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Gallery makes ‘difficult’ decision to cancel Palestine-themed arts events
An art gallery has announced it will no longer host two Palestine-themed film events citing concerns they would be “construed as political activity”.
A screening of the coming-of-age film Farha and a live poetry and spoken word evening were due to take place at the Arnolfini on December 2 as part of Bristol Palestine Film Festival.
Festival organisers took to social media on Monday to say they were “disappointed” the gallery overlooking the Floating Harbour had withdrawn their offer to host the two events.
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Arnolfini said it made the “challenging” and “difficult” decision as they put a strain on the legal requirement for arts charities to remain apolitical.
Watershed – also an arts charity – has stepped in to host the film screening while Sparks in Broadmead is now the venue for the poetry evening.
Taking place across four venues from December 2 to 10, Bristol Palestine Film Festival aims to platform Palestinian stories and traditions by showcasing the Middle Eastern culture’s contemporary cinema and arts. It was founded in 2011 by David Owen after he visited Palestine with the Easton Cowboys football team.
The festival was due to open at Arnolfini with a screening of Farha, billed as “the film that Israeli government officials tried to cancel” and tells the story of 14-year-old Farha, whose childhood, and her dreams of an education, are shattered following the brutal military invasion of her country.
Later in the evening, local poetry night Raise the Bar planned to host ‘Poetry on Palestine’, described as “an evening of spoken word, film and discussion in support of Palestine, on the 75th anniversary of the Nakba” with hip hop artist, political campaigner and vocal anti-Zionist Lowkey headlining.
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In a statement, Arnolfini said: “Following careful consideration, and several discussions with the organisers, Arnolfini took the difficult decision not to host the two interrelated Palestinian Film Festival events on December 2.
“We recognise that this has led to a variety of views. Our reasons for making this challenging decision were based on the following.
“1. The difficulty for arts charities hosting events that might be construed as political activity).
“2. Hosting events which combine film, performance and discussion panels meant we could not be confident that the event would not stray into political activity.
“3. The current tensions caused by the external international environment means: i. it is more likely that events might be construed as political activity. ii. it is beyond our available resources to adequately risk assess events such as the above at this current time.
“We shared these reasons with the Bristol Palestinian Film Festival. We understand their disappointment. And we are pleased that the events are still scheduled to take place elsewhere in the city.
“Arnolfini will continue to present a broad programme of contemporary arts in Bristol and work with many artists and partners involving a wide range of subjects, in line with its charitable purpose, and its history of over sixty years of cultural programming.”
Guidance from the Charity Commission for England and Wales states campaigning and political activity are allowed but charities cannot exist for a political purpose and must ensure that any involvement with political parties is balanced.
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Responding to Arnolfini’s post on Instagram, Paul Ellis said: “I having read your reasoning on the website, I still feel shocked and saddened that you have chosen to abandon these artists and their creative output because you feel the events and content might be misconstrued as political activity.
“Could you have endeavoured to change the format of the event? Surely the arts is a last bastion of freedom of expression.”
Another user wrote: “Art is always political, as are decisions like this, and using ‘risk assessment’ and ‘political guidelines’ as dodgy get out clauses is especially grubby tbh.
“Profoundly angry and disappointed with this decision, and the way it’s been dishonestly framed as some kind of unavoidable move the Arnolfini has been forced into.”
Protests have taken place in Bristol every week since the Israel-Hamas conflict began – photo: Rob Browne
Bristol Palestinian Film Festival is among a growing number of events across the globe highlighting Palestinian culture, society and politics that have been called off or put on hold since the war began.
This includes a concert of young Palestinian musicians being indefinitely postponed in London and Boston Palestine Film Festival choosing not to hold live screenings.
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Bristol Palestine Film Festival makes a timely return
- Hundreds of pro-Palestine supporters march through Bristol
- Posters of people kidnapped from Israel appear in Bristol
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