Last week, we opened our Anatomy of Solidarity exhibition at M Shed, Bristol, a dynamic showcase celebrating the voices, skills, and imagination of the city. The exhibition features original work from Latinas in Bristol, The Art Against War Club, and creativeShift with St Paul’s Printmakers. Anatomy of Solidarity asks: What does solidarity look like in Bristol today? What happens when communities unite to create? The exhibition brings these questions to life through a vibrant, community-led showcase inspired by Bristol’s long history of collective action and resistance.
All artworks were approved by both M Shed and Bristol City Council before the exhibition launch. Despite this, shortly after opening, the exhibition was temporarily closed while certain artworks were reviewed by Bristol City Council. Some pieces now feature redactions where references to Elbit and BAE Systems were removed. The works have since been reinstated with these adjustments. Throughout this process, we have worked closely with our cultural colleagues at M Shed, Bristol City Council, and in particular The Art Against War Club, who were significantly affected.
Although museum colleagues acted in goodwill to resolve the issues around the temporary closure and removal of artworks, the unfolding events and changing decisions mirrored the obfuscation often surrounding Bristol’s complex connections with the arms trade – exactly the issues that The Art Against War Club seeks to highlight.
We deeply regret the distress caused to all the city’s communities who contributed to the exhibition. At the same time, we welcome the opportunity that both the exhibition and these events provide to illuminate topics that often remain unspoken.
Bristol is a City of Sanctuary. Yet it is also entangled with companies that profit from manufacturing the weapons that drive people to seek sanctuary. This is an issue we can no longer ignore.
If you would like to speak with us further, please contact our Executive Director at rae@seetapateldance.org
ANATOMY OF SOLIDARITY EXHIBITION, M Shed, Window on Bristol Gallery, 10 March – 12 April 2026 10am – 5pm, FREE (Donations welcome)
https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/m-shed/anatomy-of-solidarity
https://www.artagainstwarclub.org/statement/
