Letter to University of Manchester regarding Alistair Hudson

On 8 March, the BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom wrote to Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor University of Manchester, to express our concerns about the University’s treatment of Alistair Hudson, Director, Whitworth Art Gallery (WAG).

In the letter we call on the University to refrain from using the IHRA definition of antisemitism as a code for identifying anti-Semitic speech acts and respect the basic principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech and refrain from intervening in the shows exhibited at WAG. We also ask the university to ensure that Mr. Hudson’s job description provides him with the full authority (and protections from external intervention) to decide which shows and items are exhibited at WAG without fear of retribution.