From Sydney Festival to Vivid: Cultural boycotts and the struggle for Palestinian Freedom

In January 2022, a successful boycott targeted Israeli funding for Sydney Festival, with 23 artists and acts refusing to perform. A number of artists have also refused to perform in Israel itself. Now, a new campaign aims to end Vivid Sydney's sponsorship from AirBNB, a company that operates in the illegal Israeli settlements.

Join Stop the War on Palestine for a public meeting and panel about cultural boycotts and the struggle for Palestinian freedom. We will discuss the contribution that cultural boycotts, past and present, can make in ending Israel's occupation and genocide.

Speakers

Sara Saleh is a writer, race critical human rights lawyer, and the daughter of Palestinian, Lebanese and Egyptian migrants based on Bidjigal land. Her poems, prose, and essays have been published in English and Arabic across dozens of literary platforms.

Michael Mohammed Ahmad is the founding director of Sweatshop Literacy Movement and the author of three award-winning novels: The Tribe, The Lebs and The Other Half of You. He was invited to join the Sydney Festival Board but refused the appointment as part of the festival boycott in 2022.