Politics
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy ‘shocked’ after hearing evidence of antisemitism in the arts
Lisa Nandy met a delegation including Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rachel Riley and other Jewish cultural figures
December 20, 2024 12:19
Lisa Nandy met a delegation including Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rachel Riley and other Jewish cultural figures
December 20, 2024 12:19Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport said that “Antisemitism is as unacceptable in the arts as it is anywhere else in society” after hearing testimony about Jew-hatred in the arts and civil society on Wednesday.
Nandy met with a delegation led by the Board of Deputies and included Jewish cultural sector leaders and leading performers like actor Tracy-Ann Oberman, presenter Rachel Riley, BAFTA-nominated film-maker Benjamin Till, UK Jewish Film Festival CEO Michael Etherton and JW3 CEO Raymond Simonson, to share experiences and discuss solutions.
Concerns were raised about venues who refused to host Jewish performers, funding cuts for Jewish cultural programmes that have traditionally enjoyed support, and the growing feeling that Jews are being frozen out of the arts.
The group, which included representatives from CST, the JLC, Maccabi GB and the Jewish Museum, also raised the issue of vexatious complaints against Jewish charities, apparently weaponised by some anti-Israel groups.
The delegation spoke about the need for additional safeguards against these malicious acts.
Following the meeting, facilitated by Lord Mann – the government’s independent antisemitism advisor – Nandy said she was: “Shocked and very concerned by the scale and extent of their experiences.”
She added: “Antisemitism is as unacceptable in the arts as it is anywhere else in society. I gave my firm commitment that I will continue to work with the community so that we root out the unacceptable prejudice that they have faced.
Nandy went on to say that: “Art and culture are a powerful medium for bringing communities together. It is vital that we celebrate the enormous contribution made by our Jewish community, and that Jewish artists and institutions are free from abuse or discrimination as they carry out their work.”
Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg told the JC that: “Lisa Nandy has long been an ally of the community, and we could not hope for a better friend to stand up to the scourge of antisemitism in culture, media, and sport.”
“Over the last 14 months, far too many people who consider themselves at the vanguard of inclusion, have demonstrated that they are actually incredibly bigoted. We are going to work with Government to bring an end to the situation where ‘Jews don’t count’ in the arts”, he added.
Rosenberg also said that: “At the same time, we as British Jews have so much to be proud of, and we will look to press forward on the creation of a British Jewish Culture Month to educate against hate and celebrate all that British Jews contribute to the UK”.
In October, ahead of UK Jewish Film Festival, Michael Etherton warned of the “erasure of British-Jewish culture from national cultural life” and said that Jews in the creative industries have faced “deafening silence and avoidance tactics” from mainstream arts organisations since October 7.
He added arts bodies, which are largely publicly funded, now feel “impunity” to exclude Jews in the new climate of antisemitism.
These concerns were echoed at a JC event earlier this month by Leo Pearlman, producer of the 2024 documentary Surviving October 7th: We Will Dance Again, who accused the film industry in Britain of “institutional antisemitism”.