Latest news with #ArtWorkersforPalestineScotland
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Scottish cultural groups 'lead world by far' on Israel boycott
On Monday, Art Workers for Palestine Scotland confirmed that more than 200 Scottish organisations had given their backing to the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). PACBI dates back to 2004. It asks artists and academics to sign up to boycott Israeli institutions in protest of the country's policies toward Palestinians, which experts including Amnesty International and B'Tselem say constitutes genocide. READ MORE: Wee Ginger Dug: The real reason Gaza journalists are killed? To hide Israel's crimes In Scotland, organisations including the Scottish Artists Union, BUZZCUT, Atlas Arts, Scottish Queer International Film Festival, Timespan, Arika, and the V&A Dundee Young People's Collective have all pledged to support PACBI. The PACBI campaign said that crossing the 200 threshold meant Scotland had 'by far the highest proportional uptake of our call in any country on earth'. The Scottish Government under SNP leader John Swinney is also considering a state boycott of Israel, as The National revealed last week, after it was challenged by Green MSP Ross Greer to follow up on its description of Israel's actions as genocide. A spokesperson from Art Workers for Palestine Scotland campaign said: 'Over the last two years our campaign for the cultural boycott of Israel has garnered over 200 endorsements from across the length and breadth of Scotland, sending a clear message to our cultural 'leaders' and politicians: that Scottish culture stands proudly and unequivocally with the Palestinian people. 'Israel's longstanding use of a 'culture' as a way to disguise its brutal regime of genocide and ethnic cleansing will no longer go unchallenged. We stand for real decolonisation in the arts and recognise the vital role of artists and art workers to use our platform and our skills for liberation. 'The backing of PACBI in Scotland represents the highest proportional uptake of PACBI anywhere in the world and is a testament to the radical currents running through Scottish culture, which was also at the forefront of the cultural boycott of Apartheid South Africa. 'We urge the Scottish Government to end its complicity and to use its full devolved power to back the Greer proposal and institute legislation that effectively boycotts the pariah state of Israel, which is in breach of international law, as Apartheid South Africa was before it. 'We especially demand the Scottish Government formerly backs a full sporting and cultural boycott of Israel.'
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Festival artists urged to back Baillie Gifford open letter
Edinburgh International Festival performers are being urged to back an open letter from pro-Palestine campaigners demanding the event ditch its biggest corporate backer. More than 200 artists, arts workers and audience members are already said to have supported calls for the 78-year-old event to sever its ties with Baillie Gifford over its links with state-owned firms in Israel and the fossil fuels industry. The open letter has been published days after the launch of a new campaign calling for the annual cultural to drop Baillie Gifford after more than a year of talks with the festival. Read more: The Art Workers for Palestine Scotland group has described Baillie Gifford's backing of the festival event - which was created in the aftermath of the Second World War – as 'artwashing.' Its open letter urges the festival to 'end all partnerships with Baillie Gifford and to publicly commit to refusing funding from institutions profiting from arms, fossil fuels, and genocide.' Baillie Gifford is one of the main corporate backers of the Edinburgh International Festival. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA The campaign group has claimed that the festival has tried to gag artists and performers in this year's event through clauses in their contracts about conduct which may affect the 'reputation' of the EIF, its sponsors and supporters. In an email to the group from the EIF board, the festival has insisted that the contract causes are 'standard provisions' used by UK arts organisations. The board added: 'They are not, and have never been, intended to silence or censor political expression.' The open letter has been published during the first week of the EIF, days after director Nicola Benedetti pledged that the event would be doubling down' on the founding principles which saw the event emerge in the aftermath of the Second World War. She said the festival would be 'unwavering' in its commitment to bring artists together from around the world as she admitted feeling 'deep and constant pain' over the impact of prolonged conflict. The EIF decided last year to stand by Baillie Gifford despite book festivals across the UK cutting their ties with the company in response to threats to boycott and disrupt events from climate activists and authors. In June it emerged that the EIF had backed an open letter from arts organisations across the UK warning of the impact of 'relentless negativity' over corporate sponsors. Francesca Hegyi, chief executive of the EIF, has suggested there has been a 'wholescale collapse of arts sponsorship' since Baillie Gifford was targeted over its links with festivals. An email from the EIF to the campaign group last month said the festival had had 'detailed conservations' with Baillie Gifford over its investments and was 'satisfied that our relationship with them remains appropriate.' The EIF, which has suggested that the campaign group has been individually contacting members of staff working on the event, has stressed that it has a 'duty of care' to its staff, artists and audiences. It has also told the group that it will not be support a cultural boycott of Israel or taking 'public political positions on international conflicts.' However the open letter from the campaigners states: 'Programming choices are political. Silence is political. Accepting money from those who fund genocide is a political act. 'The eyes of the world are on Edinburgh this August. Let this be the moment we choose justice over reputation, integrity over comfort, and solidarity over silence.' A spokesperson for the EIF said: We share public concern about the ongoing violence in the Palestinian Territories, and other areas enduring conflict. 'The right to speak out, to demand change, and to protest these issues is fundamental to democracy. 'The festival gives voice to artists for important ideas, questions and stories to be freely presented and debated with nuance and empathy. Our 2025 programme tackles this and other important global issues head-on, from a range of perspectives. 'Our responsibility is to ensure the future of the festival, so that we can continue to offer public benefit and offer audiences transformational experiences. To do this we must secure funding from a balanced mix of public and private sources. 'Support from long standing donors such as Baillie Gifford enables us to sustain our artistic ambition, remain accessible to the widest possible audience, and contribute meaningfully to Scotland's cultural life.'
STV News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- STV News
CCA closes amid planned takeover by pro-Palestinian activists
The Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Glasgow has temporarily closed in response to protests planned by pro-Palestine activists. The board announced on Wednesday that it had made the decision to keep the building on Sauchiehall Street closed for the rest of the week. It comes after Art Workers for Palestine Scotland shared plans to occupy the public courtyard as part of a week-long programme of action. The campaign group said it would stage an events programme in the 'liberated zone', including workshops, screenings and discussions that centre Palestinian liberation and 'interrogate the complicity of Scottish cultural institutions in the ongoing genocide in Gaza'. The action was announced in response to the CCA's Board's refusal to endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). STV News Art Workers for Palestine Scotland action at CCA The PACBI advocates for a boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions. Activists began their takeover on Tuesday, resulting in police being called and a 63-year-old woman being arrested. The CCA Board said the decision had been taken to close the building temporarily to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of staff and partners and 'create space for reflection'. A statement issued on social media said: 'In light of recent events and ongoing conversations involving the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), we've made the decision to keep the building closed to the public for the remainder of this week. 'This is not a decision we take lightly, but we recognise the need to pause. The temporary closure will allow us to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our staff and partners, and to create space for reflection. 'We understand the strength of feeling being expressed by our community, and we remain committed to engaging with this moment thoughtfully. 'We will be sharing further updates in the coming days.' In response, AW4P accused the CCA of choosing 'complicity' and called for the resignations of board member Roddy Hunter and chair of the board Jean Cameron. 'GSA Pal Soc are disgusted by the actions of the CCA and its board that took place yesterday, during a public programme of events centered around resistance, learning and artistic solidarity organised by Art Workers for Palestine', the group said in a statement. 'CCA used internal security, then called police who violently escalated the situation and brutally arrested a member of the public. It is completely shameful and abhorrent to enact fascist state violence against members of their local community who refuse to stay silent in the face of genocide.' STV News Art Workers for Palestine Scotland action at CCA A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 12.55pm on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, we received a report of a disturbance involving a large group on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. 'Officers attended and engaged with those present. The group later dispersed. 'A 63-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection, and is expected to appear at court at a later date.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Glasgow arts centre temporarily closes after pro-Palestine protest
The Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Glasgow was taken over by campaigners from Art Workers for Palestine Scotland on Tuesday. People could be seen sat outside the building blocking the entrance, while traffic was temporarily unable to pass through the area. (Image: NQ) Police confirmed a 63-year-old woman had been arrested, while the details of other participants were taken down by officers as they left the scene. The group had planned to takeover the building from Tuesday until Saturday in protest over the CCA board's recent refusal to adopt a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) policy or endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). The sit-in was set to feature events, workshops and screenings that showcase Palestinian art and culture and interrogate "the complicity of Scottish cultural institutions" in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. On Wednesday, however, the CCA said it would be temporarily closing for the rest of the week, citing "recent events and ongoing conversations" involving the centre. READ MORE: UK Culture Secretary: BBC should not show Kneecap's Glastonbury set In a statement shared on Instagram on Wednesday, the CCA said: "In light of recent events and ongoing conversations involving the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), we've made the decision to keep the building closed to the public for the remainder of this week. "This is not a decision we take lightly, but we recognise the need to pause. The temporary closure will allow us to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our staff and partners, and to create space for reflection. "We understand the strength of feeling being expressed by our community, and we remain committed to engaging with this moment thoughtfully. "We will be sharing further updates in the coming days. Thank you for your support, and for your patience." Following Tuesday's protest, police confirmed to The National that a criminal investigation was underway linked to licencing laws.
The National
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Pro-Palestine takeover to protest Scottish arts centre policy
Organised by Art Workers for Palestine Scotland, the event at the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Glasgow – running from Tuesday to Saturday – will feature events, workshops and screenings that showcase Palestinian art and culture and interrogate 'the complicity of Scottish cultural institutions' in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The takeover will be held in the public courtyard in what was described as a response to the CCA board's recent refusal to adopt a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) policy or endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). The PACBI advocates for a boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions. Earlier this year, an open letter signed by more than 800 artists, workers and audiences urged the CCA to take action to endorse PACBI and align policy with its public values, but the board has reportedly refused. READ MORE: What happens if Palestine Action is banned under terrorism laws? A spokesperson for Art Workers for Palestine Scotland said: 'The board's decision not to endorse PACBI reveals a disturbing trend of institutional complicity. 'We cannot stand by as our cultural spaces are used to sanitise genocide. This takeover is a community-led act of transformation reclaiming CCA as a space of justice, resistance and Palestinian cultural life. 'We are here to show the depth and breadth of solidarity with Palestine in Glasgow and beyond. Through this takeover, we centre Palestinian voices and culture while holding our institutions to account. 'Another CCA is possible and urgently necessary.' The CCA has been approached for comment. Art Workers for Palestine Scotland also recently called out the Glasgow Film Theatre's (GFT) decision not to endorse BDS and PACBI. Glasgow Film said this was in order to retain "independent decision making" and uphold its "commitment to Cinema For All". Three members of the GFT board resigned, raising concerns about the processes leading to the decision. READ MORE: The proscription of Palestine Action has frightening implications Art Workers for Palestine Scotland said: "It will go down in history that, given the opportunity to stand with the Palestinian people following months of genocide and starvation at the hands of a colonial oppressor, the GFT chose complicity, cowardice and blatant disregard for human life." Earlier this year, front-of-house and cleaning staff at the GFT staged a boycott on handling any goods connected to the BDS movement, which resulted in Coca-Cola products no longer being served. Campaign group Art Workers for Palestine Scotland then published an open letter to the GFT calling for the cinema to adhere to the BDS movement and endorse PACBI. The letter was signed by more than 1400 people and included the likes of Ghassan Abu-Sittah, the rector of the University of Glasgow, and filmmaker Ken Loach.
