Candida Gertler resigns from Outset Fund Amidst Protests

Her resignation follows backlash from the art community, reflecting growing tensions around the intersections of art, politics, and social justice.

The Outset Fund has reportedly raised over £16 million (approximately $20.3 million) to support various art initiatives, including contributions to Israeli institutions, which have increasingly become focal points of protest.

Her resignation gained momentum after more than 1,100 artists and art workers signed an open letter addressed to the Tate leadership. This letter called for the museum to sever ties with three key organizations: the Zabludowicz Art Trust, Zabludowicz Art Projects, and Outset. 

Among the signers of the letter are current Turner Prize nominee Jasleen Kaur, and previous winners Helen Cammock, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, and Charlotte Prodger. The sentiments expressed through this collective call to action highlight the substantial concern artists now feel toward the intersection of art patronage and political conflicts.

Through her resignation statement, Gertler expressed her distress over the “normalization of hate” and antisemitism within cultural spaces. She framed her decision not as one made out of fear or defeat but as “a principled protest” against what she characterized as alarming trends. Citing the historical persecution of Jews during the Holocaust, Gertler passionately argued against the rising tide of bigotry and for the need for cultural spaces to uphold values of inclusivity and respect.

Main Image: Candida Gertler, Courtesy Goldsmiths University of London