The Flow Strike campaign was initiated by a group of artists performing in Flow Festival 2024. After researching its economic, socio-political and humanitarian stance, our conclusion is that Flow Festival is complicit in upholding Israel’s apartheid regime.
Recently, the international investment firm KKR announced its acquisition of Superstruct Entertainment, thereby soon gaining ownership of Flow Festival in addition to around 80 other significant festivals in Europe and Australia. As one of the world's largest investment firms, KKR has not announced its intention to divest from Israeli companies or companies that do business with the state of Israel.
Flow Festival is also in partnership with companies that benefit from and are in support of Israel’s apartheid regime.
Flow Festival publicly envisions being "an international leader in festivals and one of the most attractive and prestigious festivals in the world." Therefore, we hope that Flow Festival will take on a leadership role in advancing the human rights of Palestinians as well. The urgency of this matter is underscored by a recent decision by the United Nations International Court of Justice, which declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories illegal.
We are calling for public accountability. We insist that Flow Festival matches with actions its following public statement: “Flow Festival is committed to justice, equity, and equality. We expect our entire staff, as well as our associates and distributors, to adhere to the same values.”
The Flow Strike campaign is joined by artists who refuse to work with Flow Festival until it is decolonised.
We want to use our voice and platform as artists to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. We have to use every platform we can to amplify the call for a permanent ceasefire, for an end to the apartheid politics of Israel, for an end to the occupation and illegal settlements in Palestine, and for a right to return for Palestinian refugees. We have the moral responsibility to do what we can to free Palestine.
We refuse to collaborate with Flow Festival until the goals of the Flow Strike campaign are reached and Flow Festival is decolonised.
Do you want to organise a strike against a KKR owned festival in your city or country? Contact us and we will teach you how!