This month, several editorials have been published and countless toxic comments made on social media calling on artists to boycott the Sydney Festival.
The reason? The Israeli Embassy in Sydney wanted financially to support the artists, musicians and community of Sydney, a gesture of goodwill and friendship that has been offered in past festivals by numerous other embassies and internationally affiliated companies and organisations.
As an Australian who has worked with some of the most well-known cultural, film and music acts in the world, I feel compelled to respond to this disturbing, divisive and hugely counterproductive call. A call that harms local artists, unfairly demonises and dehumanises Israelis and ultimately damages the prospects for peace in the Middle East.
My work as an entertainment lawyer has included representation of film directors, writers and actors from all over the Middle East including Egyptians, Iranians, Saudis, Palestinians as well as Israelis. At the request of the Film Festival in Beirut, I was invited to teach a masterclass to young Middle Eastern filmmakers and share my 38 years of experience in an effort to help the next generation learn about the industry. The week that I spent there was one of the most fulfilling chapters of my career. It included leading a discussion with representatives from around the Middle East on how bringing together people in the arts is a way of finding commonality – building bridges together, not pulling them down.
During my career I’ve witnessed the power of cultural experiences, like music, to unite people of different backgrounds and from diverse communities. And I’ve used my platform to stand in solidarity with others.
The calls to boycott Israel, Israeli artists and festivals like this one merely dampen the constructive forms of engagement needed to bring Israelis, Palestinians and the international community together. They make it more difficult to establish trust, mutual understanding and compromise. Artists and entertainers have the ability to effect positive change and the selective targeting of Israel for a cultural boycott not only does not bring the region any closer to peace, but also fails and silences artists in the process.
In the worst instances, these boycotts have led to death threats against cultural icons including Argentine footballer Lionel Messi and songwriter Paul McCartney for merely wishing to visit Israel to play a friendly soccer match and perform at a concert there.
Hamas, which is a member of the boycott movement’s central committee, just publicly declared its support for the entertainers who have pulled out. Hamas is an internationally designated terrorist organisation whose aim is the destruction of Israel.
There’s a curious talking point used by those in favour of boycotting Israel and it can be found on the website of the activists spearheading the boycott of the Sydney Festival. It states: “Israel has long used culture and the arts to cloak its atrocities against the Palestinian people.” There is an insidious logic to such a statement. Are Israelis allowed to support the arts without being accused of doing so for shadowy reasons? Is every Israeli action, regardless of how benign, philanthropic or altruistic, an attempt to “cloak” Israeli domestic policies? Would we levy the same accusations against Australia? If so, is the Sydney Festival itself some sort of PR stunt to cover up our own nation’s shortcomings? This is a fallacious argument at its core.
There is such a thing as objective truth. And the assertion that Israel is an inherently racist, colonialist, apartheid state is simply not true. The calls to boycott Israeli-affiliated events like the Sydney Festival, push concepts of “us versus them” and “good versus evil”, paint the current conflict as undeniably simple. And if you question its supposed simplicity, you only prove your guilt of “oppression”. Those calling for this boycott refuse to acknowledge the considerable complexity, nuance and legitimate obstacles to peace that exist. They refuse to acknowledge that Jews are indigenous to the land of Israel and that more than half of Israelis are Mizrahi or Sephardic Jews who never left the Middle East when Jews were dispersed around the world by invaders centuries ago.
Recognising this truth doesn’t prevent peace, but allows for a mature, robust dialogue of how to achieve it. And it does so without misleading slogans, incendiary accusations and heated boycotts.
Unfortunately, the calls to boycott the Sydney Festival misrepresent basic truths about the Israeli state and weaponise indigeneity, while unfairly pressuring local artists from performing.
Let’s elevate the conversation, commit to being partners in peace, honour the lived history of Jews in their indigenous homeland and support local artists who want to perform in theirs.
While art can reflect politics, and artists can choose to reflect their politics in their own art, art should never become subservient to politics and artists and cultural events should never be forced to be politicised. Ultimately, the boycott movement is an affront to Palestinian and Israeli moderates alike who are seeking to reach peace through compromise, exchange and mutual recognition.
Craig Emanuel is the chair of the Entertainment and Media Practice of global legal firm Paul Hastings.
Craig Emanual is also an Advisory Board member of Creative Community for Peace.
Cover Photo: Decadance, produced by the Sydney Dance Company, at the Sydney Opera House by Daniel Boud.
Israeli, Jewish and pro-Israel groups all applauded the publication of an ‘unprecedented’ United Nations report on anti-Semitism, that, among other issues, links anti-Semitism to criticism of Israel and the BDS movement.
“This report marks one of the first times the U.N. has addressed the issue of anti-Semitism in any detail,” said Anne Herzberg, Legal Advisor and U.N. Liaison at NGO Monitor. “The Special Rapporteur condemned the use of anti-Semitic tropes and denial of Israel’s right to exist by BDS activists. Importantly, the Rapporteur also recommends the IHRA definition as a useful tool in combating anti-Semitism. Hopefully, U.N. bodies, particularly the Human Rights Council, will follow the Rapporteur’s lead by adopting IHRA and ending their promotion of anti-Semitic tropes and attacks on Israel’s legitimacy.”
The report, “Combatting Antisemitism to Eliminate Discrimination and Intolerance Based on Religion or Belief,” that was released by the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ahmed Shaheed, defines anti-Semitism as a global phenomenon—not one largely confined to the United States and Europe—as has been the case in many previous U.N. reports. The Special Rapporteur recognizes that the sources of anti-Semitism are varied, coming from the far right, from members of radical Islamist groups and from the political left.
The report identifies violence, discrimination and expressions of hostility motivated by Jew-hatred as a serious obstacle to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief. It expresses “serious concern that the frequency of anti-Semitic incidents appears to be increasing in magnitude and that the prevalence of anti-Semitic attitudes and the risk of violence against Jewish individuals and sites appears to be significant, including in countries with little or no Jewish population.”
Additionally, the report “notes claims that the objectives, activities and effects of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement are fundamentally anti-Semitic.”
The report recommends that all U.N. member states adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definitionof anti-Semitism. So far, 18 of them have done so.
“The Special Rapporteur recognizes that the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism can offer valuable guidance for identifying anti-Semitism in its various forms, and therefore encourages States to adopt it for use in education, awareness-raising, and for monitoring and responding to manifestations of anti-Semitism,” states the report.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, commented that “we welcome the release of this unprecedented report on the subject of anti-Semitism. The report reflects the organizational change towards Israel. The assertion that the BDS movement encourages anti-Semitism is an important U.N. statement. As I have said many times, anti-Semitism has no place in our society, and must be denounced everywhere and from every platform.”
“Thanks to Ahmed Shaheed’s methodical and determined leadership, the U.N. finally is recognizing the severity of this ages-old hatred against Jews, and offering constructive guidance to member states on how to combat anti-Semitism effectively in their own countries and globally,” said Felice Gaer, director of the American Jewish Committee’s Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights.
The World Jewish Congress also applauded the report’s release.
“We hope that this report serves as an eye-opener to the United Nations and its member states and that they finally take concrete action to stem the surge of anti-Semitism across the globe,” said World Jewish Congress president Ronald S. Lauder. “We are grateful to have been able to take part in the facilitation of this research to ensure that the very real concerns facing our communities on a daily basis were not only taken into consideration, but also addressed as areas deserving of serious and direct attention.” JN
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Cover photo: Wikimedia Commons via JNS.org
An anti-Israeli protest boycotting the Sydney Festival has been slammed as censorship for political purposes by celebrities around the world, including KISS frontman Gene Simmons.
By: Christopher Harris
Hollywood heavyweights have clapped back at anti-Israeli protesters boycotting the Sydney Festival after the Israeli embassy handed over $20,000 to help the arts festival put on a series of contemporary dance performances by a world-renowned choreographer.
So far 11 events have been cancelled from the festival’s line-up of plays, concerts and other performances due to artists pulling out.
A Jewish leader on Thursday said nobody batted an eyelid when the Chinese Communist Party-controlled China Southern Airlines sponsored the festival for seven years but the latest partnership triggered outrage, including from comedian Tom Ballard who said the money should be handed back.
“I respectfully ask that (the Sydney Festival) review its decision and return the funding in question, and I call on other artists to consider joining this boycott, too,” Ballard said.
The cast and crew of the play Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner also pulled out, saying that remaining involved would mean being complicit with “the art-washing of their star sponsor’s apartheid state”.
But Hollywood heavyweights, including Nancy Spielberg, as well as KISS frontman Gene Simmons signed an open letter yesterday urging Australians to resist attempts at censorship for political purposes.
“While art can reflect politics and artists can choose to reflect their politics in their own art, art should never become subservient to politics, and artists and cultural events should never be forced to be politicised,” the letter said.
Warner Records chief executive Aaron Bay-Schuck and Australian musician Nick Cave were also among the 120 signatories to the letter, co-ordinated by the Creative Community for Peace — a non-profit group promoting the arts as a means to counter anti-Semitism and oppose the cultural boycott of Israel.
The $20,000 reportedly paid by the Israeli embassy went to supporting the presentation of Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin’s Decadance at the Sydney Opera House from Thursday.
A festival spokesman said the performance was close to selling out, and of the 133 events originally scheduled, 11 were not proceeding.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Darren Bark said China had indirectly backed the event for years.
“Despite the accusations against China’s government regarding the genocide against the Uyghurs and the Tibetans, there were no similar boycott campaigns like we are seeing this year,” he said.
Cover photo: By gdcgraphics, <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0″ title=”Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0″>CC BY-SA 2.0</a>, <a href=”https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5218425″>Link</a>
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120+ celebrities and entertainment industry professionals to sign open letter in support of artistic freedom and against boycott of Sydney Festival.
More than 120 leaders from the entertainment industry have signed an open letter released by the non-profit entertainment industry organisation Creative Community For Peace in support of the Sydney Festival and participating artists.
After suffering through two years of border closures, extended COVID lockdowns, the most catastrophic bushfires on record and devastating floods, this iconic Festival, celebrating its 45th year, is supposed to celebrate Sydney’s diverse history and rich culture, reuniting Sydney as a community.
The open letter comes in response to attempts by anti-Israel activists to boycott the Sydney Festival because the Israeli Embassy in Australia is sponsoring the performance of a world-renowned Israeli dance ensemble.
The entertainment leaders stand united in rejecting the cultural boycott of Israel as yet another roadblock to peace and its subversion of art for nefarious political purposes.
“While art can reflect politics, and artists can choose to reflect their politics in their own art, art should never become subservient to politics and artists and cultural events should never be forced to be politicised,” the letter reads.
Signatories to the open letter include: Gene Simmons: Artist, KISS; Aaron Bay-Schuck: CEO/Co-Chairman Warner Record; Diane Warren: Songwriter/Producer; Craig Emanuel: Partner, Paul Hastings LLC; Emile Sherman: Co-Founder, See-Saw Films; Rick Rosen: Co-Founder, Endeavor; Ben Silverman: Chairman & Co-CEO, Propagate Content; Orly Marley: President, Tuff Gong Worldwide; Jacqueline Saturn: President, Virgin Music; Stephan Elliot: Director; Emmanuelle Chriqui: Actress; Dan Rosen: Music Executive; Michael Rotenberg: Partner, 3 Arts Entertainment; David Zedeck: Global Head of Music at UTA; Gary Gersh: President, Global Touring, A.E.G.; David Draiman: Artist, Frontman of Disturbed; Haim Saban: Chairman & CEO, Saban Capital Group; and Sherry Lansing: Former CEO of Paramount Pictures. A full list of all the signatories can be seen below.
The letter’s signatories believe strongly in the power of art to bring people together, transcend boundaries, broaden awareness, and affect positive societal change. They also call on their friends and colleagues to join in expressing support for the artists of the Sydney Festival and against this counterproductive boycott call.
“We, the undersigned, believe the cultural boycott movement of the Sydney Festival is an affront to both Palestinians and Israelis who are working to advance peace through compromise, exchange, and mutual recognition. While we all may have differing opinions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the best path to peace, we all agree that a cultural boycott is not the answer.” the letter continues.
“The organisers of the Sydney Festival boycott intentionally misrepresent the truth about Israel and make provocative statements, to try and bully artists into backing out of the festival. Their messages deceptively involve an element of dishonesty and deny the truth of Jewish indigeneity to the land of Israel. Their actions only further hostility and dampen hope for peace, which all of us so urgently desire,” stated Ari Ingel, Director of Creative Community for Peace.
Mr. Ingel added that “the Sydney Festival is a beautiful event celebrating Sydney’s diverse and rich culture – bringing the entire community together. Unfortunately, it’s now being used for political purposes to divide, rather than unite. The boycott movement is also counterproductive and instead of amplifying the voices of coexistence trying to effect real change on the ground, those who support the calls for a boycott are only creating more hostility, division, and mistrust.”
Creative Community for Peace aims to promote the arts and culture as a means to peace and to counter and educate the entertainment industry about rising antisemitism. To learn more about their work, visit www.creativecommunityforpeace.com.
OPEN LETTER
We, the undersigned, believe that cultural events are vitally important vehicles to bring people together of different backgrounds under a shared love of the arts.
The annual Sydney Festival embodies this unifying power. Every year, thousands of Australians make common cause in a massive display of cultural exchange and celebration of our diverse cultures and histories.
Unfortunately, this year, the spirit of the Festival is under attack by those calling for a boycott because the Israeli Embassy is sponsoring a world renowned Israeli dance ensemble. This call for a boycott turns the festival from an opportunity for unity into a weapon of division.
We also reject the boycott activist claims that Jews are not indigenous to the land of Israel. The Jewish people have over a 3,000 year connection to the land of Israel, and many Jewish families have lived in the land for hundreds of generations. This fact does not deny any other groups claims of indigeneity.
While art can reflect politics, and artists can choose to reflect their politics in their own art, art should never become subservient to politics and artists and cultural events should never be forced to be politicized.
We believe the cultural boycott movement is an affront to both Palestinians and Israelis who are working to advance peace through compromise, exchange, and mutual recognition.
While we all may have differing opinions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the best path to peace, we all agree that a cultural boycott is not the answer.
As Nick Cave stated: “The cultural boycott of Israel is cowardly and shameful. Israel is a real, vibrant, functioning democracy – yes, with Arab members of parliament – and so engaging with Israelis, who vote, may be more helpful than scaring off artists or shutting down means of engagement.”
We call on all our friends and colleagues in the entertainment community to express their support for an exciting and successful Sydney Festival 2022 and to purchase a ticket and attend the festival itself to understand the power of arts to bring people together first hand.
SIGNATORIES
Gene Simmons: Artist/ co-lead singer KISS
Aaron Bay-Schuck: CEO/Co-Chairman Warner Records
Jason Adelman: Vice President, Brand Innovators
Orly Adelson: Producer, Orly Adelson Productions
Marty Adelstein: CEO, Tomorrow Studios
Benjamin Adler: Violinist (CHUTNEY)
Michael Adler: Partner of Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler, Feldman & Clark Inc.
Nate Auerbach: Partner, Versus Creative
Eric Balfour: Actor
Eve Barlow: Music/Culture Journalist
Richard Baskind: Partner & Head of Music, Simons Muirhead & Burton
Miles Beard: Senior Vice President, A&R at Artist Partner Group, Inc.
Aton Ben-Horin: Global Vice President of A&R for Warner Music Group
Pablo Bendersky: Producer/Artist
Steven Bensusan: President, Blue Note Entertainment Group
Adam Berkowitz: Founder and President, Lenore Entertainment Group
Luc Bernard: Director, Voices of the Forgotten
Josh Binder: Partner, Rotherberg, Mohr, and Binder LLP
Neil Blair: Partner, The Blair Partnership
Evan Bogart: Songwriter & Co-Founder of Boardwalk Entertainment Group
Josh Brill: Writer, Producer
David Byrnes: Partner, Ziffren, Brittenham, LLP
Markell Casey: Music Executive
Brian Celler: Bravo Charlie Management
Pamela Charbit: A&R Manager, Atlantic Records
Garry Charny: CEO/Producer, Spotted Turquoise
Deborah Conway: Artist
Leanne Coronel: President, The Coronel Group
Emmanuelle Chriqui: Actress
Raye Cosbert: Managing Director, Metropolis Music
Ian Daly: Head of Brand Strategy, Live Nation
Greg Daniels: Writer and Producer
Josh Deutsch: Chairman/CEO, Premier Music Group
Avi Diamond: Director, Film & Licensing Warner Chappell Music
Kosha Dillz: Artist
Craig Dorfman: President and Owner, Frontline MGMT
David Draiman: Artist, Frontman of Disturbed
Stephan Elliot: Director
Craig Emanuel: Partner, Paul Hastings LLC
Ron Fair: Record Producer & CEO, Faircraft Inc.
Sharon Farber: Composer
Daniel Federman: Owner, Maccabi Tel Aviv
Ken Fermaglich: Partner, United Talent Agency
Josh Fluxgold: President, One Way MGMT
Erica Forster: VP of Music Partnerships, DanceOn
Gary Foster: Principal at Krasnoff Foster Productions
Jordan Frazes: Founder, Frazes Creative
Daryl Friedman: Former Chief Advocacy & Industry Relations Officer for The Recording Academy
Siri Garber: President, Platform Public Relations
David Gardner: President, Artists First
Andrew Genger: Manager, Red Light Management
Gary Gersh: President of Global Talent, AEG
Gary Ginsberg: Former Senior VP, SoftBank Group Corp.
Daniel Glass: President and Founder, Glassnote Records
Karen Glauber: President, HITS Magazine
David Glick: Founder & CEO, Edge Group
Elon Gold: Comedian
Michael Goldwasser: Producer & President/Co-Founder, Easy Star Records
Lara Goodridge: Musician, (FourPlay/Baby et Lulu)
Andrew Gould: Senior Music Executive
Cary Granat: CEO, Immersive Artistry
Trudy Green: Trudy Green Management/HK
Steve Greenberg: President, S-Curve Records
Scott Greenberg: Manager and Partner at LBI Entertainment
Ronnie Harris: Partner, Harris & Trotter LLP
Jo Hart: Founder, Hart Media
Avi Hirshbein: Associate, Sony Production Music
Richard “BournRich” Ingram: Artist, Creative Director
Ilya Isakovich: Australian Chamber Orchestra
Neil Jacobson: Founder, Hallwood Media
Jonathan Jakubowicz: Writer and Director
Rick Kalowski: Screenwriter/Producer
Zach Katz: President, Raised In Space
Ilan Kidron: Songwriter/Musician
Scott Kluge: President, Tremendous Entertainment
Amanda Kogan: Agent, The Gersh Agency
Rick Krim: Co-Founder, Worldwired Music
Romi Kupfer: Artistic Director (RK Collaborations)
Gabz Landman: VP of A&R, Warner Records
Sherry Lansing: Former CEO of Paramount Pictures
Colin Lester OBE: Founder/Chairman, JEM Music Group
David Levy: Partner, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
David Levy: Former President of Turner/WarnerMedia, Founder of Back Nine Ventures
David Lonner: CEO, The David Lonner Co.
Ben Maddahi: SVP A&R, Columbia Records
Gabriel Mann: Composer/Producer
Susan Markheim: Manager, Full Stop Mgt., The Azoff Company
Orly Marley: President, Tuff Gong Worldwide
Nancy Matalon: VP of A&R, Spirit Music Group
David Mazouz: Actor
Julia McCrossin: Broadcaster/Comedian
Leetal Nissenbaum: VP of Synchronization and Licensing, Ultra Records
Lisa Nupoff: Manager, IMINMUSIC Management
Scott Packman: SSP Partners
Mike Praw: Music Executive
David Renzer: Former Chairman/CEO of Universal Music Publishing
Jaimison M. Roberts: Attorney
Hanna Rochelle: Founder & President, Lyric Culture
Dan Rosen: Music Executive
Rick Rosen: Co-Founder, Endeavor
Michael Rotenberg: Partner, 3 Arts Entertainment
Autumn Rowe: Songwriter, Producer, DJ
Haim Saban: Chairman & CEO, Saban Capital Group
Jacqueline Saturn: President, Virgin Music
Ayelet Schiffman: SVP Head of Promotions, Island Records
Paul Schindler: Senior Chair of the New York Entertainment and Media Practice
Steve Schnur: President of Music, Electronic Arts
Jordan Schur: CEO & Chairman, Mimran Schur Pictures & Suretone Entertainment
Sam Schwartz: Partner, Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency
Camila Seta: Marketing & Content Strategy, Rogers & Cowan
Emile Sherman: Producer, See-Saw Films
Noah “Westside Gravy” Shufutinsky: Artist
Ben Silverman: Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Propagate Content
Ralph Simon: Chairman & CEO, Mobilium Global Limited
Marty Singer: Attorney, Lavely and Singer
Jeff Sosnow: EVP A&R, Warner Music
Donna Spievak: Director of Strategic Marketing, Interscope Records
Nancy Spielberg: Filmmaker
Jonathan Steinsapir: Partner, Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert LLP
Gary Stiffelman: Founder, GSS Law
Aaron Symonds: Composer
Traci Szymanski: President, Co-Star Entertainment
Adam Taylor: President, APM Music
Noa Tishby: Actress, Producer
Fred Toczek: Partner, Felker Toczek Gelman Suddleson
Eric Tuchman: Writer, Producer
Jeremy Vuernick: Executive VP of A&R, Capitol Records
Diane Warren: Songwriter, Producer
Joshua Washington: Artist, Producer
Jon Weinbach: President, Skydance Sports
Nola Weinstein: Global Head of Culture & Experiential, Twitter
Evan Winiker: Managing Partner, Range Media
Jeffrey Winter: Executive Director, The Film Collaborative
Sharon Tal Yguado: Founder & CEO, Astrid Entertainment
David Zedeck: Global Head of Music, United Talent Agency
Willy Zygier: Artist
Signatories as of January 9, 2021:
Alex Voihanski: President Unity Through Sport
Anthony Bregman: Producer, Likely Story
Avi Goldstein: Rockaway Nissan
Deborah Harris: The Deborah Harris Agency, Founder and Director
Dr. Evgeny Sorkin: Performer
Dror Shaul: Filmmaker
Efrat Lev: Foreign Rights Director, the Deborah Harris Literary Agency
Fay Sussman: The Klezmer Fivas Band
Geoff Sirmai: Arts Publicist, Actor
George Eltman: The Deborah Harris Agency
Immanuel Suttner: Poet
Isser Feiglin: Performer
Jennifer Hillman: H S Consulting, Waterhole Art
Lloyd Morris: Lloyd Morris Promotions
Nick Shay Deutsch: Former Artistic Director Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM)
Ole Bohn: A/Professor Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Roger Velik: Director, Leopard View Pty Ltd
Sam Weiss: Composer for Film & Television/Saxophonist
Sean Marks: Partner, Marks Law Group
Sheldon Sroloff: VP Creative Artist Agency
Sondra Gordon: Quest/CCNY, New York City, N.Y. U.S.A.
Tamar Simon: Mean Streets Management
Victoria S Cook: Partner, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz
Vladimir Fanshil: Conductor, Producer
Jack Eppington: Artist, Epmusic
David Bernard: Senior BP, CHEAR CENTER
Jackie & Steven Worth: The Mighty Music Machine & Mighty Mixes
Mohammad Baqlawa: Composer, Film & Television/UAEspoort
Hilda Feinstein: Quest Lifelong Learning
Michael Nebenzahl: Managing Director, Playbill Group
Dr Gene Sherman AM: Founder and Director, Sherman Centre for Culture and Ideas
Tony Weinstein: DePauw University
Ilana Wernick: Writer/Producer
Susan Fisher: Actress
Valerie Nissim: Writer
Talia Harris Ram: TV and Film Manager at the Deborah Harris Agency
Jennifer Herzog: Theatre Practitioner/Arts Educator
Nicola Furst: Producer Furst Class Productions
Roderic Wachovsky: Playwright/Director, Happy Guy Theater
Michael Zweig: Attorney
Sonya Lifschitz: Head of Music Performance and Creative Practice, University of NSW
Alyson Fishbein: Singer/Songwriter and Biological Anthropologist
Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: Founder #BlazeitForward
Josh Roehl: Singer/Songwriter
Daniel Scharf: Producer/Talent Agent
Austen Tayshus: Comedian
Jonathan Shteinman: Bluewater Pictures
ABOUT CREATIVE COMMUNITY FOR PEACE:** Note – The signers of this statement do so as individuals on their own behalf and not on behalf of their companies or organizations. All organizations and companies listed are for affiliation purposes only.
Founded by entertainment industry executives, Creative Community for Peace (CCFP) is a non-profit organization comprised of prominent members of the entertainment industry who have come together to promote the arts as a means to peace, to counter antisemitism within the entertainment industry, and to galvanize support against the cultural boycott of Israel. CCFP is apolitical and does not stand for any government official or party. Instead, CCFP believes in artists and their ability to affect lives and effect positive change in the world. For more information please visit: creativecommunityforpeace.com
Add your name to our letter by visiting http://ccfpeace.org/?SydneyFestival
For more information please contact us directly at info@creativecommunityforpeace.com.