Reflecting on The Centre of Somewhere: a major Glasgow–Johannesburg exchange with The Centre for the Less Good Idea and the British Council, supporting four artists to create across two cities.
As an organisation which seeks to bring Scottish artists into dialogue with the rest of the world, we cannot ignore the ongoing Genocide against the Palestinian people from the Israeli State. In addition to calling for an immediate ceasefire, Take Me Somewhere pledges support for the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).
What is PACBI?
“The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) was initiated in 2004 to contribute to the struggle for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality. It advocates for a boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions for their deep and persistent complicity in Israel’s denial of Palestinian rights that are stipulated in international law.” Further detail can be found here: www.bdsmovement.net/pacbi/cultural-boycott-guidelines
In action for Take Me Somewhere this looks like:
- Not platforming or participating in performance projects, residencies & arts/academic exchanges which are in receipt of funding from the Israeli Government, complicit Israeli institutions or Israeli Embassy touring funding.
- Not programming or participating in performance projects, residencies & arts/academic exchanges which serve to normalise and/or whitewash the Israeli system of oppression, or present a 'two-sides' narrative that assumes that both colonisers and colonised are equally responsible for “conflict”.
- Reviewing in detail the guidelines laid out in the PACBI Guidelines for the International Cultural Boycott of Israel & writing them into our policies.
Wider to PACBI, TMS will also share fundraisers, events & protests related to ending the genocide on our social media platforms.
The cultural boycott of Israel will continue until Israel is in compliance with the basic demands outlined in the 2005 BDS Call.
We want to acknowledge our appreciation & respect for the incredible labour undertaken by Art Workers For Palestine Scotland in holding the Scottish arts sector to account whilst providing essential resources & research to rally support for Palestine in Scotland.
As part of the Diverse Critics programme, Elspeth Wilson reviews Christopher Willes and Adam Kinner's Manual - a one-on-one performance turning Glasgow's Mitchell Library into a space of sensory encounter.
As part of the Diverse Critics programme, Zinzi Buchanan reflects on Nando Messias' TransMission: Sissy TV - a performance drawing on two decades of archive to explore trans history, memory and beauty.
As part of the Diverse Critics programme, Maya Rose Edwards reviews Silvia Calderoni and Ilenia Caleo's The Present Is Not Enough - a charged, celebratory exploration of queer desire commissioned for the festival.
As part of the Diverse Critics programme, Natasha Thembiso Ruwona reflects on NXSA's Proxy 2.2 - a planned performance reimagined as a gathering, holding space for solidarity, care and rest.
Our biennial festival returns live for the first time since the pandemic, taking over Glasgow 13–28 October - opening with works of scale from Carolina Bianchi, Louise Ahl and Sonya Lindfors.
Thanks to funding from the Federation of Scottish Theatre, we’re delighted to welcome Jamie Rea to the Take Me Somewhere team on a producing placement for the 2021 Festival.
Jamie is a Deaf artist and producer, raised in Northern Ireland and living in Glasgow since 2015. His first language is British Sign language (BSL). He was a member of the first cohort of students in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s BA Performance in BSL and English, graduating in 2018. He has collaborated with cultural organisations across England and Scotland including National Theatre of Scotland, BUZZCUT, Take Me Somewhere, Raw Material and Solar Bear, as a BSL consultant (including embedding access, hosting and promotion), workshop leader, and performer.
Jamie says:
“I am thrilled to get a producer placement with Take Me Somewhere. I’ve known them since 2015 and this is finally achieving one of my goals, to work with them. They guided me into different areas and cultures of the performing arts in the past five years, and now I have this opportunity to explore possibilities and break barriers. As a deaf performer myself, I will bring my culture, diversity and experience into this program, hoping to start a game changing approach to the production of performing arts. My aim is to make our theatres for everyone! To reach the equality we need for our deaf artists and performers.”