Gareth Harris – författare

Censored Art Today is an accessible, informed analysis of the debates raging around censorship of art andso-called ‘cancel culture’, focusing on who the censors are and why they areclamping down on forms of artistic expression worldwide. Art censorship is acenturies-old issue which appears to be on the rise in the 21st century - why is this the case?Gareth Harris expertly analyses the different contexts in which artists, museums and curators face restrictions today, investigating political censorship in China, Cuba and the Middle East; the suppression of LGBTQ+ artists in 'illiberal democracies'; the algorithms policing art online; Western museums and 'cancel culture'; and the narratives around 'problematic' monuments. His fascinating study, which draws on extensive research and interviews, reveals why censorship has become the hottest oftopics, impacting substantially on artists.

Museums are under fire currently from all quarters on account of a wide range of ethical issues, from their association with morally dubious regimes to the questionable provenance of objects in their collections and the perceived lack of inclusivity of their exhibitions. This book examines why the art museum has become a focus for society’s ethical concerns in the 21st century, whether it is ever possible for a museum to be a neutral space, and what a policy framework for a more ethical museum could look like.Gareth Harris's compelling and balanced analysis draws on interviews with museum leaders and a wide range of visual-arts professionals in the UK, Europe and the US.  It considers examples of best practice in a sector which is struggling to balance increased ethical demands with an often perilous financial situation in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.