The American artist, curator and author Fareed Armaly have rejected the Kollwitz Prize from 2025 from the Academy of the Arts (ADK) in Berlin, referring to the “Reactionary shift in official cultural policy” aimed at lawyers for Palestinian rights in Germany in the in recent years.
In one rackThe Academy noted that the award cycle was suspended this year in the light of the rejection of the price of Armaly and linked to the letter from Armaly to ADK and the response from Adk President Manos Tsangaris.
Although he initially thanked the organization and her jury members for recognizing his practice, recognized Armaly in his letter that his selection for the prize came to “a historical precarious moment, characterized by a disturbing trend of censorship in Germany.”
“In such a context of intimidation, liberal cultural institutions seem to adopt self -compliance and self -censorship,” Armaly continued. “All this, consciously or unconsciously, is structurally carrying out the constant dehumanization of Palestinians by hiding and abstracting their freedom of choice and voice.”
Armaly, who is from Lebanese-Palestinian heritage, has lived and worked between Germany and the United States. He produces and works together on complex, experience projects that bring dimension in his research in history and geography, architecture and design, and archeology and language through the lens of Palestine and beyond.
As examples of clamping advocacy for Palestine in the German art and culture sector, Armaly mentioned the standardization of withdrawn speaking and exhibition opportunities, as well as prizes for artists and scholars “with different solidarities and ties” Despite open letters and vocal opposition against these forms of censorship.
The artist concluded that he is unable to adapt to ‘every institution operating under the current cultural policy framework of the German government’, and therefore had to refuse the prize to ‘retain his voice as an artist’.
Adk President Tsangaris accepted the decision of Armaly “with respect and deep regret” in a letter, but replied that although the Academy accepts public financing through taxpayer money, the “is responsible for anyone outside of her membership, the least of everything to the federal government. “
Tsangaris underlined that Adk actively resisted[s] All forms of censorship and self -censorship, including cancellation of culture, calls for boycots and political influence, ”and that Armaly would have had the opportunity to freely discuss his views during the Awardceremony and via the related exhibition Contingent with the prize.
Käthe Kollwitz was known for its moving images of war, hunger and struggle of the working class and her social advocacy. Inaugurating in 1960, her namesake prize is awarded annually via a jury panel to an individual artist to recognize a single piece or judgmental work. In addition to a cash price of € 12,000 (~ $ 12,400), the ADK also organizes an exhibition and publishes a parallel catalog for the award -winning artist.
Photographer Nan Goldin, conceptual artist Adrian Piper and filmmaker Hito Steyerl are among the price recipients of the last decade.
