> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Over 200 Artists and Scholars Urge MoMA and Board Member to Divest from Private Prison Companies - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/moma-private-prison-open-letter/ - Published: 2019-10-10T23:14:56.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-24T15:53:14.000Z - Description: Hal Foster, Andrea Fraser, and Tania Bruguera have signed the letter released by New Sanctuary Coalition. - Author: Hakim Bishara - Tags: News, Art Space Sanctuary, Larry Fink, MoMA, New York, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:34 (2019, 2020, part 1) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2019/02/view_ext-1b_overall_updated_black-slate_jltest-2000x1200.jpg) Exterior view of The Museum of Modern Art on 53rd Street (courtesy MoMA, © 2017 Diller Scofidio + Renfro) Over 200 prominent artists, scholars, and critics have signed an open letter demanding MoMA and its board member Larry Fink end their investments in private prison companies. The letter comes less than two weeks before the anticipated opening of the museum’s [refurbished galleries](https://hyperallergic.com/the-museum-of-modern-art-will-close-until-october-preparing-for-major-overhaul/) on October 21. The [statement](https://www.newsanctuarynyc.org/moma%5Ffull%5Fstatement?ref=hyperallergic.com), released by [New Sanctuary Coalition](https://www.newsanctuarynyc.org/?ref=hyperallergic.com), has garnered the support of big names in the art world. Signatories include Tania Bruguera, Hito Steyerl, Xaviera Simmons, Andrea Fraser, Claire Bishop, Omar Berrada, Hal Foster, Chloë Bass, Alejandro Cesarco, and Nikki Columbus, among many others. “We denounce MoMA’s connections to mass incarceration, global dispossession and climate catastrophe, and demand that MoMA’s Board member Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, divest from prison companies, the war machine and the destruction of the global environment,” the open letter reads. “Stopping the global cycles of dispossession, displacement and detention, and reinvesting in the basic necessities of food, shelter, health and freedom are the best ways to ensure that communities worldwide thrive.” Fink’s company BlackRock is ranked the [largest investment company worldwide](https://www.thebalance.com/which-firms-have-the-most-assets-under-management-4173923?ref=hyperallergic.com) with its assets under management worth around $6 trillion. BlackRock is the second-largest investor in two major private prison companies: [GEO Group](https://www.geogroup.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com) and [CoreCivic](http://www.corecivic.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com). In the letter, the activists demand Fink divest from both. “With over $2 billion in contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.), these companies have been responsible for 70% of all immigration detention including caged children and families separated at the border as well as in the interior,” the open letter says, adding that MoMA’s own pension fund, Fidelity, is also one of the largest owners of GEO Group and CoreCivic. “Prison companies are a part of the massive and racist state-sanctioned carceral system of the U.S., which has made the country the largest jailer in the world.” Fink’s company, BlackRock, also owns “billions of dollars” in shares of weapons manufacturers, according to the open letter. “The company has more money invested in the fossil fuel and agribusiness industries – the biggest drivers of climate change – than any other company in the world,” the letter adds. “Despite their severe threat to the planet, BlackRock continues to invest in tar sands, coal, Arctic oil, Amazon crude, and rainforest destruction.” Addressing MoMA, the activists say the museum **“**has spent over half a billion dollars to remake its image and its building in midtown Manhattan. We suggest instead that funds be redistributed towards alternative models of well-being, community-based creativity, land restitution/defense for indigenous peoples, and the material improvement of dispossessed communities worldwide.” MoMA has not responded to Hyperallergic’s immediate request for comment. In a previous action in April of this year, the group [Art Space Sanctuary](http://www.artspacesanctuary.org/?ref=hyperallergic.com) recruited panelists at[ a MoMa conference](https://hyperallergic.com/panelists-at-moma-conference-call-on-museum-board-member-to-divest-from-prison-companies/) (some of whom signed today’s statement) for the same cause. Natalia Brizuela, associate professor of film and media and Spanish at UC Berkley, surprised the audience when she read a public letter against MoMA and Fink, co-authored by Art Space Sanctuary. The letter was signed by most of the panelists in the conference, including artists Kader Attia and Jumana Manna; Zdenka Badovinac, director of the Museum of Modern Art in Ljubljana; political theorist Achille Mbembe; writer and curator Omar Berrada; and 11 others participants. The letter reiterated the call on MoMA and Fink to divest from private prison companies. Now, as all attention is directed toward the MoMA rehang, New Sanctuary Coalition is asking to revitalize its campaign, which started about two years ago. “MoMA’s director Glenn Lowry has said that the renovations will help us ‘explore the ideas that shape our world and find inspiration in the art of our time’,” the new open letter reads. “Indeed, this is the time and these are the moments that define us as individuals and as a society.” A coalition of activist groups [plans to gather at MoMA on October 18](https://www.newsanctuarynyc.org/moma%5Fdivest?ref=hyperallergic.com) at 7pm. “MoMA can choose to be defined by its silence over mass incarceration, climate change and global dispossession. We choose not to.” Read the open letter, reproduced in full, below: We denounce MoMA’s connections to mass incarceration, global dispossession and climate catastrophe, and demand that MoMA’s Board member Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, divest from prison companies, the war machine and the destruction of the global environment. Stopping the global cycles of dispossession, displacement and detention, and reinvesting in the basic necessities of food, shelter, health and freedom are the best ways to ensure that communities worldwide thrive. MoMA Board member and CEO of BlackRock, Larry Fink, is the 2nd largest shareholder of prison companies, GEO Group and Core Civic. With over $2 billion in contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.), these companies have been responsible for 70% of all immigration detention including caged children and families separated at the border as well as in the interior. MoMA’s own pension fund, Fidelity, is also one of the largest owners of these private prison companies. P Prison companies are a part of the racist state-sanctioned carceral system of the U.S., which has made the country the largest jailer in the world, placing a massively disproportionate number of black and brown people behind bars. BlackRock also owns billions of dollars in shares of weapons manufacturers. The company has more money invested in the fossil fuel and agribusiness industries – the biggest drivers of climate change – than any other company in the world. Despite their severe threat to the planet, BlackRock continues to invest in tar sands, coal, Arctic oil, Amazon crude, and rainforest destruction. We demand that MoMA board member Larry Fink begin by divesting all assets from GEO Group and Core Civic. Divestment is possible. New York City’s pension fund has divested! Even JP Morgan, Bank of America and Wells Fargo have agreed to cut loans to these companies. Larry Fink has stated that he wants to hold companies accountable for being “responsible corporate citizens.” This can be achieved by removing funds from prison slavery and supporting campaigns such as No New Jails’ push to close Rikers and block the promotion of new borough-based cages. MoMA has spent over half a billion dollars to remake its image and its building in midtown Manhattan. We suggest instead that funds be redistributed towards alternative models of well-being, community-based creativity, sanctuary, land restitution/defense for indigenous peoples, and the material improvement of dispossessed communities worldwide. MoMA’s director Glenn Lowry has said that the renovations will help us “explore the ideas that shape our world and find inspiration in the art of our time.” Indeed, this is the time and these are the moments that define us as individuals and as a society. MoMA can choose to be defined by its silence over mass incarceration, climate change and global dispossession. We choose not to. Again, we demand that Larry Fink and the MOMA board divest their funds from prison companies. We demand that Larry Fink & all MoMA board members disclose any & all additional prison slavery-involved investments. We ask that they meet with concerned artists, community leaders, immigrant rights organizations, and detainees to hear the real story about the shares they own and how these funds should be redistributed. **Signatories:** Kemi Ilesanmi Omar Berrada, writer & curator tania bruguera Caron Atlas Julia, Chang, MOCA Monica Johnson Dorian Mckaie Hal Foster, Princeton University Jessi Olsen, ALL ARTS/Resistance Revival Chorus Andrea Fraser, artist CAITLIN BAUCOM, artist and ex MoMA employee Sandra Skurvida Eva, Yaa Asantewaa, InfiniteBody Anne Hamburger, En Garde Arts Pearl Bhatnagar, Freedom Cities Hannah Joo, Coordinator of Justice, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives at Dance/NYC Miriam Ticktin, The New School Sophia Garcia Amanda Pajak, American Federation of Arts Michelle, Castaneda, Brown University Kelsey S Brewer, Brooklyn-based artist Chloë Bass, Artist hito steyerl Gregory Sholette Gulf Labor Coalition Mika Rottenberg Paula Chakravartty, Associate Professor, NYU Arang Keshavarzian, New York University Dipti Desai, New York University John Singler, New York University Rayna Rapp, NYU Manu Goswami, Dept of History, NYU Sally Guttmacher, NYU Toby Lee, Cinema Studies, NYU Tisch John M. Archer, NYU Xaviera Simmons Studio Julie Livingston, Silver Professor, New York University Mary Taylor Marita Sturken, New York University Gil Anidjar, Columbia University Kathryn Hamilton Alejandro Cesarco Noah Fischer, Occupy Museums Dr. Jackie Orr, scholar & artist Talal Asad, CUNY Graduate Center, Emeritus Lauren van Haaften-Schick, PhD Candidate, Cornell University Bettina Funcke Tavia Nyong’o, Yale University Eve Meltzer, NYU Terike Haapoja, The New School Magdalena Moskalewicz, School of the Art Institute of Chicago Peter Walsh Christian Xatrec, Emily Harvey Foundation, New York Abou Farman, New School Leah Mundell, Northern Arizona University Etelle Higonnet Alayne Unterberger Hamid Dabashi Columbia University Peter Mancina, University of Oxford AbdouMaliq Simone, University of Sheffield Stephen Duncombe, Center for Artistic Activism Estelle Maisonett, Artist Maira Duarte, Dance to the People Ingrid Haftel William Carden Lauren, Nechamkin, Museum Educator DEBBORA BATTAGLIA, PhD Jackie Vimo Anayvelyse Allen-Mossman, Columbia University Saretta, Morgan, Arizona State University Adam Fitzgerald, Rutgers University Saul Chernick darryl battaglia, none Nadia Williams, Parsons School of Design Prerana Reddy, Director of Programs, A Blade of Grass Muriel Leung, PhD Student, Unviersity of Southern California Mariam Ghani, Artist Craig, Art + Design Education Mandana, Independent Curator Alexander Provan, Editor, Triple Canopy Gerald Kelly, MOMA Member Christina Dawkins, Founder, A4Abolitionist, LLC. Elizabeth Hickman Laura Tilghman, Plymouth State University Aaron Scott, Aaron Scott Design Lisa Cooley, art advisor K. Eva Weiss, Temple University Alfred Creymor, Artist Basma Eid, Freedom To Thrive Emily Fornof, art history student and patron of MOMA Aziz Isham, BRIC Sanaz Alesafar, MOMA visitor Isabel Figueroa Victoria Chen Kamrun Nahar Sarah Crumb Nowrin Kashem Ian Gerson, Artist and Educator William Felinski, Artist and Artist Member of MoMA Masco, Joseph (University of Chicago) Claire Bishop, Professor, CUNY Graduate Center Nikki Columbus Tyrone Williams Olga Nikitina Liz, Morina, Art Advisor @ Artist Atelier Andria Hickey, Curator Kiryl, Kalbasnikau, Belarus Free Theatre Miriam Margarita Basilio, Associate Professor, NYU Eric Golo Stone, Writer, Artist, Curator Carol Jacobsen, University of Michigan/Women’s Justice & Clemency Project www.umich.edu/\~clemency Anna Marín Lyric Bada, CUNY Guttman Luiza Proença, curator Kadiatou Balde, student at SUNY Potsdam Sun, Emily Katinka Barragan Laura Y. Liu, The New School Celia K.San Felipe Elvia Wilk, The New School, e-flux Nico Baumbach, Associate Prof of Film, Columbia University Rev. Micah Bucey, Judson Arts, Judson Memorial Church David Deblinger Ensemble Force Stanley Wolukau-Wanambwa, Rhode Island School of Design Marisa Morán Jahn, Artist Dena Fisher Timo Rissanen, Parsons School of Design, The New School Camilo Godoy, Artist Matteo Norzi – Shipibo Conibo Center, NY Brynn Hatton Ara H. Merjian, NYU Sarah Walko, artist Katayoun Vaziri Artist Devin Kenny Irene Small, Princeton University Robert Slifkin, New York University Julia Pimes Mata – C.I.S.P.E.S. Thomas Bender, University Professor of the Humanities and History Emeritus, NYU Carolyn Lazard Natalia Almada Andrea Gordillo Aaliya Zaveri Vital E. Andrew H. Lee, New York University Genevieve Yue, Assistant Professor at the New School Cameron Russell, Model & cofounder Model Mafia Kimberly Drew Paloma McGregor Janelle Grace Jennifer Ifil-Ryan Ni’Ja Whitson Joseph Hall, BAAD! The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance Gabriela Lopez-Barry Gigi Leia Squillace Vivian Crockett, Art Historian and former MoMA MRC Fellow Rachael Monique Velazquez RAGGA NYC lily bo shapiro Christina Dawkins, Founder, A4Abolitionist, LLC. Constantina Zavitsanos, artist Angela Kingham Danielle Johnson Diya Vij Teresa Ross Tellechea – The New School + New Sanctuary Coalition Esther Nicholas D Mirzoeff NYU Natalia Brizuela, UC Berkeley Molly Crabapple Rachel Gugelberger, Curator Andreas Petrossiants, independent scholar and critic Andrew Weiner, NYU-Steinhardt Savitri D, The Church of Stop Shopping Shaun Leonardo Nathan Hewitt, (D)IRT Sarah Ordway, (D)IRT Benedict Nguyen Shi An Tong (石安童) Seph Rodney, Hyperallergic Hatuey Ramos-Fermín, artist Yumna Al-Arashi – Artist Francisco, artist Susan Cianciolo artist Brett Wallace – Artist New Sanctuary Coalition Tiffany Hsu Alison O’Daniel, California College of the Arts Neferti Tadiar, Barnard College Sarah Takesh / Collector Park McArthur Sonya Posmentier, New York University Lizzie Scott Ken Ehrlich, artist Alexandra Délano, The New School Zishan Ugurlu Macushla Robinson, Art Gallery of NSW Janice Dowell, Syracuse University Alyshia Gálvez, The New School Robin Dembroff (Yale) Michael Rieppel (Assistant Professor, Philosophy, Syracuse University) Anna Bailey kate crehan, Professor Emerita, City University of New York Elaine Gan Maria Hupfield, artist Harsha Ram, UC Berkeley Gilda Merlot, DACA recipient and sex worker @redlightreader Heather Davis, The New School David Borgonjon, Columbia University Gil Anidjar, Columbia University Evangelina Jimenez Royston Scott Molly D Ciraolo Katherine B. Hogan. Concerned human. Shilpa Narayan GREGG STANKEWICZ Savitri D sylver pondolfino district council 37, afscme David Yap – City University of New York Al Smith Robin LaVerne Wilson Jess Beck Evangelina Jimenez