The Schelling Architecture Foundation has refused to give British artist James Bridle its theory prize, worth €10,000, due to them signing an open letter in October that called for a boycott of Israeli cultural institutions. The Athens-based artist was announced in June as the recipient of the biannual award. They were informed that it would be rescinded just three days before the awards ceremony, which is due to take place on Wednesday.
The foundation’s committee arrived at a unanimous decision not to award Bridle the prize, citing the German parliament’s controversial resolution on the ‘protection, preservation and strengthening’ of Jewish life in Germany. Introduced following the attack on Israel by Hamas on 7 October 2023, it has led to accusations of censorship within Germany’s cultural institutions.
The resolution states: ‘The Bundestag reaffirms its decision to ensure that no organisations or projects that spread antisemitism, question Israel’s right to exist, call for a boycott of Israel or actively support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement receive financial support’.
‘We respect the right to express political views, especially since the foundation does not accuse James Bridle of antisemitism,’ the foundation said in a statement. ‘But the foundation can neither support nor be associated with a call for cultural isolation of Israel.’
The foundation’s prizes, which have been awarded since 1992, are named after the late German architect Erich Schelling. Schelling was a member of the German Nazi party between 1937 and 1945, and a member of its SA paramilitary wing between 1933 and 1945. He was also involved in the construction of the offices of the publishing house of the party newspaper.
‘Although they are clearly not prepared to state it outright, the foundation’s decision is an accusation of antisemitism, which is abhorrent,’ Bridle told the Guardian. ‘It is particularly so given the organisation’s own history.’
