Equality

The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) has removed two artworks after an open letter from the Board of Deputies of British Jews raised “significant concerns” that they contained “antisemitic tropes and messaging”.

The letter, posted on X on 15 July, by Vice-President Andrew Gilbert, complained about three works, saying they had “significant concern to members of our community”,  displaying “highly charged and controversial messages” with “no attempt to present any context”.

RA told The Art Newspaper that after careful review, it had removed two works from its Young Artist's Show, adding that it recognised an exhibition for and by young people is "not an appropriate environment for volatile public discourse”. The statement apologised for any hurt or distress caused to artists or visitors.

One of the removed pieces was described in the open letter as including the words, “Jews say stop genocide on Palestinians: Not in Our Name”, while the second was said to portray a screaming woman and a swastika.

Gilbert also condemned a third work in the Summer Exhibition by an RA academician. The charcoal drawing, which includes a pilot and plane bearing the Star of David, remains on display and for sale for £17,000. 

A Tasmanian museum that received a court order forcing it to admit men to a women-only exhibition has relocated part of its collection to a women's toilet to sidestep the ruling.

The Ladies Lounge at Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art has been open since 2020 and houses some of the museum's most acclaimed works. Playing on the concept of Australian pubs, which were historically male-only spaces until 1970, the exhibit only offered women admittance. 

Kirsha Kaechele, the artist behind the lounge, is appealing against a ruling made in April to allow men entry to the exhibit following a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by Jason Lau, a New South Wales resident.

In an email shared by a spokesperson, Sara Gates-Matthews, Kaechele said that since the court order, she has done “a little redecorating”.

“I thought a few of the bathrooms in the museum could do with an update … Some cubism in the cubicles. So I’ve relocated the Picassos,” she said

“As our work continues on Section 26 of the Anti-Discrimination Act, ladies can take a break and enjoy some quality time in the Ladies' Room,” said Kaechele. 

A women-only exhibition at a Tasmanian museum that received a court order forcing it to admit men has announced it will install a toilet to sidestep the ruling.

The Ladies Lounge at Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art has been open since 2020 and houses some of the museum's most acclaimed works. Playing on the concept of Australian pubs, which were historically male-only spaces, the exhibit only offered women admittance. 

In April, a court ordered men to be allowed entry following a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by Jason Lau, a New South Wales resident.

Kirsha Kaechele, the artist behind the lounge, which has been closed since the ruling, said she plans to install a toilet and a church in the space, which she claims will allow it to continue operating as a women-only space under legal exemptions.

“There is a fabulous toilet coming to the Ladies Lounge and so, in that sense, the Ladies Lounge will operate as a ladies’ room,” said Kaechele.

There are plans to admit men to the exhibit on Sundays to learn ironing and laundry folding.

Despite losing the discrimination case, Kaechele said the outcome had been positive. "Thanks to the ruling,” she said, “We have no choice but to open ourselves to a whole range of enriching experiences - spiritual, educational... to discover fascinating new possibilities, and to become better."