News from Civsy, based on generative AI tools and retrieval-augumented real time data search.UC Berkeley has received a $2.6 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to launch “A Counter-Imaginary in Authoritarian Times,” a project addressing artistic and academic censorship. Announced on Dec. 20, this multi-year initiative will involve anti-censorship programming at institutions like the Smart Museum of Art, New York Live Arts, and the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
Led by UC Berkeley professors Shannon Jackson, Judith Butler, and Debarati Sanyal, alongside NYU professor Denise Ferreira da Silva, the project will host workshops, courses, and publications exploring censorship's historical and modern forms. The team also plans legal training for individuals facing censorship and a 2026 public lecture addressing migration, trans rights, and authoritarian campaigns.
Censorship, Jackson noted, is often disguised as calls for “neutrality” or “pro-democratic” language. She emphasized the need to remain vigilant, particularly as arts institutions face mounting challenges, such as recent protests and bans targeting politically charged works.
About the $2.6 million project
UC Berkeley's "A Counter-Imaginary in Authoritarian Times" project is a significant initiative aimed at confronting artistic and academic censorship[1][2]. The $2.6 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will fund this multi-year, interdisciplinary effort to address the complex challenges posed by modern forms of authoritarianism and censorship[1][2]. The project emphasizes the role of arts and humanities in countering new forms of authoritarian power and aims to build an expansive network of educators, artists, scholars, and activists to share resources and strategies[2].
This initiative comes at a crucial time when academic freedoms face increasing challenges, particularly in fields related to critical race theory, DEI, and gender studies[3]. It represents a significant effort to preserve and promote curriculum related to race, gender, and equality, while combating the growing far-right movement that seeks to silence discussions on these critical issues[3].
Key Aspects of the Project
Collaborative Approach: The project involves partnerships with various institutions, including the University of Chicago's Smart Museum of Art, New York Live Arts, and the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive[1].
Diverse Programming: It will feature public workshops, courses, online publications, and events designed to confront authoritarian censorship[1][2].
Leadership: The initiative is led by UC Berkeley professors Shannon Jackson, Judith Butler, and Debarati Sanyal, along with NYU professor Denise Ferreira da Silva[1][2].
Focus Areas: The project aims to trace the histories of free speech and censorship, provide legal training to those facing censorship, and explore the complex nature of modern authoritarianism[1][2].
Public Engagement: A public lecture planned for 2026 will address topics such as migration, trans rights, and current authoritarian campaigns in various fields[1].
Project Goals and Strategies
The initiative seeks to create an "anti-censorship network" and develop alternative imaginaries to counter authoritarian narratives[2]. It aims to:
Produce a more desirable and just way of imagining the world
Appeal to passions for freedom, equality, and justice
Collaborate among scholars, activists, artists, and community members
Address concerns about censorship in fields focusing on gender, race, ethnic studies, migration, diversity, and sexuality[2]
Citations:[1] https://cici.berkeley.edu/news/hyperallergic-uc-berkeley-gets-26m-project-counter-arts-censorship[2] https://cici.berkeley.edu/programs-and-initiatives/counter-imaginary-authoritarian-times[3] https://ls.berkeley.edu/news/uc-berkeley-african-american-studies-launches-banned-scholars-project-mellon-foundation-grant[4] https://ls.berkeley.edu/news-archive[5] https://artshumanities.berkeley.edu/news/uc-berkeley-awarded-26-million-grant-%E2%80%9C-counter-imaginary-authoritarian-times%E2%80%9D[6] https://hyperallergic.com/981320/uc-berkeley-gets-2-6m-for-project-to-counter-arts-censorship/[7] https://www.mellon.org/grant-story/creating-a-refuge-for-banned-scholars[8] https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/artist-and-aids-activist-joe-average-dies-1234729260/
