Whitney Museum Halts Operations of the Independent Study Program

The Whitney Museum’s suspension of its Independent Study Program (ISP) for the 2025–26 year, following a controversy over a canceled performance on Palestinian mourning, has ignited significant backlash. This decision has prompted over 300 ISP alumni and community members to express their support for the current cohort, emphasizing the museum’s deviation from its stated mission of dissent and activism.

The controversy began when the museum canceled a performance titled “No Aesthetic Outside My Freedom: Mourning, Militancy, and Performance,” part of an ISP exhibition, after an introduction by artist Fargo Tbakhi directed pro-Israel audience members to leave. This prompted the curatorial, studio, and critical studies cohorts to voice their objections through modified works and public statements. Associate Director Sara Nadal-Melsió, whose position will not be maintained, also expressed disagreement with the museum’s decision.

Subsequent protests have highlighted broader concerns about censorship and political intimidation in cultural spaces. The museum’s spokesperson cited a need to reflect and find new leadership as reasons for the program’s suspension. Established in 1968, the ISP has been a notable incubator for prominent artists and curators. The situation underscores ongoing debates about free expression, institutional values, and the influence of political contexts on art and academic programs.