As global condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine grows, cultural institutions across Europe and the United States face an uncomfortable conundrum: What to do about Russian artists, particularly those who have vocally supported Putin’s government? What to do about Russian art in general? It’s laudable and necessary for opera houses, orchestras, and festivals to distance themselves from artists who are undoubtedly complicit in Putin’s regime. But the pressure to take a tough stance against Russia as a culture risks playing directly into Putin’s hands.
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