As Israel continues its genocidal campaign against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza and violates cease-fire agreements, the question of cultural responsibility and solidarity has become more urgent than ever. Over 700 cultural organisations — including the Museum voor Schone Kunsten, NTGent, and TivoliVredenburg — and more than 2,100 artists in Belgium and the Netherlands, among them Geike Arnaert, Marlene Dumas, and Safae El Khannoussi, have endorsed a cultural boycott of Israel. The recent cancellation of a Disturbed concert in Brussels further reflects the sector’s growing refusal to tolerate complicity in human rights violations.

We begin the evening with a keynote by Samir Eskanda (UK). Samir is a Palestinian-Irish artist, organiser, and human rights activist, and a member of the external advisory group for the Learning Network on Cultural Boycott. In his talk, he will reflect on two decades of the BDS movement: its milestones, current challenges, and the role of PACBI within the broader framework of Palestinian cultural resistance. Samir will discuss what the cultural boycott aims to achieve, the dilemmas artists and institutions face when applying it, and how collective cultural action can help isolate Israel’s apartheid regime. He will also address the “grey zones” of boycott decisions and how to respond to backlash and public accusations.

After the keynote, we will host a collective conversation in fishbowl format, guided by questions and themes that have emerged from previous sessions of the Learning Network. Together with experts on the topic, we will explore shared concerns and practical approaches around:

• Moral responsibility and the broader contexts of racism, decolonisation, and supremacy;
• The sector’s layered and diverse positions;
• Collective action and exchange of practical experiences;
• (Online) backlash, external pressure, and questions of institutional accountability and internal decision-making.

Free event, registration required through this link: https://forms.gle/CK7Eb3cKZGKgnh5c6

This event is organised in collaboration with Intal Gent and forms part of the GKO Learning Network on Cultural Boycott.