Thanet District Council has removed an online listing promoting a controversial art exhibition by Matthew Collings from its Visit Thanet tourism website, following a complaint by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).
The exhibition, titled “Drawings against genocide: Let it bring hope, let it be a tale”, is hosted by the Joseph Wales Studios in Margate between 21 and 29 March. It had been featured on the council’s official tourism platform prior to its removal.
UKLFI wrote to the Council on 22 March raising serious concerns about the content of the exhibition, alleging that it contained “vehemently antisemitic” imagery and messaging. In its letter, UKLFI argued that the works included depictions and themes that breached the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, including demonisation, conspiracy tropes, and the targeting of Jewish individuals and public figures .
The letter also warned that by promoting the exhibition, the council could be failing to comply with its obligations under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, which requires public authorities to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and foster good relations between different groups .
UKLFI specifically called on the council to “remove all reference to this exhibition” from its website, citing concerns that continued promotion risked contributing to harassment and undermining community cohesion .
Following this intervention, the Visit Thanet webpage advertising the exhibition is no longer accessible, indicating that the council has acted on the complaint.
The removal raises broader questions about the responsibilities of public bodies when promoting cultural events, particularly where concerns are raised about potentially discriminatory or inflammatory content. It also highlights the increasing scrutiny of how the IHRA definition is applied in practice within the arts and public sector.
UKLFI has welcomed the apparent action by the council as a step towards ensuring compliance with equality duties and protecting Jewish communities from harmful representations.
A UKLFI spokesperson commented: “We welcome Thanet Council’s decision to remove this deeply concerning promotion. Public bodies must not lend their support to material that risks spreading antisemitic tropes or inciting hostility towards Jewish people.”
UKLFI has also written to Joseph Wales Studios.