Artists cancel Sydney Festival performances over decision to accept $20,000 from Israeli embassy

More than 20 acts have boycotted this year’s Sydney Festival because of the board’s decision to accept a $20,000 donation from the Israeli embassy to stage a dance performance.

The three-week event, which begins today, is considered one of Australia’s major arts and cultural occasions.

It is scheduled to bring a range of music, cabaret, dance, theatre and visual art performances to the city.

While 30 per cent of the festival’s funding comes from the NSW government and the City of Sydney, the remainder comes from donations and partnerships — one of which this year has led to wave of cancellations.

Twenty-three acts have officially confirmed their decision to boycott the festival in response to the Israeli embassy’s financial support of a Sydney Dance Company performance by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin.

Israel is also listed as a “star partner” on the festival’s website.

The withdrawals include comedians Tom Ballard and Nazeem Hussain, Indigenous intercultural dance theatre company Marrugeku, the Bankstown Poetry Slam, and broadcaster Yumi Stynes among others.

Theatre production, Seven Methods Of Killing Kylie Jenner, also pulled their show, saying on Instagram they “stand in solidarity with the Palestinian cause”.

Palestine Justice Movement Sydney organiser Fahad Ali said “art-washing human rights violations” was “not acceptable”.

“We told them that by accepting this sponsorship, they created an unsafe environment for Palestinian artists taking part in the festival and for audiences more broadly.”

Pro-Israel advocates claim the boycott is unhelpful and “doesn’t belong” in the arts space.

“It’s entirely inappropriate to bring this sort of conflict … a complex long conflict, into an Australia cultural festival,” Australia Jewish Association President, David Adler said.

“Australia also sponsors some of its artists and writers around the world for overseas involvements … so public funding to support cultural exchange is in principle, quite a common thing and quite a good thing.”

First-time festival director Olivia Ansell said she supported all artists, including those who had refused to participate.

“We stand behind our artists who have decided to have their say and withdraw from the festival but equally, we also stand behind our artists that are going to continue in the festival,” she said.

“All we ask is that the community respects one another and the choices they made and we’re here to now get on with the business of a festival.”

In a statement, the festival’s board said it would review its practices in relation to funding from foreign governments.

Refunds will be provided to ticket-holders.

The festival has previously partnered with other foreign governments including the US, Canada, and Germany.

It’s not the first time Sydney Festival has been hit by controversy.

Last year, actor Hugh Sheridan was cast in a transgender role in the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Activists claimed only trans people should play the role — and producers pulled the show.