Pop culture festival wants to maintain the exchange | boulevard

Berlin – The Berlin Cultural Festival does not want to be discouraged by calls for an anti-Israeli boycott.

is one of our major topics. It's quite natural. That's what all cultural festivals do, "said festival director Katja Lucker of the German news agency. "As naturally as we do with Israel, they are artistic decisions, we stand firm and do not let our boycott intimidate us."

As in 2017, the festival (August 15-17) faces calls Musicians such as John Maus and British Shopping, Richard Dawson & Band and Gwenno canceled their participation.The reason is the support of the festival by the Israeli Embbady, ​​which provides 1200 euros for the event. Accommodation and travel expenses of three artists.

The festival is organized by the Senate Music Council, which cooperates with all officially recognized countries of the Federal Republic of Germany together, said M Lucker. "It's a very clear attitude for us. There are cultural exchanges and great Israeli artists that we have invited. And we work with Israel as well as with Norway, France and many other countries. "Subsidies similar to those of Israel are also available in other countries.

Behind the call for boycott is the BDS Movement (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions), It bases its activities on Israeli policies towards the Palestinians Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) and Brian Eno (Roxy Music) are prominent lawyers of the organization

"You must also see the relations. That's five out of 150 acts, "said Lucker about the boycott dimension." Of course, we do not want to reject it in any way. "She pointed to the beginning – there, Klaus Lederer (left), Senator of Culture, will discuss the topic with Israeli author Lizzie Doron

"It was decided that this conference would take place before we know that BDS 2018 would be our goal again," said Lucker., "Because the general theme of the boycott, in all its richness of facets, is currently very present in Germany and internationally, be it in music, the media or other societal structures."

About 100 concerts, DJ sets, exhibitions, installations, discussions and films are planned at Kulturbrauerei, including guests Irmin Schmidt, keyboardist, singer-songwriter Kat Frankie and pop star Neneh Cherry. some concerts, there is a sign -interpreted Lucker: "We have more women and a strange scene in the program. There are now 60% of women. We are the only festival that can really claim to be so diverse. "

Young artists are also involved:" We always try to be a little truffle pig for young acts that you might still not know so well – for example, International Music, a group of musicians, and a group of young people. ; Essen.

Copyright © Mindener Tageblatt 2018
Copyright © dpa – German Press Agency 2018

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