Laurie Anderson Withdraws from German University Professorship After Pro-Palestine Letter Resurfaces

Artist and musician Laurie Anderson has withdrawn from a visiting professorship at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany, following an investigation by the institution into her 2021 signing of anopen letterin support of Palestine. Anderson was to have succeeded Marina Abramovic, who is currently occupying the role, as the university’s Pina Bausch Professor. The post is named for a German dancer and choreographer known for her important role inTanztheater, a style of neo-expressionist dance. Anderson’s decision to pull out of the professorship was made in collaboration with university officials, who said they were unaware of the letter when they offered her the job earlier this month.RelatedHEAD OF SAUDI ARABIA’S ALULA CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF MONEY LAUNDERINGHISTORIC CENTRE POMPIDOU STRIKE ENDS WITH AGREEMENT Signed by thousands, the 2021 missive in question followed on the heels of the Israel-Palestine conflict of May 6–21 that year, which was sparked byexpectationsthat the Supreme Court of Israel would rule to evict several Palestinian families from the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem. “To frame this as a war between two equal sides is false and misleading,” read the letter. “Israel is the colonizing power. Palestine is colonized.

This is not a conflict: this is apartheid.” University officials issued apress releasein which they noted that the decision regarding Anderson’s relinquishing the role had been made amid “the context of the current discourse about freedom of art and freedom of expression” and confirmed that “the university resolutely opposes all forms of anti-Semitism, misanthropy, and racism.” “For me, the question is not whether my political views have changed. The real question is, why is this question even being asked?” Anderson said in the release. “Against this background, I am withdrawing from the project. My colleagues at the University and the Pina Bausch Foundation have discussed this with me at great length and we have jointly decided this is the best way forward.”.