Political activists seeking publicity have taken to attacking significant artworks, with the most recent incident at the Art Gallery of WA.

As a gallerist or museum curator how can you prepare for the possibility of a similar attack?

Perpetrators typically identify artworks with enough cachet to go viral, attracting broad media coverage for their cause. The disruption is almost entirely by environmental activism groups, including Just No Oil and Last Generation. 

Protestors seem to carefully choose artworks that were glazed so that they don’t destroy them, just cause enough of a disruption to make the evening news.

Although, in some cases there has been damage to frames and two outside sculptures have also been targeted.

Affected institutions have generally played down the events, emphasising that the artworks have quickly been cleaned and put back on display, and not obviously reacting with changes to standard operating procedures other than perhaps bumping up security in exhibition spaces.

What can you do about it?

Despite the attacks being rare, and currently targeting only well-known artworks in large collections, good collection management practice suggests there have been enough to justify being prepared.

Julian Bickersteth, CEO at International Conservation Services, suggests that organisations begin by identifying any likely targets in their collection; at the Art Gallery of WA an iconic Fred McCubbin was attacked.

If practical, consider glazing the artwork, and highlight to your staff any artworks which might be vulnerable during opening hours.

Then consider updating your organisation’s Business Continuity Plan and Collection Disaster Preparedness plans to include the potential impact of activism.

Such plans should address the likelihood and impact of activism and appropriate risk mitigation strategies. These plans should also include collection management/conservation response procedures to ensure the minimisation of any potential change in condition and prompt conservation assessment and treatment.

Timeline of recent incidents