Brighton and Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey stated that the exhibition was cancelled to protect “minority communities” who may misinterpret the flags if they do not read or comprehend the accompanying signage.

The New Union Flag reimagines the Union Jack with fabrics from Britain’s varied communities, developed through workshops involving over 10,000 people. It was to be displayed in the library foyer alongside two other reinvented flags:

a Union Jack with the phrases “The English Were Migrants / English Were German” along the crosses and a St George’s flag with the inscription “Saint George was Palestinian / St. George was a Migrant” across it.

The show was scheduled to run from December 1 to December 7, and both Gil and Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) organisers were astonished and unhappy to learn that it had been cancelled.

“We were open to some negotiation,” stated Christian Hogsbjerg of Brighton SUTR. “Rather than saying, ‘You can have this but not this,’ it was a simple cancellation.

It was strange that ‘you can’t have any of it’ applied to items that had previously been displayed in the library. “If you can’t exhibit it in Brighton, a progressive city, what hope do you have of showing it anywhere else?

“It has the potential to be controversial, but there must be measures in place to protect artistic freedom rather than simply backing down.

Art is about sparking debate. The only possible justification is that they are terrified of a racist backlash.”

Since its inception in 2014, the project has been shown across the country, including at the Tate Modern, the Southbank Centre, Liverpool Museum, Brighton Museum, the People’s History Museum, and Amnesty International.

A work commissioned by the council for bus stops across Brighton and Hove (Image: Supplied)

It was exhibited at the Jubilee Library in 2018 and two years ago, Gil was commissioned for a further artwork, based on the flag, to be displayed at bus stops across the city.

Gil, who is Arab-Jewish, was born in London and grew up in Tel Aviv. He moved back to the UK 15 years ago and has lived in Brighton for the past eight years.

“It was exhibited three days after Brexit in Margate, a Nigel Farage stronghold, with no issues,” he said.

“I’m really disappointed, especially as Brighton is such a diverse and open-minded place.

“We are definitely being censored. The real question is why. I don’t know why any minority would be intimidated by this flag – it’s completely inclusive and diverse.

“The flag was created through many consultations and discussions; it was a communal project. I have no idea who would oppose it.

“[I think] this is about the rise of the far right and they are intimidating. [The council] is afraid for the safety of visitors and employees.”

Dr Gil in Trafalgar Square, with a sculpture commissioned by The World Reimagined (Image: Supplied)

Councillor Bella Sankey, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “Our libraries have been recognised as Libraries of Sanctuary, something we are very proud of, and keen to maintain.

“Given the fears that minority communities have expressed to me in recent weeks and months, there are particular concerns that displaying national flags could be taken out of their artistic context.

“Customers who do not or cannot read the signage could see the artwork of the flags as a statement by the library and therefore the council.

“As council buildings, our libraries need to remain neutral spaces and a safe space for all our customers.”

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