The University of Gothenburg has been criticised by the Parliamentary Ombudsman (JO) in connection with an exhibition at HDK-Valand in spring 2025. The JO considers that there was a risk that external parties could have perceived it as though HDK-Valand – and by extension the University – endorsed the views expressed.
In spring 2025, a complaint was submitted to the Parliamentary Ombudsman (JO) regarding a pro-Palestinian student exhibition held on HDK-Valand’s premises.
The JO has now (3 March 2026) issued its decision, criticising the University of Gothenburg on the grounds that there was a risk that external parties could have perceived HDK-Valand, as a public authority, to be supporting the message of the student exhibition. In its decision, the JO states that it was not sufficiently clear in the exhibition space that HDK-Valand did not endorse the exhibition or its message. The University is therefore considered to have fallen short in terms of objectivity and impartiality.
At the same time, the JO concludes that HDK-Valand did not subjectively violate the principle of objectivity; that is, it did not act in a biased or improper manner.
– HDK-Valand welcomes the JO’s clarifying decision regarding the issues raised in the complaint and in the subsequent review. Together with the Gallery Group (students appointed by the student union, Konstkåren), which is responsible for the exhibition space, HDK-Valand has, since the beginning of the autumn semester 2025, been working to clarify the Gallery Group’s responsibility for the exhibition space and the exhibiting students’ responsibility for the content of the exhibition. This work will continue throughout the spring, says Klara Björk, Head of Department at HDK-Valand.
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