Whitney Museum Board Faces Backlash Over Canceled Performance Tied to Protest

A demonstration at the Whitney Museum of American Art sought to shed light on issues involving its board members’ links with military and surveillance industries. On May 23, a group of around 50 protestors, composed mainly of alumni from the museum’s Independent Study Program (ISP), voiced concerns over censorship following the cancellation of a Palestinian mourning performance organized by the ISP. The piece, titled “No Aesthetic Outside My Freedom: Mourning, Militancy, and Performance,” was pulled owing to content objections related to previous remarks regarding Israel and its supporters.

The protest unfolded during the museum’s Free Fridays, featuring banners and pamphlets accusing the museum of supporting militarized entities. The names of specific board members, such as Nancy Carrington Crown of General Dynamics, Leonard Lauder of the World Jewish Congress, and Laurie Tisch, were highlighted in the distributed materials for alleged contributions or familial ties to these industries. Notably, no forceful measures were employed to disperse the protestors.

This event marks one of many incidents wherein the Whitney’s board faced scrutiny. Past protests have addressed similar grievances, including actions against former Vice Chairman Warren Kanders, whose company was linked to controversial military supplies. The Whitney Museum has yet to respond to these recent criticisms publicly. As these dynamics unfold, the complexities of art institutions’ ties with controversial industries continue to evoke public and artistic discourse.