‘A NATIONAL EMERGENCY’: AS TRUMP GOES AFTER THE ARTS, MANY MUSEUMS REMAIN SILENT

CNN
SEPTEMBER 28, 2025

“In late August, arts professionals rallied together to release a statement declaring that cultural institutions ‘must maintain autonomy’ from political pressures or ‘risk becoming instruments of propaganda.’ While it has thus far been signed by nearly 250 arts organizations and hundreds of individuals, major museums are conspicuous by their absence, with signatures predominately coming from arts centers, associations and regional councils.

‘It’s actually a national emergency,’ said Carin Kuoni, senior director of the Vera List Center for Art and Politics at The New School, which co-organized and published the statement. She noted her ‘regret’ that larger museums did not sign the statement, but pointed to its wide geographical reach. ‘In every state and in every city, you have a signer,’ she said, adding: ‘The fact that the entire country is behind this statement is huge and tremendous.'”

—Jacqui Palumbo