Pro-Palestine artists face cancellation by British cultural bodies

Pro-Palestine artists face cancellation by British cultural bodies

In the heart of Manchester, the arts centre HOME recently cancelled the Palestinian literature event, Voices of Resilience, following allegations of antisemitism and Holocaust denial against a featured writer. This incident is just one example of a growing trend in the UK, where events featuring Palestinian or pro-Palestinian artists have faced cancellations or controversies.

The reasons behind these cancellations vary, with direct political pressure and public backlash being common factors. At Glastonbury 2025, pro-Palestinian acts like Kneecap, an Irish-language rap group, drew large crowds and vocal support for Palestinian rights. However, controversies surrounding terrorism charges for one member led to calls for bans and subsequent cancellations of their other gigs. Similarly, multiple bands pulled out of Manchester’s Radar Festival after organizers removed punk rap duo Bob Vylan from the lineup, following their denunciations of the situation in Gaza at Glastonbury.

Sponsorship and institutional pressure also play a significant role. In London, musicians boycotted events at Kings Place after discovering a connection to Lockheed Martin, an arms company seen as complicit in violence affecting civilians, including Palestinians. Venues and festivals have sometimes cited ongoing legal cases and potential security risks as reasons for cancelling or restricting appearances by artists linked to proscribed organisations or charged with terrorism offences.

Organisers have also cancelled gigs to avoid political controversy or to distance themselves from artists whose statements could attract negative media attention. In such cases, ethical and reputational considerations often come into play. For instance, the open letter from over 300 theatremakers and cultural workers, including Maxine Peake and Asif Kapadia, forced HOME to reinstate the cancelled event after 100 artists removed their work from exhibitions in protest.

Taghrid Choucair-Vizoso, a Lebanese cultural worker based in the UK, has experienced reductive questioning about Palestinian art from some venues. Larissa Sansour, a Palestinian artist, believes that the rates of censorship are hard to quantify as many artists could be dropped before a programme is made public. Choucair-Vizoso has noticed an increase in censorship since October, particularly in scale and publicity, with her project being pulled due to the word "Palestine" in its title.

Saeed Taji Farouky, who has been campaigning against the silencing of Palestinian work by UK arts institutions for over 30 years, states that the cancellations of events featuring Palestinian or pro-Palestinian artists follow a familiar script and are often due to spurious claims of antisemitism. Farouky claims that the rate of event cancellations has intensified and that the groups working to suppress Palestinian voices have realized how effective their strategy is.

Arts Council England released new guidelines warning organisations that overtly political or activist statements could incur reputational risk and breach funding agreements. These guidelines have had a chilling effect on venues, deterring them from featuring Palestinian work. Venues that host events about topics like Ukraine and trans visibility are willing to do so, but Palestine is an exception.

In light of these incidents, questions arise about the role of cultural institutions in standing up for artistic freedom and what is morally right and legally defensible. Farouky questions where the leaders of cultural institutions are that are willing to stand up for themselves and the communities. As the debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and broader UK counter-terrorism policies continues, it is crucial for arts institutions to navigate these complex issues while upholding the principles of artistic freedom and inclusivity.

1. The controversy surrounding the Palestinian literature event, Voices of Resilience, at HOME in Manchester highlights a troubling trend in the UK, where events featuring Palestinian or pro-Palestinian artists are increasingly facing cancellations or controversies.
2. The alleged antisemitism and Holocaust denial of a featured writer at the event is just one example of the challenges faced by Palestinian artists and their supporters.
3. At Glastonbury 2025, pro-Palestinian acts like Kneecap faced calls for bans and cancellations due to controversies surrounding terrorism charges for one member.
4. Multiple bands pulled out of Manchester’s Radar Festival after organizers removed punk rap duo Bob Vylan from the lineup, following their denunciations of the situation in Gaza.
5. Sponsorship and institutional pressure also play a significant role in the cancellations of events featuring Palestinian or pro-Palestinian artists.
6. London musicians boycotted events at Kings Place due to a connection to Lockheed Martin, an arms company seen as complicit in violence affecting civilians, including Palestinians.
7. Venues and festivals cite ongoing legal cases and potential security risks as reasons for cancelling or restricting appearances by artists linked to proscribed organisations or charged with terrorism offences.
8. Organisers have also cancelled gigs to avoid political controversy or to distance themselves from artists whose statements could attract negative media attention.
9. In such cases, ethical and reputational considerations often come into play, with institutions often bowing to public pressure and media scrutiny.
10. Cultural workers like Taghrid Choucair-Vizoso have experienced reductive questioning about Palestinian art from some venues, while Larissa Sansour believes that the rates of censorship are hard to quantify as many artists could be dropped before a programme is made public.
11. Saeed Taji Farouky has been campaigning against the silencing of Palestinian work by UK arts institutions for over 30 years, stating that the cancellations of events featuring Palestinian or pro-Palestinian artists follow a familiar script and are often due to spurious claims of antisemitism.
12. Arts Council England's new guidelines warning organisations about overtly political or activist statements have had a chilling effect on venues, deterring them from featuring Palestinian work.
13. Questions arise about the role of cultural institutions in standing up for artistic freedom and what is morally right and legally defensible in the face of these controversies.
14. As the debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and broader UK counter-terrorism policies continues, it is crucial for arts institutions to navigate these complex issues while upholding the principles of artistic freedom and inclusivity.
15. Artists, cultural workers, and activists continue to call for greater support and freedom for Palestinian art, highlighting the need for ethical scrutiny and a commitment to artistic and cultural diversity in the UK and beyond.

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