Lessons from the Documenta scandal must not be forgotten in debates about enshrining culture as a national objective in the Basic Law.
The German Bundestag is currently discussing once again enshrining culture as a national objective in the Basic Law. The positive determination – protecting culture in its diversity – is unquestionably desirable. Artistic freedom is a valuable asset protected by constitutional law. However, freedom of artistic expression must end where it is misused to spread hatred and incitement. In 2022 alone, 170 antisemitic incidents in cultural and educational institutions were reported (https://report-antisemitism.de/annuals/). In this way, art and culture indirectly contribute to legitimising antisemitic ideas in society. Our attached position paper contains an exemplary overview of antisemitic incidents in the arts and culture sector, a legal assessment of the situation with regard to weighing artistic freedom against the protection of individual personality rights, as well as a concrete catalogue of measures for politics, the judiciary and state cultural institutions. Our chairman, Elio Adler, explains:
“Art funded with taxpayers’ money should bring a society together in its diversity and not drive wedges of resentment and hatred into it. In the past we have unfortunately had to observe again and again how art funding turned into antisemitism funding. We are now presenting concrete recommendations for action to counter this.”
Our position paper Artistic Freedom without Antisemitism is available here for download.
