The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) ‘Irish artists’ pledge to boycott Israel’ will be launched with a musical performance in Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, this Thursday 12th August at 1pm featuring Eoin Dillon (Kí­la), Treasa Ni Cheannabhain and Naisrí­n Elsafty.

The IPSC has drawn up the following pledge, signed by over 130 Irish creative and performing artists, whereby they undertake to boycott the Israeli state under present circumstances:

“In response to the call from Palestinian civil society for a cultural boycott of Israel, we pledge not to avail of any invitation to perform or exhibit in Israel, nor to accept any funding from any institution linked to the government of Israel, until such time as Israel complies with international law and universal principles of human rights.”

Note for photographers: Along with notable signatories and performers, there will be large format versions of the pledge and signatures, banners, flags and music, as well as supporters of the IPSC present on the day.

Described by the Palestinian Association for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) as “a ground-breaking initiative”, this pledge has so far been signed by over 130 Irish creative and performing artists: novelists, playwrights, poets, actors, composers, singers, dancers, painters, sculptors and filmmakers, ranging from those starting out on their careers to such household names as Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, Donal Lunny, Robert Ballagh, John Arden, Seamus Deane, Andy Irvine, Bob Quinn, and Sinéad Cusack. The full list of current signatories is attached to this press release.

According to IPSC Cultural Boycott Officer Dr. Raymond Deane, “These artists are aware of the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s statement in 2005 that “We see culture as a propaganda tool of the first rank, and…do not differentiate between propaganda and culture.” These artists refuse to allow their art to be exploited by an apartheid state that disregards international law and universal principles of human rights, but look forward to the day when normal cultural relations can be re-established with an Israel that fully complies with such laws and principles.”

Dr. Deane, himself a classical composer and a signatory of the pledge, recalled Nelson Mandela’s dictum that “boycott is not a principle, it is a tactic depending upon circumstances.” Dr. Deane added: “Five years ago, when 170 Palestinian civil society organisations called a campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel, they provided a central plank for worldwide activism on behalf of their cause.”

Dr. Deane continued, “Culture cannot stand aloof from such activism. Whether or not art is ‘above politics’, its presentation and representation in the real world can all too easily be hijacked by oppressive states. With this pledge, Irish artists have an opportunity to distance themselves from such exploitation, and to take a non-violent stand on behalf of the oppressed Palestinian people.”

ENDS

Contact

Dr. Raymond Deane, IPSC Cultural Boycott Officer: 086 8124085
Freda Hughes, IPSC National Chairperson: 086 1260359

Signatories of IPSC “Irish Artists’ pledge”, as of 11 August 2010

Scrí­bhneoir = Writer/Author

Ceoltóir = Musician

———————————————————————————————————————

Astrid Adler – Visual Artist, Musician, Mime artist

John Arden – Playwright, Novelist

Siobhán Armstrong – Musician

Derek Ball – Composer

Robert Ballagh – Visual Artist

Margo Banks – Painter

Cormac Begley – Musician

Liam Bradley – Musician

Diarmuid Breatnach – Musician, Poet

Cormac Breatnach – Musician

Cecily Brennan – Artist

Ronan Browne – Musician

Conor Byrne – Musician

Roisin Byrne – Visual artist

Séamas Cain – Poet, performance artist

Moya Cannon – Poet

Liam Carson – Scrí­bhneoir

Clare Cashman – Visual artist

Rhona Clarke – Composer

Siobhán Cleary – Composer

Mickey Coleman – Singer/songwriter

Joe Comerford – Film-maker

Dorothy Cross – Sculptor

Charles Cullen – Visual artist

Michael Cullen – Painter

Cindy Cummings – Dance Artist

Sinéad Cusack – Actor

Margaretta Darcy – Author and playwright

John F Deane – Writer

Raymond Deane – Composer

Seamus Deane – Author

Renate DeBrun – Painter/printmaker

Damien Dempsey – Singer

Tim Dennehy – Singer/Songwriter

Eoin Dillon – Ceoltóir

Keith Donald – Musician

Philip Donnery – Musician

Gráinne Dowling – Visual artist

Robert Doyle – Musician

Roger Doyle – Composer

Felim Egan – Visual artist

Martin A. Egan – Musician

Naisrí­n Elsafty – Singer

Róisí­n Elsafty – Singer

Elaine Feeney – Poet

Stephen Gardner – Composer

Anthony Glavin – Novelist and short story writer

Johnny Gogan – Film-maker

Carmel Gunning – Musician

Robbie Harris – Musician

Paul Hayes – Composer

Graham Henderson – Musician

Donogh Hennessy – Musician

Rita Ann Higgins – Poet

Michael Holohan – Composer

Andy Irvine – Musician

Ryan Johnson – Musician

Fergus Johnston – Composer

Fred Johnston – Poet

Trevor Joyce – Poet

Bernadette Kiely – Painter

Brian King – Sculptor

Vincent Kennedy – Composer

Trevor Knight – Music/Theatre

Conor Kostick – Novelist.

Gavin Kostick – Playwright

Dave Lordan – Poet

Donal Lunny – Musician

Pól MacAdaim – Singer/songwriter

Iarla Mac Aodha Bhuí­ – Scrí­bhneoir

Mickey MacConnell – Singer/Songwriter

Tony Mac Mahon – Musician

Lorcán Mac Mathúna – Singer

Brian Maguire – Visual artist

Alice Maher – Visual Artist

Brenda Malloy – Musician

Jimmy McCarthy – Singer/songwriter

Martin McElhinney – Musician

Joe McGowan – Author

Jackie McKenna – Sculptor

John McLachlan – Composer

Joleen McLaughlin (Henry) – Musician

Karen McLaughlin (Henry) – Musician

Lorna McLaughlin (Henry) – Musician

Tina Mc Laughlin- Singer/Songwriter

Eoin McLochlainn – Visual artist

John McSherry – Musician

Paul Meehan – Poet

Christy Moore – Musician

Thom Moore – Songwriter, writer/translator

Sharon (Shaz) Morgan – Musician, Photographer

Fiach Moriarty – Singer/Songwriter

Sami Moukkadem – Musician, film-maker, writer

Hassan Ould Muctar – Musician

Conor Mullan – Musician

Janet Mullarney – Visual artist

Gráinne Mulvey – Composer

Jimmy Murphy – Playwright

Niamh Ní­ Charra – Musician

Peadar í“ Ceannabháin – Singer

Saileog Ní­ Cheannabháin – Musician

Treasa Ní­ Cheannabháin – Singer

íine Ní­ Chuaig – Musician

Mairéad Ní­ Mhaonaigh – Musician/Singer

Pádraig í“ Baoill – Scrí­bhneoir

Niall í“ Callanáin – Musician

Eamonn O’Doherty – Architect, Sculptor

Méabh O Hare – Musician/Film-maker

Jane O’Leary – Composer

Brian í“ hUiginn – Musician

Donal O’Kelly – Playwright/Actor

Ciarán í“ Maonaigh – Ceoltóir

Seosamh O Neachtain – Dancer

Eoin O’Neill – Musician

Jerry O’Reilly – Singer

Peadar í“ Riada – Ceoltóir

Gregory Rosenstock – Writer

Pauline Scanlon – Singer

Rossa í“ Snodaigh – Ceoltóir

Paul O’Toole – Singer/Songwriter

Michael Quane – Sculptor

Bob Quinn – Visual artist/filmmaker

Jim Ricks – Visual Artist

Stephen Rothschild – Painter/printmaker.

Mary Russell – Author

Dermot Seymour – Painter

John W. Sexton – Poet.

Eileen Sheehan – Poet

Ronan Sheehan – Novelist

Michael Smith – Poet and translator

Hugh Travers – Writer

Caoimhí­n Vallely – Ceoltóir

Laura Vecchi – Painter/writer

John Wakeman – Poet

Hilary Wakeman – Author

Hazel Walker – Visual artist

William Wall – Author

Ronan Wilmot – Actor/Director

Steve Woods – Film-maker

Adam Wyeth – Poet