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Cancelling Samia Halaby

Palestinian artist, activist, and educator Samia Halaby's first retrospective exhibition in the U.S. is cancelled by Indiana University, citing 'safety and security,'' as well as Halaby's Instagram posts advocating for Palestinian liberation.

Formal statements

• As free speech controversies mount, Indiana University faculty pitch vote of no confidence in university leadership (Apr 10, 2024). IU’s postponement of an event featuring Hamas critic Mosab Hassan Yousef is the latest in a long line of recent free speech issues at the university.  FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights & Freedom)
• AAUP Spring 2024 Report (Mar 01, 2024). Report by the Indiana University Bloomington Chapter of the AAUP regarding the suspension of Abdulkader Sinno, Relationships with Crane, and the cancellation of Samia Halaby's exhibit AAUP
• AAUP Spring 2024 Report (Mar 01, 2024). American Association of University Professors Bloomington Chapter Spring 2024 report, discussing the sanctioning of Associate Professor Abdulkader Sinno, the exapanded IU parternship with Crane, and the Halaby exhibit cancelation.  AAUP Bloomington Chapter
• Eskenazi School Faculty and Staff Statement (Feb 07, 2024). Letter of opposition to the university administration's cancellation of Samia Halaby's exhibit
• Echoes of McCarthy: Criticizing Israel and Charges of Antisemitism (Jan 25, 2024). Analyzing similarities between McCarthyism policys of the 1950s to Samia Halaby's cancellation and increasing rhetoric of antisemitism. National Coalition Against Censorship
• Letter from FIRE to Whitten (Jan 19, 2024). Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's letter to President Whitten expressing concern for Samia Halaby's exhibit cancelation.  FIRE
• Indiana University: University Cancels Art Exhibit Featuring Palestinian Artist (Jan 19, 2024). FIRE's case record for their letter to IU urging for a rescheduling of the event.  FIRE
• Letter to Indiana University regarding academic freedom violations against Professor Abdelkader Sinno and artist Samia Halaby (Jan 16, 2024). Middle East Studies Association's open letter to IU administration regarding Samia Halaby's cancellation and Professor Sinno Abdelkader's suspension.
• Pen America Statement  (Jan 12, 2024). Cancellation of Samia Halaby Exhibition at Indiana Unviersity Represents 'An Alarming Affront to Free Expression', says Pen America Pen America
• NCAC Urges Indiana University to Reschedule Exhibition of Abstract Artist Samia Halaby (Jan 11, 2024). NCAC issued a letter of concern to the leadership of Indiana University, imploring the university to reverse its December 2023 decision to cancel the upcoming retrospective exhibition of renowned Palestinian-American abstract painter, Samia Halaby. National Coalition Against Censorship
• President Whitten: Reinstate Samia Halaby Retrospective NOW! (Jan 01, 2024). Petition to reinstate Samia Halaby's cancelled retrospective. ActionNetwork

Other Media

• Samia Halaby Uncanceled  (Feb 17, 2024). A flyer to the 'Samia Halaby Uncanceled' event held at the Buskirk-Chumley. 
• Whitten Reinstate Samia Halaby Retrospective Toolkit (Jan 01, 2024). Toolkit and materials on reinstating Samia Halaby's exhibtion.
• Artist Talk: Samia Halaby (Feb 11, 2021). Renowned abstract painter and IU alumna Samia Halaby discusses the development of her practice during her time in Bloomington, as well as her computer art and its relationship to her painting.  Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University 

Media Coverage

• When a threat becomes an excuse to muzzle (Apr 06, 2024). A sweeping punishment, a canceled art show, and the silencing of pro-Palestinian voices Chronicle of Higher Education
• Academic Freedom Battles Roil Indiana University (Feb 26, 2024). The cancellation of an art exhibit and other recent moves by university leaders have turned the campus into a free speech battleground. Inside Higher Education
• Uncanceled' event at Buskirk-Chumley showcases Samia Halaby's art and life (Feb 22, 2024). An article about the Buskirk-Chumley's 'Uncanceled' event and the Green Feather Movement's gaining momentum.  The Herald-Times
• Indiana University Is Where Academic Freedom Goes to Die (Feb 22, 2024). Hypocritical admins tout free speech even as they censor a Palestinian artist. The Chronicle of Higher Education
• Art show highlights Palestinian painter Samia Halaby’s work, rebukes IU’s cancellation (Feb 20, 2024). IDS article recounting the Buskirk-Chumley's 'Uncanceled' event.  IDS
• Indiana University abruptly canceled a Palestinian artist's exhibit. It's now sold out (Feb 17, 2024). Indiana University canceled a planned exhibit of the artwork of Palestinian-American artist Samia Halaby. Now a one-day exhibit by new organizers is sold out. NPR
• When a Threat Becomes an Excuse to Muzzle (Feb 06, 2024). A sweeping punishmnet, a canceled art show, and the silencing of pro-Palestinian voices.  The Chronicle of Higher Education
• Prevarication on Pro-Palestinian Voices at Indiana University  (Jan 29, 2024). If 'security' is the reason that pro-Palestinian voices are being silence on campus, the question must be asked: whose security? by IU professor Jeffrey C. Isaac Common Dreams
• Protesters rally after US university cancels Palestinian artist's exhibit (Jan 28, 2024). Protesters rallied to demand Indiana University reinstate a renowned Palestinian artist's exhibit which was cancelled by the institution earlier this month. Middle East Monitor
• ‘Art not bombs’: Protestors demonstrate against IU cancelling Palestinian artist exhibit (Jan 26, 2024). Detailing a silent demonstration in protest of IU's cancellation of Samia Halaby's exhibition.  IDS
• International museum watch group decries “censorship” at IU in Samia Halaby show cancellation (Jan 20, 2024). Report on The International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art Museum Watch condemnation for the cancellation of several exhibits associated with pro-Palestinian views, including Samia Halaby’s exhibition at IU’s Eskenazi Museum of Art. IDS
• Palestinian Artist Samia Halaby Slams Indiana U. for Canceling Exhibit over Her Support for Gaza (Jan 18, 2024). Youtube video news report from Democracy Now! detailing Halaby's response to the cancellation of her event. Democracy Now!
• We put up a good fight': Palestinian artist Samia Halaby responds to US show cancellation (Jan 17, 2024). In an exclusive interview with The National, abstract painter says she detects 'sentiment shift' among younger Americans following occupied country's struggle The National [UAE]
• An open letter to the Eskenazi Museum of Art (Jan 17, 2024). Potential patrons of the Eskenazi Museum at Indiana University are deeply disturbed by the decision of the museum and the university to cancel the long-scheduled exhibition by Samia Halaby. IDS
• Indiana University Has Canceled a Retrospective on Palestinian Artist Samia Halaby (Jan 11, 2024). Indiana University’s Eskenazi Museum of Art has cancelled an upcoming show of work by Palestinian artist Samia Halaby ArtNet
• IU Eskenazi art museum cancels Palestinian artist's exhibition (Jan 11, 2024). Article detailing Halaby's cancellation and the subsequent petition to reinstate the exhibition.  Indiana Public Media 
• Indiana University Cancels Major Exhibition of Palestinian Artist (Jan 11, 2024). Samia Halaby, an 87-year-old artist, has been outspoken in her support of Palestinians during the Israel-Gaza war. The New York Times
• University Cancels Palestinian Artist’s Retrospective (Jan 11, 2024). A retrospective exhibition at the Indiana University Bloomington (IU) of 87-year-old Palestinian artist and alumna Samia Halaby was abruptly canceled on December 20 ahead of its February 10 opening. The university informed the artist the show had been nixed in a two-sentence email citing unspecified “safety concerns.” ArtAsiaPacific
• Indiana University Cancels Palestinian Artist Samia Halaby’s Exhibition (Jan 10, 2024). Supporters are calling on the school to reinstate what would have been 87-year-old artist’s first retrospective in the US. Hyperallergic
• A new McCarthyism': Students, faculty worries about pro-Palestine censorship at IU (2024--). The Herald-Times
• Completely Tarnished: Fallout of Halaby's Cancellation  (2024--). The Herald-Times

Open letters and testimonials

• LETTER: An open letter from IU Academics for Justice in Palestine (Feb 08, 2024). Open letter submitted to the Indiana Daily Student by a member (anonymous) of the Faculty for Justice in Palestine Network Indiana Daily Student
• Letter to Indiana University regarding academic freedom violations against Professor Abdelkader Sinno and artist Samia Halaby (Jan 16, 2024). Letter from the Middle East Studies Association Committee on Academic Freedom, re: the suspension of Abdulkader Sinno and Samia Halaby's exhibit cancellation Middle East Studies Association
• Letter from Samia Halaby to President Whitten (Jan 08, 2024). Samia Halaby's letter to President Whitten requesting a response to previous correspondance and an explanation of the exhibit's cancelation. 
• Letter from Samia Halaby to President Whitten (Dec 27, 2023). Samia Halaby's letter to President Whitten asking that the abrupt cancellation of her exhibit be reconsidered. 
• Letter from David Brenneman to Samia Halaby Cancelling Exhibition (Dec 20, 2023). Dear Samia Halaby, As discussed, I write to formally notify you that the Eskenazi Museum of Art will not host its planned exhibition of your work, initially scheduled to begin February 10, 2024. The Museum will honor its obligation to return works of art safely to lenders or to forward them on to the Broad Museum of Art at Michigan State University. Sincerely, David A. Brenneman