Russia," an avowal to reject "any form of collaboration with those who have carried out or supported such a grievous act of aggression," and a refusal to "accept the presence at any of its events of official delegations, institutions or persons tied in any capacity to the Russian government." The decision to shutter the Russia Pavilion in 2022 was taken by the principled artist and curatorial teams of Russia who refused to stand as representatives for their country while it was engaged in illegal military aggression in Ukraine.
Should artists ever have to personally answer for their government's actions?
Artists are not directly responsible for their government’s actions. However, anyone who willingly accepts the honours of the state – in this case representing the state of Israel at the Venice Biennale – has taken on the role of an official representative of the state in a manner that exceeds basic citizenship. There are countless examples of artists who have refused state affiliation, precisely because they do not want to be answerable for, or to endorse the actions of their government.
What exactly are the signatories agreeing to do?
Signatories agree to support the exclusion of the Israeli pavilion at the Venice Biennale.Can galleries/institutions sign the statement?
Yes, galleries and institutions are welcome to sign the statement. And if you as an individual have signed the letter, we encourage you to share it with any galleries or institutions with whom you have a connection. Public art institutions and private galleries have been largely silent about the war on Gaza and Israel's plausibly genocidal actions. As vital parts of cultural infrastructure, it is important that they now also take a stand alongside the artists with whom they collaborate.
Can I contact ANGA?
Yes, email us at artnotgenocidealliance@proton.me
Other countries that participate in the Biennale also have oppressive policies, why not call for their exclusion too?
While other countries may have oppressive policies, Israel's participation in the Biennale calls for action due to its widely recognized status by international humanitarian organisations as an apartheid state, and for its ongoing trial at the International Court of Justice for committing plausible genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and for ignoring the interim measures issued by the Court. Considering historical precedents such as the exclusion of apartheid South Africa, and public condemnation of Russia's war against Ukraine, we should not accept a state of exception for Israel.
What can I do to help?
To help amplify our call to exclude Israel from the Biennale, there are several actions you can take:
1) Mobilize Your Relationships with Private and Public Spaces: Engage your gallerist and the public institutions with whom you work to raise awareness about the war on Gaza and to urge them to support the exclusion of Israel from the Biennale. Encourage art spaces to use their platforms to advocate for justice and equality.
2) Rally Students and Colleagues: Organize discussions and forums within your academic institution or workplace to educate students and colleagues about the importance of excluding Israel from the Biennale. Encourage them to join the cause and to voice their support.
3) Be Vocal: Use your voice on social media platforms, in op-eds, and in public forums to speak out against Israel's participation in the Biennale. Share information, resources, and personal perspectives to raise awareness and keep up the pressure on organizers to take action.
4) Keep Up the Pressure: Stay informed about developments related to the Biennale and ANGA's campaign to exclude Israel. Continue to engage with organizers, policymakers, and stakeholders to advocate for meaningful change. Persistence and sustained pressure are key to achieving our goals.
What support is available for cultural workers facing backlash for opposing genocide?
Speaking out against the war on Gaza and Israel's plausible genocide against Palestinians has been met with unprecedented backlash across all spheres of life. Many have faced silencing, censorship, intimidation, and dismissal for speaking out about basic human rights. In some cases, these repressive actions in fact contravene the law. If you feel you are in such a position and need advice or support, you may wish to fill in the triage form for ELSC, The European Legal Support Centre, the link is here. Local activist groups may provide useful and affirming communities of support, advice, and action: we encourage you to seek them out. If there is anything else specific that you think we can help you with, please let us know at artnotgenocidealliance@proton.me