Introduction
Academy Award-winning actress Olivia Colman, along with more than 1,300 artists, has raised their voices against alleged censorship of the Palestinian cause by cultural institutions across Western countries. This diverse group includes notable figures such as Harriet Walter, Juliet Stevenson, Aimee Lou Wood, Siobhán McSweeney, Paapa Essiedu, Susanne Wokoma, Nicola Coughlan, Amir El-Masry, and Lolly Adefope.
Accusations of Repression
In a joint letter addressed to the arts and culture sector, the artists accuse institutions of “repressing, silencing, and stigmatising Palestinian voices and perspectives.” The letter asserts that this repression extends to threatening the livelihoods of artists expressing solidarity and canceling various cultural events.
Censorship Instances
The letter cites instances of censorship, including the ‘postponement’ of Ai Weiwei’s exhibition by Lisson Gallery, the last-minute cancellation of Anais Duplan’s Afrofuturism exhibition in Germany, and Hollywood producers dropping actor Melissa Barrero from Scream VII due to comments supporting Palestinian rights. The Arnolfini, Bristol’s International Centre for Contemporary Arts, also withdrew from hosting events curated by Bristol Palestine Film Festival.
Artists’ Perspective
The artists emphasise that freedom of expression, a fundamental democratic principle, is essential to their creative lives. Despite the alleged pressure and censorship, they stress that many artists continue to speak out, highlighting the importance of artists’ role as storytellers and communicators.
Call to Action
Renowned film directors including Ken Loach and Sara Driver join the artists in urging arts organisations to support a permanent ceasefire and to stand up for artists and workers advocating for Palestinian rights. They criticise the arts organisations for what they perceive as a “disturbing double standard,” stating that expressions of solidarity are readily offered to other oppressed communities but not to Palestinians.
Solidarity Across Artistic Disciplines
The letter is not confined to actors and directors; it includes signatories from various artistic disciplines, such as writers, poets, composers, and visual artists. This broad coalition expresses solidarity with those facing threats and intimidation in the workplace and warns that many artists are refusing collaborations with institutions failing to uphold freedom of expression and anti-discrimination principles.
International Impact
The letter follows global incidents of artists facing consequences for expressing solidarity with Palestinians. Two thousand poets announced a boycott of the Poetry Foundation in the US, and artists and writers internationally declared they would no longer work with Artforum magazine.
UN’s Statement
Last Friday, the UN office in Geneva expressed alarm at the worldwide wave of attacks against those expressing solidarity with the victims of the Israel-Palestine conflict. UN experts noted that artists, academics, journalists, activists, and athletes have faced harsh consequences and reprisals for their prominent roles and visibility.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza unfolds, artists are urging the arts and culture sector to align its actions with principles of justice and inclusivity. The call to publicly demand a permanent ceasefire, amplify Palestinian voices, and refuse collaborations with complicit institutions seeks to ensure the arts sector reflects its stated values in the face of mass injustice.
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