The Neue Nationalgalerie invites you to a one-day symposium titled "Art and Activism in Times of Polarization: A Discussion Space on the Middle East Conflict" on Sunday, 24 November 2024 at Otto-Braun-Saal of the Staatsbibliothek. The specific reason for this critical examination of forms of activism in contemporary art is the current social and political situation. The symposium, featuring international guests, will be curated by political scientist Saba-Nur Cheema and historian and author Meron Mendel, and will address questions regarding the responsibility of political art in the current context of the Middle East conflict. In particular, the themes of anti-Semitism, racism, artistic freedom, and expressions of solidarity within the art world will be discussed.

Update 15.11.2024: Due to changes to the program, please find below the new schedule and the complete list of speakers of the symposium.

Statement 19.11.2024:

With the symposium ‘Art and Activism in Times of Polarization: Discussion room on the Middle East Conflict’, curated by Saba-Nur Cheema and Meron Mendel, we intend to provide much-needed space for a constructive, long overdue debate.

We are asking the urgent questions about the responsibility of political art in the current context of the Middle East conflict on the occasion of Nan Goldin's exhibition, as she stands for political engagement as an activist artist.

The symposium was organized independently of the artist. The museum informed the artist about its plans but did not ask for her permission. Neither the artist nor her work are the subject of discussion. The artist was invited to participate in the symposium but in the process declined to do so, making clear that she disagreed with the event and any association between it and her exhibition. In the current heated atmosphere, the process is challenging for everyone involved.

The important Nan Goldin exhibition, which is touring internationally, deserves a place in this city. We fully support the artist’s right to express her opinion, even if we don’t always agree with her. We are also convinced that a symposium like ours is long overdue and necessary at this time.

Update 23.11.2024: No admission without valid ticket with ID card. Tickets are non-transferable. In order to ensure that the symposium runs safely, there will be a bag check and coats, jackets and bags must be handed in. No bags are allowed in the hall. If possible, please refrain from bringing bottles and bags. The discussion room invites you to a direct exchange on site. To ensure that statements made by speakers and visitors are not taken out of context and published online, and to protect copyright and personal rights, it is not permitted to take your own photos, audio or video recordings during the event.

Key discussions will center on questions such as: “Can art foster solidarity and peace in the Middle East?” and “How can a constructive debate on artistic freedom take place in Germany?” The symposium will also examine how exclusionary practices within art and cultural institutions can be avoided. The international speakers include Leon Kahane, Sharon On, Ruth Patir, Remsi Al Khalisi, Julia Scher, and Osama Zatar.

Cheema and Mendel previously curated the widely discussed discourse program “Reflexes and Reflections: October 7, the Gaza War, and the German Debate” for the Berliner Festspiele in June 2024. Both are committed to Jewish-Muslim dialogue, combating antisemitism and Islamophobia, and examining the effects of the Middle East conflict on social cohesion in Germany.

This symposium offers a platform for diverse perspectives, with participants representing Jewish, Muslim, Israeli, Palestinian, and German voices.

PROGRAM

10.15 – 10.45 am
Opening remarks by Saba-Nur Cheema and Meron Mendel

10.45 am – 12.45 pm
Panel 1: Issue of Conscience: Israel and the Role of the Middle East Conflict in the Art World
Panelists: María Inés Plaza Lazo, Osama Zatar, Andreas Fanizadeh, Leon Kahane
Host: Elke Buhr

12.45 pm – 1.45 pm
Break

1.45 – 2.10 pm
Impulses: The Situation of Israeli, Jewish, Palestinian, and Muslim artists in Berlin
Speakers: Sharon On and Saba-Nur Cheema

2.10 – 4.10 pm
Panel 2: Cultural Boycott: Purpose, Effects, and Criticism
Panelists: Ruth Patir, Remsi Al Khalisi, Julia Scher
Host: Meron Mendel

Tickets

Day Ticket for the Symposium: 5 €

A maximum of 1 ticket per person can be purchased through the online shop.

There will be no box office on-site. Please note that capacity is limited and admission is only possible with a valid ticket. The symposium will be held bilingually in German and English. Simultaneous translation will be available via headphones.

Venue

Otto-Braun-Saal, Potsdamer Straße 33, 10785 Berlin
Opposite the Neue Nationalgalerie in the Staatsbibliothek.

Please note: The lecture hall is only partially barrier-free. If you have any questions, please contact us here.

Admission

Admission starts at 9.30 am. An awareness team will be on site to ensure that the symposium runs safely.

The symposium has been made possible by funding from the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Affairs.

For further information or questions, please feel free to write to us.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Plurality of voices, tolerance, diversity and mutual respect are the basis of a democratic society. With this in mind, the Neue Nationalgalerie opposes racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, ableism, ageism, sexism and hate speech against queer people, violence and all forms of hatred and discrimination with its programs and in its day-to-day activities.

The Neue Nationalgalerie is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all individuals – regardless of
their background, beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, or physical abilities – are treated equally and with respect. Through its exhibitions, educational offerings, and cultural initiatives, it fosters dialogue and engagement with societal issues in order to raise awareness of the dangers of intolerance and discrimination.

Guidelines for Free Expression and Respectful Exchange

With this symposium, we aim to provide experts and attendees with the opportunity to
engage deeply with the topics. You are warmly invited to ask questions and participate
actively in the discussion. We understand the discussion space as a “Brave Space,” where
different opinions can be expressed and disagreements can be respectfully tolerated. It
remains important, however, that the fundamental principles of respectful and peaceful
discourse are always upheld. To ensure a respectful and productive exchange for all
participants, we would like to remind everyone of the following principles for free
expression and respectful communication:
- Everyone is welcome to ask questions, express political opinions, share their identities,
and empathize with the suffering of innocent people – whether Israelis, Palestinians, or
others.
- Participation in the symposium requires a willingness to listen to others, engage with
potentially unsettling or uncomfortable perspectives, tolerate dissent, and ask for
clarification when something is unclear.
- To ensure freedom of expression for all, we must collectively and individually ensure that
all attendees, artists, speakers, discussants, and staff feel protected and safe. Each of us
has a responsibility to contribute to such a supportive environment.
- It is essential to be considerate of others present and to treat each person as an
individual with personal opinions, rather than primarily as representatives of a (national,
ethnic, religious, cultural, etc.) group. Individual attendees are not responsible for the
actions or omissions of others who may rightly or wrongly be associated with that group.
- Attendees must wait for the moderators to open the discussions to the audience before
posing questions or comments and are encouraged not to disrupt ongoing conversations.
To allow as many people as possible to express their opinions or ask questions, attendees
who wish to speak are asked to be concise and refrain from giving speeches. Open
questions that do not suggest or impose a position or answer on the respondents are
encouraged. Moderators’ decisions to end discussions due to time constraints or
violations of these guidelines must be respected.
- Opinions are often radicalized and conflicts stirred on social media. The anonymity of
communication can easily lead to forgetfulness about how verbal attacks can be hurtful
or dangerous for those affected. We therefore ask all attendees to express themselves
respectfully and responsibly, even in virtual spaces.
The discussion room invites in-person dialogue. To prevent statements by speakers and
attendees from being published online without their contexts and to protect copyright,
personal photo, audio, and video recordings of the symposium are not permitted.

The symposium “Art and Activism in Times of Polarization” aims to be a discussion room
where contradictory positions can coexist and where one can engage in debate. However,
crossing certain boundaries of respectful discourse may lead to exclusion from the event
and removal from the venue of the Otto-Braun-Saal, particularly due to:
- Threats, insults, shaming, verbal violence, or violent actions,
- Calls for or incitement to violence, legitimization or trivialization of acts of terror, injury,
and killing of civilians, as well as support for terrorist organizations,
- Anti-Semetic, racist, Islamophobic, or otherwise inhumane statements or symbols,
- Preventing others from speaking who adhere to these guidelines,
- As we aim to minimize nationalist references and categorizations during the
symposium, we kindly ask that no flags or banners be brought to the event.
We wish everyone an exciting and enriching exchange during this discussion room!