Court finds Australian museum discriminates against men

The Australian court in Tasmania found that the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) discriminated against men by prohibiting them from attending an exhibition for women. Within 28 days, the museum must open access to men.

The Guardian writes about this.

The installation by American artist Kirsha Kaechele Ladies Lounge opened at the Museum of Old and New Art in 2020. At the exhibition, visitors are greeted by butlers with champagne, and the hall features works by Pablo Picasso and Sidney Nolan (pictured).

The interactive exhibition aimed to create a safe space specifically for women. Its author noted that with her work she sought to show historical injustice, when until 1965 women in Australia were prohibited from visiting pubs.

However, in April 2023, New South Wales resident Jason Lau sued the museum, claiming that refusing entry to the Ladies Lounge because of one's gender is a breach of Tasmanian anti-discrimination law.

Museum lawyer Catherine Scott argued that Lau had taken the installation as intended because Tasmanian law allows discrimination when it is created to promote equal opportunity for a disadvantaged group.

However, Lau argued that the action was “vague and lacking context,” and argued that denying men access to some of the museum's most important works, including works by Sidney Nolan, Pablo Picasso and a treasure trove of antiquities from Mesopotamia, Central America and Africa, was discriminatory.< Vice-President of the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Richard Grueber argued that the Ladies Lounge exhibition was “directly discriminatory”, adding that “it is unclear how preventing men from enjoying art in a women’s space contributes to increasing opportunities for female artists to exhibit.” their works."

As the publication writes, the museum is disappointed with the court's decision. MONA said that if they are ordered to allow access to men, they will remove the installation, since “denying men is the point of the work.”

At the same time, Kaechele wants to appeal the decision in court.

Prepared by: Nina Petrovich