Dear Members of the Maryland State Arts Council and the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County,

The International Movement Arts Against Aggression is a global network of artists, cultural workers, scholars, activists, and institutions advocating for ethical responsibility in the cultural sphere and opposing the use of art and culture to legitimize aggression, authoritarianism, and imperial domination. Since 2014, Arts Against Aggression has fought against Russian cultural propaganda in the U.S. and Europe, successfully preventing Putin’s artists from performing in the West.

We were deeply shocked and disheartened to learn that Vadim Repin, a violinist with close ties to Vladimir Putin, has been re-invited to perform with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra at Maryland Hall on November 6–7, 2026, after his performance was canceled in March 2022 in solidarity with Ukraine. Given that his new engagement is partially funded by the Maryland State Arts Council and the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, we formally demand that you reconsider and withdraw all grant funding for events that serve as platforms for Russian state propaganda.

The concern regarding the use of public funds to support artists with documented ties to the Russian state is significant and growing. This sentiment is clearly reflected in the open letter issued by Arts Against Aggression to the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and Maryland Hall, as well as in a petition from the Ukrainian community in Maryland, which has already garnered over 750 signatures. These initiatives demonstrate a clear community mandate to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used to normalize or platform individuals who facilitate the instrumentalization of culture in support of a regime engaged in war and political repression.

We must look to international and domestic precedents for moral leadership on this issue. Research by Arts Against Aggression into Vadim Repin’s ties to Russian state-sponsored propaganda and funding has led to the cancellation of his performances in Italy, Germany, Hungary, and the United States, including at the Palm Beach Symphony. Recently, the European Commission set a critical standard by cancelling 2.3 million dollars in grants to the Venice Biennale, directly citing concerns over the return of Russian state-affiliated presence. This decision underscores the necessity of distancing public institutions from entities that act as conduits for state-sponsored narratives.

This issue is not merely theoretical. On June 30, 2026 Vadim Repin applied for a $1.2 million Russian state grant (₽ 94,616,450.15) for his festival, which is partially funded by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. Established by Putin, this fund finances projects that promote Kremlin narratives, justify the war against Ukraine, and suppress Ukrainian identity. 

While Vadim Repin has enjoyed state funding and rewards throughout the full-scale invasion, Russian forces have intentionally destroyed Ukrainian culture, killing more than 280 artists and damaging over 4,250 cultural heritage and infrastructure sites. When artists actively seek and receive financial support from the very state apparatus responsible for this ongoing cultural genocide, their presence in our most iconic venues becomes a matter of public policy and ethical concern.

We request that both the Maryland State Arts Council and the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County conduct a thorough review of their funding recipients to ensure alignment with our democratic values. We have a responsibility to ensure our arts community remains a space for genuine cultural exchange, free from the influence of state-sponsored propaganda.

Thank you for your time and your commitment to upholding the integrity of our cultural institutions. We look forward to your response regarding how you intend to address these concerns.

Sincerely

Arts Against Aggression