collective refusal

FREE ROTTERDAM AHOY [🟢FULL YT LINK IN BIO🟢] What do visitors of @art_rotterdam think about the notorious arms trade venue @rotterdam.ahoy Follow the @alshaheenbabyfalcon and camera star @nellydansen on the quest after Collective Refusal public demands! #prospects2026 #prospects #artrotterdam ~This year the PROSPECTS artists of Collective Refusal continue to raise questions while behind the scene negotiations goes on; What can be done about the cultural sector rehabilitating the image of a venue that profits from militarisation in midst of an ongoing genocide. The collective addresses artwashing as a whole and the nonconsensual involvement of artists, curators and audiences in the process, inviting you to support by signing the letter of demands which will be addressed later this month with affiliated bodies! [🟢find the letter via collectiverefusal.nl🟢]

WHERE ARE THE ARMS!?!? [🟢FULL YT LINK IN BIO🟢] What do visitors of @art_rotterdam think about the notorious arms trade venue @rotterdam.ahoy Follow the @alshaheenbabyfalcon and camera star @nellydansen on the quest after Collective Refusal public demands! #prospects2026 #prospects #artrotterdam ~This year the PROSPECTS artists of Collective Refusal continue to raise questions while behind the scene negotiations goes on; What can be done about the cultural sector rehabilitating the image of a venue that profits from militarisation in midst of an ongoing genocide. The collective addresses artwashing as a whole and the nonconsensual involvement of artists, curators and audiences in the process, inviting you to support by signing the letter of demands which will be addressed later this month with affiliated bodies! [🟢find the letter via collectiverefusal.nl🟢]

ART! ARMS! ART! ARMS! What will visitors of @art_rotterdam choose at the notorious arms trade venue @rotterdam.ahoy Follow the @alshaheenbabyfalcon and camera star @nellydansen on the quest following collective refusal public talk [🟢full YT Link in bio🟢] #prospects2026 #prospects #artrotterdam ~This year the PROSPECTS artists of Collective Refusal continue to raise questions while behind the scene negotiations goes on; What can be done about the cultural sector rehabilitating the image of a venue that profits from militarisation in midst of an ongoing genocide. The collective addresses artwashing as a whole and the nonconsensual involvement of artists, curators and audiences in the process, inviting you to support by signing the letter of demands which will be addressed later this month with affiliated bodies! [🟢find the letter via collectiverefusal.nl🟢]

Collective Refusal is constituted by artists from PROSPECTS 25/26, an exhibition organized by the Mondriaan Fonds @mondriaanfonds and allies resisting the artwashing of militarisation and who advocate for the non-neutraility of cultural spaces and its infrastructures. Once again this year, in March, Prospects took place at Ahoy, Rotterdam. Last November, the same venue hosted the NEDS arms fair. We (the artists), our friends and family, as well as visitors, feel uncomfortable having our art exhibited in the same halls where weapons are showcased and dealt with. We reached out to the Mondriaan Fund, and other public institutions participating in Art Rotterdam @art_rotterdam , seeking a public conversation about the context and space where our art is shown. We invited the Mondriaan Fonds to join us on Art Rotterdam’s Reflection Talks stage for a public discussion. They refused the invitation. A behind-the-scenes discussion was proposed but we strongly believe this conversation had to be held during Art Rotterdam, inside AHOY, publicly. Prospects and Art Rotterdam are artwashing AHOY: Exhibiting art in a venue that profits from war distracting from the sale of weapons of mass destruction. We resist the normalisation of militarisation in public spaces. If no one speaks out, soon it will be normal to present missiles in autumn and art in spring. By exhibiting the work of emerging artists at Ahoy, the Mondriaan Fonds does not only transfer cultural public funding to a venue that profits form war, but also ends up making the artists and their work to legitimise such a venue, distracting the public attention from the sale of weapons and mass-surveillance systems that take place at the venue year after year. We resist the normalisation of militarisation within the cultural sector and in public spaces. We say no to present missiles in autumn and art in spring. Continued in the comments...

STATEMENT AFTER TAKE-OVER PANEL DURING ART ROTTERDAM AND PROSPECTS 2026: Collective Refusal is constituted by artists from PROSPECTS 25/26 by the Mondriaan Fonds and allies resisting the artwashing of militarisation and who advocate for the non-neutraility of cultural spaces and its infrastructures. This year, Prospects took place in Ahoy, Rotterdam. Last November, the same venue hosted the NEDS arms fair. We, our families, friends and visitors feel uncomfortable exhibiting art where weapons are dealt and sold. We sought a public conversation with the Mondriaan Fund. They refused, proposing a behind‑the‑scenes talk instead. We insist: this conversation must be public. Exhibiting here is artwashing – decorating a venue that profits from war. We resist normalising militarisation. If no one speaks out, soon it will be normal to have missiles shown in autumn and art in spring. We never agreed to show in an arms fair venue. That this conversation has been made so difficult should alarm everyone. Last year, artists faced a dilemma alone: withdraw and lose an opportunity, or participate and act normal. We discovered our discomfort was shared. We gave an alternative speech, placed stickers, and built support. So: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Fear runs deep in the art scene. Speaking out feels risky – fear of losing invitations, opportunities. Whether retaliation is real or not, the fear itself is unhealthy. Even public institutions are afraid. This needs to change. We expect the Mondriaan Fund to consider our demands. We expect Prospects to move to a better venue. Our demands: 1. Public accountability – no neutrality; silence is complicity. 2. Withdraw Prospects from Ahoy unless it severs all ties to the arms industry. 3. Relocate Art Rotterdam to a venue that does not profit from war. 4. No public funds from Mondriaan to venues tied to the arms trade. Join us. Sign the letter. Reach us by email/Instagram. Help pressure institutions to change. The full room proves many care. Let’s not do this alone. --- shout out to our allies @theofficeofalinalupu @platform_bk @veto.oorlog @cultural.workers.unite and for the doc support @silvia__arenas.jpg @matteomontaldo

Sign the letter on the @collectiverefusal page and join the public conversation today at @rotterdam.ahoy starting at 13:30. These are the demands put forth to the @mondriaanfonds and through them to the fair itself. Culture should not support militarization. Every small step counts!

Needless to say, if you’re against NEDS arms fairs, sign the support letter on the page of @collectiverefusal .

@collectiverefusal campaign for pushing @mondriaanfonds to no longer work with Ahoy, or rather pushing the NEDS arms fair out, or whichever one comes first in the horizon of possibilities. All it takes is a little bit of imagination and collective mobilizing. Artists against normalising militarization. Check out the @collectiverefusal page, sign the support pledge on their website, encourage a public conversation, and pass it on!

Art Rotterdam @art_rotterdam and Prospects hosted by @mondriaanfonds are taking place in Ahoy @rotterdam.ahoy this year again. Collective Refusal @collectiverefusal is here with a new campaign. This weekend, this space presents art. Just months ago, this very venue hosted one of Europe’s largest arms fairs. Each year, Ahoy Rotterdam houses NEDS, where companies involved in the global weapons trade exhibit, network and secure deals, supplying arms used in active conflicts worldwide. We @collectiverefusal have invited Mondriaan Fund @mondriaanfonds for a public conversation. Come and join us. 📍 Saturday 28 March, 13:30 at Reflections Talks stage, Art Rotterdam @art_rotterdam

For the organizers of the panel event on the 13th big thanks and a huge shoutout to @pakhuisdezwijger @jacobinnl @platform_bk and to the fellow panelists @metajouke @hilda_moucharrafieh @anika.schwarzlose @_sarjon_ @collectiverefusal @cultureleboycotisrael.nu @stopwapenhandel @theofficeofalinalupu To the grassroots organizations - our friends and Kasamas who worked tirelessly behind the mobilization @veto.oorlog @cultural.workers.unite To the performers at the event @langeademcollectief and Rhythms of Resistance. And for the beautiful photos we have here - collection from different photographers. Thank you @kacper_captures @biancasalapeup (If u see ur photos pls dm for credit!) Maraming Salamat and we hope to see you on the next one ❤️‍🔥

💥Help us reach out to more Prospects Artists💥 We’re organising around the open letter about Mondriaan Fonds hosting Prospects at Ahoy, a venue that hosts an arms fair NEDS. Thinking through strategies, support and next steps together. If you’re in Prospects and want to be part of these conversations, reach out: [[email protected]] We respect anonymity. Please share with other Prospects artists.

Visit the website in the bio to read the full open letter and sign the petition!