This workshop by Cultural Workers Unite and Alina Lupu addressed the concept of ‘artwashing’. It was aimed at cultural workers, artists, designers, and curators who want to investigate the entanglement between their work and ‘dirty money’, war profiteering, increased surveillance, and distractions from violence.

Art funding is under pressure, while defense budgets are increasing. Cultural Workers Unite researches how artistic practices are being coopted in venues and schemes that are used for the normalization of militarization on the European continent. Art and its institutions aren’t neutral; this workshop broke down what art washing is, how it happens, and what you can do to resist it. From boycotts and walkouts, to petitions, agitprop strategies, to memes, and creative disruptions, it will explore real-world tactics for refusing complicity. How do you say no when funding is tangled up with military systems? How do you organize a cultural strike? How do you build strategic alliances?

Together we looked at case studies from artists and collectives who’ve gone head-to-head with institutions. Participants brought stories, questions, and frustrations. No experience was needed: just your politics and your practice.