#standwithdocumenta
To Claudia Roth (Minister of State for Culture and Media), Timon Gremmels (Hessian Minister for Science and Research, Art and Culture), Sven Schoeller (Mayor of the City of Kassel),
In its almost 70-year history, documenta has developed into the world’s most important exhibition of modern art. Every five years it creates space for an artistic perspective on the central questions of the global world. This was and is only possible through the complete renunciation of politics from influencing artistic issues and through the strict protection of artistic freedom. This finds its limit in the law that is bindingly established by the courts, not in the resolutions of a parliament, not in the opinions of politicians, not in reasons of state and not—as is now envisaged at the documenta—in forced voluntary commitments by the curators and artists.
This petition demands that artistic freedom, as enshrined in Article 5 of the Basic Law of Germany, continues to be preserved and is not restricted by political or other external influences.
The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, Article 5: Freedom of expression
(1) Every person shall have the right freely to express and disseminate his opinions in speech, writing and pictures, and to inform himself without hindrance from generally accessible sources. Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcasts and films shall be guaranteed. There shall be no censorship.
(2) These rights shall find their limits in the provisions of general laws, in provisions for the protection of young persons, and in the right to personal honour.
(3) Arts and sciences, research and teaching shall be free. The freedom of teaching shall not release any person from allegiance to the constitution.
We at the #standwithdocumenta initiative are committed to this with all our might!
Help us protect this important platform for modern art and maintain its independence. Please sign this petition now!