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 oppression of the Israeli State, 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.