11 -2 PM:
Are you curious to know what boycott organising looks like? Do you want to learn how to identify targets and mobilise your community?
In this discussion, we’ll reflect on solidarity organising in the industry, discussing coalitions, strikes and Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) strategies. Samir Eskanda will speak about artwashing and cultural boycott strategies using the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) as a reference and illustrating how artists and arts organisations can adopt this useful tool to join the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
2.30 - 5 PM: The Phenomenology of the Radical Artist in a Time of Genocide
Join luxx and Taghrid Choucair-Vizoso for a collective discussion on how artists and cultural workers are developing parallel, emancipatory streams outside the oppressive structures that mainstream culture has come to rely on. As the majority of the sector distances itself from the politics that are freeing us all, we owe it to each other to gather in our clarity. How are we orienting towards liberatory, integrated artistic processes informed by grassroots activism? What new social structures are emerging, ready to be inhabited?
The space will be as much yours to partake in as luxx and Taghrid. If you feel compelled, bring a piece of writing, words, movement, image or sound. We hope to find moments for those who'd like to share to do so.
Samir Eskanda is a Palestinian artist, organiser, and human rights activist based in the UK. He has played a key role in many high profile campaigns and his views on the intersection of culture and activism and why art should not be used to whitewash apartheid or other grave human rights violations have appeared in the Hollywood Reporter, Sky News, and others.
luxx is a British-Syrian writer and political activist. Their poetry, essays and fiction are published internationally including by Poetry Review, BBC Radio 4 and Channel 4. They are author of two books (Fetch Your Mothers Heart, 2021; Raising Sun Son, 2025), and three plays which have toured internationally. They believe in transnational community organising and grassroots action as a means of liberation. Co-founder of Nehna Hone in Beirut, and a dedicated member of Palestine Action in the UK.
Taghrid Choucair-Vizoso is a cultural worker, artist, facilitator and activist from South Lebanon. She spends her time mobilising the arts and culture to take action on climate justice and the nature crisis, organising towards the liberation of Palestine, advocating for artistic freedom of expression, and collaborating with artists and communities in Gaza. She works with Julie's Bicycle, is a member of White Kite Collective, a mentor with Scottish Refugee Council, and on Another Sky Festival's board of advisors.
luxx and Taghrid are members of Cultural Alliance for Palestine, a coalition of pro-Palestinian cultural resistance groups in the UK.
Community Guidelines
We convene here together from diverse backgrounds, cultures, traditions, and political experiences with the shared objective of advancing the struggle for Palestine. We ask all participants help us to create and maintain the space for a respectful discussion, exchange, and collaboration, by keeping the following principles in mind:
- Prepare yourself before attending. Have you slept and eaten well? Do you have someone to talk to afterwards?
- Please do your best to arrive on time for sessions, and be fully present.
- Please let our team know if you are attending alone and would like to be introduced to others,
- Assume the best intent and stay open-minded in any conversation, keeping in mind the diversity of experience and opinions of the participants.
- Respect the religious and cultural obligations of any participant, and if you are unsure of any cultural or religious boundaries that some adhere to, ask. A dedicated space is available for those observing prayer.
- If you feel overwhelmed at any point during an event our library is available as a quiet breakout space. Please let a member of our team know whether you would like to be accompanied or need additional support.
- We do not tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia, antisemitism, or any other form of discrimination.
- To make everyone feel comfortable, including the speakers we ask not to film during the event. Photographs are allowed with permission.