***  Haus der Kulturen der Welt: Forum1 Archive  ***
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   [Date]: Thu, 04 Nov 1999 08:50:28 +0100
   [From]: "Iris F. Mahnke" <mahnke@uni-hamburg.de>
     [To]: Cultural Exchange via Internet <forum1@hkw.kbx.de>
[Subject]: F.R.E.D. Town Meeting

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>X-EPUB-ID: 3 0 455b3615e375290fb431d9c8ce6b1812
>Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1999 15:54:11 -0500
>To: dianews <dianews@diacenter.org>
>From: dianews@diacenter.org (dianews)
>Subject: F.R.E.D. Town Meeting
>
>As members of the art-interested public, you may want to know
>about this upcoming event:
>
>F.R.E.D.
>Freedom Rules Every Democracy
>Announces
>
>A Town Meeting
>Friday evening, November 5, 1999
>6:30pm to 8:30pm
>The Great Hall
>The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
>7 East 7th Street at 3rd Avenue
>New York City
>
>Here's your chance!
>
>On Friday, learn about the many complex issues surrounding our
>Mayor's attempt to censor the Brooklyn Museum of Art's
>"Sensation" exhibition, and voice your opinions.  This episode
>has raised critical issues -- from the concern of "offensive"
>content presented in publicly funded institutions, and the
>largely un-discussed blatant attacks on cultural diversity and
>race, to concerns about museum fundraising ethics.
>
>Let's not kid ourselves, this public relations nightmare for
>the arts is not just about the Brooklyn Museum -- the
>implications clearly extend to all cultural institutions,
>libraries, parks, public schools and universities. Just because
>the Mayor lost this first round of lawsuits, the issue isn't
>over. His legal team is likely to appeal and the Mayor will
>surely launch a more serious threat on our cultural
>institutions through budget cuts this January.  And let's not
>forget, our Mayor has opened the floodgates for politicians all
>over this country to launch a similar attack on public
>institutions throughout the country. 
>
>Speakers include (list in formation):
>Mary D. Dorman, Attorney at Law
>Archibald L. Gillies, President, The Andy Warhol Foundation for
>the Visual Arts
>Bobbie Handman, Executive Director and Sr. VP, People for the
>American Way
>Martha Rosler, Artist
>Brian Wallis, Dir. of Exhibitions/Chief Curator, International
>Center of Photography
>AND OTHERS!
>
>Moderated discussion will be followed by open microphone!
>
>Confronted by increasing political interference with artists
>and audiences, a group of individuals from the arts community
>gathered together in October 1999 to form F.R.E.D. (Freedom
>Rules Every Democracy). Our focus transcends the confines of a
>single incident to address the broader implications of recent
>events which threaten the First Amendment right to free
>expression -- and to counter affronts to the First Amendment
>with creative action. 
>
>
>
>
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Iris F. Mahnke
Pfarrstr. 107
D - 10317 Berlin