Freedom of artistic expression on campus is academic freedom

“We all want to talk about this.” A Study of Freedom of Artistic Expression in Academic Art Museums and Galleries

2.2 Freedom of artistic expression on campus is academic freedom.

The language campus art museum decision-makers use to describe the value of artistic expression – push the boundaries, exploration and investigation, tough conversations, and big ideas – is similar to the language used to describe the ideals of academic freedom more broadly. An interviewee commented on this:

I do feel like academic freedom is always there for me to grab on to. That is something that the faculty of [our university] – It’s always there for them and it’s highly valued. There are plenty of faculty who would have my back for anything that I did. I think the provost and the dean would have my back. I do. I feel like the argument that that faculty always uses, ‘This is within our rights,’ that academic freedom always trumps everything.

This sentiment also was echoed by a comment shared in the survey:

I think that you can and should equate freedom of artistic expression in academic museums with academic freedom.

Although academic museum staff (who do not also teach) often are treated as administrators rather than faculty, it is critical to understand that their ability to perform critical pedagogical roles on campus relies just as much on vibrant academic freedom as the work of professors.