Climate Protests in Museums: When Art Becomes a Battlefield
In recent years, art has become both a stage and a hostage for climate protests — and that is, at the same time, a sign of hope and a troubling paradox.
In an earlier article, we mentioned that any scandal around art draws attention to it. But attention alone isn’t always a good thing. Every scandal needs a skilled PR manager to turn the noise into something meaningful.
Since 2010, at least fifty climate protests in museums have taken place around the world. Most likely, the real number is much higher — many actions happen quietly, without making headlines.
In 2022 alone, researchers at the University of Washington recorded 38 such incidents, led by sixteen different groups — all trying to shake the world awake.
You have to be brave to organise a climate protest — but maybe a little naive to try to explain why attacking art is the right way to do it.
As one explanation goes:
…such protests – even attacks that leave the actual artwork unscathed – remain relevant ‘because everybody loves art and you can talk about the climate in the context of simulated damage’
Well…
With declining museum attendance, lower art sales, and the growing love for AI-generated images that ignore real artists, climate activists may not fully understand what art actually is.
Why don’t museums and galleries try to make peace with climate activists and agree on peaceful joint actions — ones that protect both the environment and the artworks?
Maybe because many museums are funded by private donors, some of whom are connected to companies accused of ignoring or downplaying their responsibility for climate change.
And this is where art activism becomes complicated.
Museums may support climate-related exhibitions while taking money from corporations connected to the same problems activists are protesting against.
So in the end, this is yet another reason to break down the old relationship between art, artists, museums, curators, businesses, collectors and the public.
Another reason to question museum funding.
Another reason to rethink the relationship between climate change and art.
Perhaps it’s time to let that old structure fall away.
Perhaps art deserves to be free again.
And perhaps, just perhaps, the moment to reimagine everything has already arrived.
...your worst artist and best friend,
In an earlier article, we mentioned that any scandal around art draws attention to it. But attention alone isn’t always a good thing. Every scandal needs a skilled PR manager to turn the noise into something meaningful.
Since 2010, at least fifty climate protests in museums have taken place around the world. Most likely, the real number is much higher — many actions happen quietly, without making headlines.
In 2022 alone, researchers at the University of Washington recorded 38 such incidents, led by sixteen different groups — all trying to shake the world awake.
You have to be brave to organise a climate protest — but maybe a little naive to try to explain why attacking art is the right way to do it.
As one explanation goes:
…such protests – even attacks that leave the actual artwork unscathed – remain relevant ‘because everybody loves art and you can talk about the climate in the context of simulated damage’
Well…
With declining museum attendance, lower art sales, and the growing love for AI-generated images that ignore real artists, climate activists may not fully understand what art actually is.
Why don’t museums and galleries try to make peace with climate activists and agree on peaceful joint actions — ones that protect both the environment and the artworks?
Maybe because many museums are funded by private donors, some of whom are connected to companies accused of ignoring or downplaying their responsibility for climate change.
And this is where art activism becomes complicated.
Museums may support climate-related exhibitions while taking money from corporations connected to the same problems activists are protesting against.
So in the end, this is yet another reason to break down the old relationship between art, artists, museums, curators, businesses, collectors and the public.
Another reason to question museum funding.
Another reason to rethink the relationship between climate change and art.
Perhaps it’s time to let that old structure fall away.
Perhaps art deserves to be free again.
And perhaps, just perhaps, the moment to reimagine everything has already arrived.
...your worst artist and best friend,
hEhe and my contemporary art criticism
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All text, photo, and video materials belong to their owners and are for demonstration purposes only. Please do not use them in commercial projects.
