J O I N   U S   I N - P E R S O N    

Freedom of Expression: Censorship and the Role of the Arts

A Panel Discussion with Leaders of Boston-Area Photography Organizations

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 
6:00 - 8:00 pm Eastern Time
Leica Gallery Boston
74 Arlington St, Boston, MA
Light refreshments served

Registration required. Free and open to the public
 

Photo by Robin Fader

As political attacks on free expression intensify, artists and cultural institutions face mounting pressure to self-censor or risk retribution. From threats to revoke nonprofit status and defund public media to censorship of national institutions, the arts are once again on the front lines of a battle over who gets to tell America’s stories.

Artists today are increasingly weighing the risks of creating and exhibiting work that might provoke political or cultural backlash. At the same time, arts organizations face their own form of censorship as they decide whether to present controversial or politically charged work that could jeopardize funding, institutional support, or public approval. These pressures are intensified by government threats to free expression, including efforts to restrict speech, revoke nonprofit status, and punish organizations that do not align with official ideology. Against this backdrop, photography remains a powerful tool of resistance—a medium uniquely suited to challenging dominant narratives, amplifying marginalized voices, and making visible the stories and truths that others would prefer to remain unseen.

Join leaders of four Boston-area photography organizations for a vital conversation about how they are navigating these challenges—continuing to exhibit work that confronts stereotypes, embraces diversity, and explores the difficult truths of our nation’s past and present. The discussion will explore how artists and institutions are balancing the need to protect their communities while upholding their missions to foster open dialogue through photography and visual storytelling.

Audience participation encouraged. 
 
Panelists
Crista Dix, Executive Director, Griffin Museum of Photography
Catherine LeComte Lecce, Executive Director, Photographic Resource Center
Bell Pitkin, Curator, Leica Gallery Boston
Glenn Ruga, Founder & Director, Social Documentary Network

Moderator
Rachel Davidson, Staff Attorney, ACLU of Massachusetts