Protest outside the National Gallery against the Galleries partnership with Arms Trade. Demonstrators dressed as Artists (some are from the art community) with stereotype painters appearance and paraphernalia, demonstrate by painting a series of individual letters on each easel which read as a total series "DISARM THE GALLERY". The demonstrators object to the National Gallery being misappropriated as a venue to facilitate and encourage Arms trade. The demonstration is arranged by Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT). Campaign Against Arms Trade write that "Last year the National Gallery hosted the official reception for DSEi, one of the worlds largest arms fairs. Weapons manufacture Finmeccanica buys the right to use the Gallery to entertain its clients for only £30,00 a year. Art and arms don't mix: the Gallery must end its support for the arms trade." Trafalgar Square, London, UK, 31st March 2012
"Everything we see hides another thing, we always want to see what is hidden by what we see." Rene Magritte
NEWS FLASH 16th October 2012
The weapons manufacturer Finmeccanica has "exercised its right to terminate' its agreement with the National Gallery, after a campaign by Campaign Against Arms Trade to 'Disarm the Gallery.' It is hoped that the National Gallery will now renounce violence and concentrate on art.
In the bad old days of shame, the Gallery has hosted receptions for international arms fairs, including the official reception for London's Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEi) in September 2011 – where ten repressive regimes, including Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia were among those invited to shop for weapons.Italian weapon manufacturer Finmeccanica has been one of the National Gallery's 'corporate benefactors' since 2006. The contract was due to run until 1 October 2013.
Date: 31/03/2012
Location: Trafalgar Square, London, UK
Photographer: Richard Keith Wolff
