Watershed signs the Bristol Apartheid-Free Zone pledge
Posted on Tue 16 Sept
Today Watershed joins over 4,000 citizens and organisations across the city in signing the Bristol Apartheid Free Zone pledge. This means we are now boycotting Israeli products and produce in solidarity with Palestinians.
Watershed was asked earlier in the summer by the staff branch of Bectu (Watershed’s legally recognised union), to sign the pledge. BAFZ, a local grassroots campaign, is well supported in the city - over 4,000 individuals and 77 local businesses have signed up including Better Food and Carla Denyer MP.
Watershed is a values-driven cultural venue, with a mission to bring artists and audiences together to fire up the imagination and build hope about the future.
Signing the pledge is the culmination of a thorough board review of how this action relates to our mission and of any unintended consequences of the action. It is highly aligned with our ethical procurement policy and is supported by our Board of Trustees.
“Our audiences have shown us time and again that they engage more deeply and visit more often more when we centre our values in decision making, so it also supports the delivery of our mission and charitable purpose.” Clare Reddington, CEO
Alongside signing the pledge, Watershed continues to support Palestinian films and filmmaking through our programme. Later in September we’ll be screening From Ground Zero, a collection of short films made in Gaza over the past year, and in November we look forward to working with Bristol Palestine Film Festival (BPFF) again to platform the voices, perspectives and stories of Palestine and the Palestinian diaspora.
You can also buy an original “I Carried a Watermelon” T Shirt designed by Pervasive Media Studio Resident Camille Aubry in Watershed’s merch shop (profits to Medical Aid Palestine) and purchase a delicious and ethical Palestine Cola in Watershed’s Café & Bar.
On 26 November, Watershed is holding Meeting the Moment, an event for cultural organisations that want to participate in speaking up or making change but feel nervous or unsure about doing so. Find out more and book tickets.
Further reading
Jewish Artists UK have written some useful guidance on antisemitism and censorship in the arts.