“The amplitude of the response from Sydney’s arts community has been extraordinary,” he said. “Ultimately we would like the board to do what it says it won’t do,which is to refuse the funding from the Israeli embassy.
Stephen and Debbie Scholem,who were attending the dance performance,held signs in opposition to the boycott.
“I wouldn’t call it a protest,” she said. “We feel that festival boycotts are useless,and only create friction.
“They have no purpose because arts is not a political stage. To boycott something like the Sydney Festival is pointless and we feel strongly enough to stand as say ‘say no to festival boycotts’. ”
Boycott co-organiser Fahad Ali said 22 shows had either withdrawn from the event or been cancelled,with another seven disrupted as individuals joined the boycott.
While those involved in some shows wanted to remain anonymous because they were seeking alternative funding to go ahead,Ali said musician Hope D would no longer perform at Speakers Corner in Cathedral Square and comedian Tom Walker had withdrawn from a comedy gala show also at Speakers Corner.
Dance showMirage at Campbelltown Arts Centre and the exhibitionIridescent by Gerwyn Daviesat Sydney Living Museums would,likeSeven Methods of Killing Kylie Jennerand other shows,continue independently of the festival.
Others to join the boycott include Khaled Sabsabi,comedians Nazeem Hussain and Tom Ballard,rapper Barkaa,dance ensemble Bindi Bosses,Arab Theatre Studio,Bankstown Poetry Slam,journalist Amy McQuire and author and podcaster Yumi Stynes.
In the festival’s only statement on the boycott,chair David Kirk said there had been meetings with concerned groups but all funding agreements would be honoured and performances ofDecadance would proceed.
“At the same time,the board has also determined it will review its practices in relation to funding from foreign governments or related parties,” he said. “We see it as the core role of the Sydney Festival to present art and to provide an inclusive platform for all artists.”
Ali,who described the open letter as ignoring human rights abuses against Palestinians,said there had been an “extraordinary” response to the boycott.
Loading
“About a fifth of the festival is being affected in some way,” he said. “It’s heart-warming to us to see that level of solidarity but it remains very confusing as to why Sydney Festival does not believe they have any kind of urgency about reviewing this partnership ...
“Twenty thousand dollars is not a sum that should be difficult for Sydney Festival to find if that’s the issue. There have been Palestinian donors – and I’m sure other donors as well – who are happy to donate an equivalent sum if the partnership was to be dropped.”