Sydney Festival Finally Apologises, Suspends Foreign Government Money… For Now
"This result is not only a victory for Palestinian human rights... it is also a victory for human rights globally."
Sydney Festival has suspended foreign government funding after a successful boycott this year, however, will revisit the option down the line.
The 2022 iteration generated widespread backlash after accepting a $20,000 donation from the Israeli Embassy. The “star donation” then funded the Sydney Dance Company’s run of Decadence by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin.
More than 20 artists withdrew, and staff at a participating venue were intimidated for supporting the collective action, in solidarity with Palestine and the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
“This result is not only a victory for Palestinian human rights, which Israel arbitrarily breaches, violates and denies — it is also a victory for human rights globally,” said the Do Better On Palestine campaign.
“The collective power of artists, audiences, communities, and workers made it clear that there will be no participation in the whitewashing of human rights abuses and crimes of the Israeli apartheid regime.”
The Sydney Festival in 2021 obtained funding from the the Israeli Embassy.
A brilliant boycott campaign led to around 50% of the workers pulling out of the festival in opposition.
The festival has now announced it will no longer be funded by foreign governments.
— Lowkey (@Lowkey0nline) September 28, 2022
The festival’s chair, David Kirk, said on Tuesday that the announcement came out of an independent review assessing what played out in January.
“We sincerely apologise to all those affected,” he said. “We have listened to what was said, and we are acting on key findings.”
It is the first full acknowledgement of the public uproar, after Kirk was criticised for a half-apology at the time.
“We acknowledge that staff, artists, and the wider community [were put] into a position that was very uncomfortable for many people, and we very much regret that and apologise for it,” said Kirk to The Guardian.
“The review makes it clear that in terms of our communication and the policies and procedures we had in place, there were shortcomings, and the board was responsible for those shortcomings.”
Sydney Festival said they were also developing a funding and sponsorship charter, after which, will revisit the role of international government investment once established. They will seek more nuanced advice on social cultural issues, before pivoting their attention on funding in the arts sector more broadly. However, the review’s findings and submissions will remain confidential.
“Consider this your notice: do not accept dirty money from governments, corporations, and any other entities complicit in injustice and human rights abuses anywhere,” responded activist Sara Saleh.
Photo Credit: Lee Rhiannon/Twitter