A major Australian arts festival has defied an anti-Israel boycott with support from 120 celebrities and entertainment industry heavyweights.
Those supporting the 45-year-old Sydney Festival condemn the decision by 23 acts to pull out of the three week event because of 'star partner' sponsorship by the Israel Embassy in Australia with involvement by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin and a performance by Israel's Batsheva Dance Company.
Meanwhile at time of writing, although 11 of the original 133 scheduled shows are now not proceeding, a petition organised by the Creative Community for Peace has gained 47,329 signatures in a stand in favour of artistic freedom and against cultural boycott.
An open letter from those supporting the festival stated: "'While art can reflect politics and artists can choose to reflect their politics in their own art, art should never become subservient to politics, and artists and cultural events should never be forced to be politicised".
NATALIE WOOD
07 JANUARY 2022
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