The Israeli funding is to be used by the festival to stage a Sydney Opera House performance by Sydney Dance Company of work by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin.
Khaled Sabsabi won the Blake Prize in 2011 and has built an international reputation for his video installations and other work. A large survey exhibition is currently being installed at Campbelltown Arts Centre under the umbrella of Sydney Festival. Sabsabi said that while the exhibitionA Hopewould still go ahead,he was cutting all ties with the festival.
“I’ve decided to withdraw from the Sydney Festival out of solidarity with the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause,” he said. “That’s how I feel about it. The Sydney Festival’s decision is their decision.”
Campbelltown Arts Centre director Michael Dagostino said he supported Sabsabi’s decision but wouldn’t comment on Sydney Festival’s fundraising policy.
“At Campbelltown Arts Centre,it’s really important that we consult with our artists and our local community to ensure everything aligns with the values of the organisations and the people that we work with,” he said.
Earlier this week,Sydney Festival sent a letter to a coalition representing Sydney’s Arab community and others who are calling for the boycott.