What are the responsibilities of a British cultural institution, organisation or charity when the gravest of crimes are being committed in plain sight in Gaza? What meaningful steps can a cultural institution take at a time when arts workers, artists and communities feel frustrated and distraught at their collective failure to prevent genocide?

In September Amnesty International published a report that called on public institutions, as well as states, to live up to their obligations and responsibilities under international law and standards with regards to Israel’s genocide, military occupation and system of apartheid against Palestinians. Amnesty adds: 

“The public at large must demand that they [institutions] do so … The actions and commitments of everyone – states, public institutions, companies and the public – must match the gravity of the situation amidst a staggering loss of Palestinian lives, [and] the irreparable damage caused to Palestinians”.

Palestinian civil society has for over two decades consistently called on international cultural workers and cultural organisations, at a bare minimum, to abide by the principle of ‘do no harm’, and crucially, to end the complicity of their own governments and institutions in Israel’s crimes.

Arts institutions in Britain can show leadership by embedding ethical policies that uphold a commitment to “universal values and international obligations that are the foundations of the global multilateral system” (Amnesty). Taking this action now will help build the resilience of the organization, protect human rights for all, and positively impact the cultural climate in this country for years to come.

While the vast majority of British arts and culture organisations have relatively transparent (though often inadequate) policies relating to inclusivity, anti-discrimination, accessibility, and sustainability, very few have incorporated a basic respect for international law into these policies. In practice, this means that while racist, homophobic or otherwise discriminatory behaviours can be rooted out, individuals or bodies that are complicit in or that justify war crimes, systemic racial violence, genocide, or apartheid are tolerated, and their positions effectively normalised.

The model policy below, developed by the Palestinian Performing Arts Network, shows how cultural institutions can make clear that they are committed without exception to a  practical and consistent commitment to universalist values.

We believe this model must be the absolute baseline for organizations – the very least they can do – given Israel’s genocide in Gaza, its underlying system of apartheid against the Palestinian people, and the damage Israel’s impunity is doing to global legal norms and protections.

Model Policy on Ethical Programming and Partnerships for Cultural Institutions

This cultural institution commits to uphold universal principles of human rights and international law, to refrain from doing or contributing to undue harm, and to ensure basic ethical standards.

Based on this:

1. Programming: This institution will not include in its programming artists, cultural groups/bands/orchestras, or cultural products that are produced by entities that are verifiably complicit in, advocate for, or whitewash grave violations of international law (such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide), racism or racial violence.

2. Sponsorship & Funding: This institution will not accept sponsorship/partnership or other forms of funding from individuals, corporations or other entities that are verifiably complicit in, advocating for, or whitewash grave violations of international law (such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide), racism or racial violence.

*photo credit: Palestinian Performing Arts Network