Our statement on the Israel and Palestine crisis
We welcome the open letter from members of Museum Detox and members of the wider museum sector regarding the situation in Israel and Palestine.
The Museums Association (MA) is appalled by the escalating violence and we send solidarity to colleagues across the region and everyone impacted in the UK and internationally. We unequivocally condemn the targeting of civilians, human rights abuses and war crimes, and extend our condolences to everyone who has lost family and friends to violence. We support efforts to uphold international law and secure peace and believe the only way to resolve the situation is through dialogue.
The MA is opposed to all forms of antisemitism and anti-Muslim bigotry. We know that many in the sector in the UK are impacted by the war and we will provide a safe, facilitated space at our upcoming conference which will be open to all delegates attending in person to discuss the implications for themselves and their communities and what guidance and resources they would find useful in addressing these issues in museums.
The MA Code of Ethics supports freedom of speech and freedom of expression and calls on museums and those who work in and with them to respect the right of all to express different views, unless illegal to do so or inconsistent with the purpose of the museum as an inclusive public space.
We also welcome all contributions to the current review of the Code of Ethics and have extended the consultation period.
Our Museums Change Lives campaign supports museums to inspire engagement, debate and reflection, including on contemporary issues, and we will support museums to work with their communities to discuss the events in Israel and Palestine in an ethical and meaningful way.
We have resources for museum professionals who want to explore anti-racism and decolonisation here:
And we also have wellbeing resources.
We will be reviewing and adding to these resources and running an anti-racism programme with museums in the near future.
Our trustees have also committed to a review of our support for the sector, including supporting colleagues in the area via our Members Support Fund’s humanitarian causes support, and will continue to support our members and the wider sector at this difficult time.