A statement from the Barbican in relation to the London Review of Books Winter Series

We regret that we were not able to get the necessary logistical arrangements in place to host the LRB Winter Series. We strongly believe in the importance of protecting and maintaining artistic freedom and freedom of speech. Artists and cultural institutions play a crucial role in reflecting, commenting on and responding to the issues of the day.

The topic of Pankaj Mishra's talk in particular was an urgent conversation and we should have been able to host it. We are disappointed that we did not do that. The terrible loss of life and devastation in Gaza is one of the most urgent issues of our time and it is essential we enable critical voices be heard.

We recognise the decision has created significant concern about artistic freedom, and which voices are given a platform to speak during this moment of deep humanitarian crisis. We are sorry for the distress we have caused to everybody who feels we have let them down.

Our intention is never to censor and always to host the widest possible range of artists and thinkers, and we collaborate with thousands of different partners and organisations every year to do this.

We are thoroughly reviewing the circumstances in which this decision was taken. We acknowledge there were things we should have done better in the way we handled the process - especially building in sufficient time for planning and preparation, making clearer our need and timelines for this.

We are sorry for the impact this has had on the artists, lenders and curators and we respect the decisions of those who have withdrawn their work from Unravel.