Support Koyo Kouoh and the Raw Material Company in Dakar

The Issue

CIMAM wishes to express its support to Koyo Kouoh, Artistic director of Raw Material Company and the entire team of this contemporary art center in Dakar.

After the opening of the exhibition “Precarious Imaging: Visibility and Media Surrounding African Queerness” that is part of the independent program of Dak’art 2014, the 11th Biennial of Contemporary African Art (9 May – 8 June) and co-organized by Koyo Kouoh and the independent curator Ato Malinda, the contemporary art center was vandalized on May 13. On May 31st Raw Material Company was forced to interrupt the exhibition due to continuous pressure and acts of violence from the religious community and particularly from the Islamic NGO Jamra.

We are against such pressures on any cultural institution dedicated to promoting the principles of artistic expression and freedom. And we consider that it is the duty of the authority to defend any public or private initiative endeavored in promoting these principles.

The programming of art institutions is done for the construction of a civil and public space of debate and of a critical discussion around the experiences we share. Art institutions are for freedom, respect and exchange; never for repression, violence nor pressure.

CIMAM wishes to encourage debate and civilized exchange of ideas and wants to express the deep concern for the turn of the actions against the freedom of artistic expressions and of the values of dialogue defended by the Raw Material Company.

CIMAM
International Committee of ICOM for Museums and Collections of Modern Art

 

avatar of the starter
CIMAM International Committee of ICOM for Museums and Collections of Modern ArtPetition StarterCIMAM, is an international forum of professional character for the discussion of theoretical, ethical and practical issues concerning the collection and exhibition of modern and contemporary art. CIMAM is essentially composed of the directors and curators of modern and contemporary art museums and collections but also integrates independent professionals. CIMAM's major objective is to develop cooperation and knowledge by identifying and responding to the needs and issues faced by modern and contemporary art institutions and the profession. CIMAM has generated reference professional codes such as the General Principles on Conditions of Deaccession from Modern and Contemporary Museum Collections, adopted in November 2009, and has promoted the Contemporary Art Museums Watch advocacy program concentrating on the different critical situations of contemporary art museums and collections in regions affected by world economical and political crises.
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This petition had 849 supporters

The Issue

CIMAM wishes to express its support to Koyo Kouoh, Artistic director of Raw Material Company and the entire team of this contemporary art center in Dakar.

After the opening of the exhibition “Precarious Imaging: Visibility and Media Surrounding African Queerness” that is part of the independent program of Dak’art 2014, the 11th Biennial of Contemporary African Art (9 May – 8 June) and co-organized by Koyo Kouoh and the independent curator Ato Malinda, the contemporary art center was vandalized on May 13. On May 31st Raw Material Company was forced to interrupt the exhibition due to continuous pressure and acts of violence from the religious community and particularly from the Islamic NGO Jamra.

We are against such pressures on any cultural institution dedicated to promoting the principles of artistic expression and freedom. And we consider that it is the duty of the authority to defend any public or private initiative endeavored in promoting these principles.

The programming of art institutions is done for the construction of a civil and public space of debate and of a critical discussion around the experiences we share. Art institutions are for freedom, respect and exchange; never for repression, violence nor pressure.

CIMAM wishes to encourage debate and civilized exchange of ideas and wants to express the deep concern for the turn of the actions against the freedom of artistic expressions and of the values of dialogue defended by the Raw Material Company.

CIMAM
International Committee of ICOM for Museums and Collections of Modern Art

 

avatar of the starter
CIMAM International Committee of ICOM for Museums and Collections of Modern ArtPetition StarterCIMAM, is an international forum of professional character for the discussion of theoretical, ethical and practical issues concerning the collection and exhibition of modern and contemporary art. CIMAM is essentially composed of the directors and curators of modern and contemporary art museums and collections but also integrates independent professionals. CIMAM's major objective is to develop cooperation and knowledge by identifying and responding to the needs and issues faced by modern and contemporary art institutions and the profession. CIMAM has generated reference professional codes such as the General Principles on Conditions of Deaccession from Modern and Contemporary Museum Collections, adopted in November 2009, and has promoted the Contemporary Art Museums Watch advocacy program concentrating on the different critical situations of contemporary art museums and collections in regions affected by world economical and political crises.
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Dr. Abdoul Aziz MBAYE Minister of Culture of Senegal
Dr. Abdoul Aziz MBAYE Minister of Culture of Senegal

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Petition created on June 10, 2014