Battle for the Museum: Cultural Institutions in Crisis by Rachel Spence history and politics When a strange circus arrives

When a strange circus arrives in a quiet Hungarian town – offering only a stuffed whale – fear

But like a vision in the midst of this nightmare

Propagandopolis is an essential visual guide to the enduring potency of the most pervasive

Authors: Nikita Kadan (artist)

Battle for the Museum: Cultural Institutions in Crisis by Rachel Spence history and politics When a strange circus arrivesCulture and power have been bedfellows since ancient timesin the case of exhibits and collections, now more than ever. Protests force out patrons and curators, and pressure museums to abandon fossil fuel sponsorship. Campaigners demand equality and diversity, condemn exploitation of artists and staff, and urge restitution of imperially tainted objects. Journalist Rachel Spence has watched visual arts become a flashpoint for todays social divisions.