UHI Moray cancels Gaza art exhibition which showcases "slaughter of men, women and children" due to "partisan viewpoint"
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UHI Moray has cancelled a Gaza art exhibition which showcases the "slaughter of men, women and children" due to what the university has deemed a "partisan viewpoint".
The exhibit, named "Opening of a Fragile Pot", was due to open on Thursday, February 15.
However, organisers say they were given just one week's notice advising them that the show could no longer go ahead at the Elgin venue.
UHI Moray confirmed the decision to cancel the event in a statement, citing the promotional material for the exhibit.
The statement reads: "The college only recently became fully aware though that some of the promotional material for this event makes reference to what could be regarded as a partisan viewpoint.
"Our aim as a registered charity is to promote learning, teaching and research activities in an inclusive way that includes supporting academic freedoms, and artistic expression.
"The college hosting this event though could be seen as endorsing a particular viewpoint without any balance and as a result, the planned art exhibition “Opening of a Fragile Pot” has now been cancelled and will no longer take place at UHI Moray.
"The event booker has been advised to find an alternative venue."
Approximately 1200 people were killed following attacks by Hamas in Israel on October 7 last year.
Subsequent Israeli attacks have killed over 27,000 people in Gaza with the conflict ongoing.
The exhibit included work from artist Mike Marcus, coined "Israel's answer to Banksy", who grew up in Tel Aviv as well as work by Palestinian artist Feda'a Al-Hassanat. It was also set to feature an assortment of work from local artists.
Organisers were hoping to raise funds to help Ms Al-Hassanat who is currently trapped in Gaza.
Artist curator Georgina Porteous has accused the university of "bowing to cancel culture" and has requested a face-to-face meeting for a "full explanation" from UHI Moray.
Ms Porteous said: "After the initial finding of the International Court of Justice of ‘plausible’ genocide, it seems absurd to consider that it is ‘partisan’ to hold an exhibition drawing attention to what is happening there now.
“Rather than our exhibition being partisan, it seems that the UHI authorities themselves are acting in a very partial fashion ignoring the ICJ and insisting that there should be ‘balance’ when addressing the slaughter of men, women and children on an unprecedented scale.
“That UHI should disregard the reality also seems quite bizarre given Israel’s widespread indiscriminate bombing of civilians and Gaza’s civic infrastructure has deliberately destroyed universities and killed or injured many academics and intellectuals."
Ms Porteous added that she is now searching for a last minute alternative venue to host the exhibit.
