UNESCO Chair John Johnston Challenges the Art World at TEFAF Summit: “Culture Can Heal—or Harm”

Maastricht, March 20, 2026. ArtEZ University’s UNESCO Chair and head of UCAL Center for Arts and Learning, Professor John Johnston, brought a provocative and urgent message to the TEFAF Summit "Beyond Economic Impact" in Maastricht last month, calling on the global art community to confront the “paradoxical values of culture” in a world increasingly divided by fear and difference.

Speaking on a high-profile panel chaired by Hildegard Schneider (member of the Netherlands Commission for UNESCO) and alongside Joost Vervoort, Marian Duff, and Kathleen Ferrier, Johnston’s presentation—titled “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: The Paradoxical Values of Culture”—challenged attendees to rethink the role of art and culture in society. In a forum known for its celebration of high art and market prestige, Johnston’s intervention was a stark reminder of culture’s dual power: to inspire and heal, but also to exclude and even incite violence.

Dr Johnston argued that culture, while capable of fostering beauty, connection, and healing, can also be weaponized to create “in and out” groups, reinforcing structural, cultural, and direct violence. His address urged gallerists, collectors, artists, and policymakers to remain “critically conscious” of culture’s potential for both liberation and oppression.

“The same instruments of culture that uplift can be corrupted to marginalize,” Johnston warned, pointing to historical and contemporary examples where art and heritage have been co-opted to serve divisive political agendas.

TEFAF, the world’s premier art fair, is renowned for its focus on connoisseurship and market excellence. Johnston’s participation—representing Artez University and the voice of issues based art education—marked a deliberate shift in tone, injecting ethical urgency into conversations often dominated by aesthetics and commerce. The panel, organized by Lisanne Louise Bedaux, sparked lively debate, with audience members and fellow panelists engaging in what Johnston described as “enthusiastic and critical responses.”

As UNESCO Chair, Johnston’s presence at TEFAF underscores Artez University’s commitment to fostering art that challenges, questions, and transforms. His intervention aligns with Artez’s mission to prepare artists and cultural practitioners to navigate—and reshape—the complex social and political landscapes of our time.

Reflecting on the experience, Johnston expressed gratitude for the opportunity to “represent the voice of critical arts education” on such a prominent stage. His participation at the Forum positioned the university and ARC (ArtEZ Research Centre) as a vital player in global conversations about the ethics and impact of cultural production.