âThey are not wantedâ
Over the past three years, a loose alliance of artists and activists have been campaigning to pressure Fringe World and Artrage to sever all ties with Woodside. Tensions heated up in December, when Fringe World encouraged performers to not speak out against its sponsorship arrangements â a request which, amid a record-breaking bushfire season and climate crisis, felt particularly incendiary to some.
So when Artrage announced in June that Woodside would no longer have naming rights for the festival, activists claimed it as âan important winâ.
âWeâre really grateful to [Artrage CEO] Sharon Burgess and the Artrage board for having listened to its own stakeholders, done the right thing and refused to promote Woodside any longer,â Perth-based 350 activist Anthony Collins told Guardian Australia in June.
Possession of a Class A drug. Fine £120, surcharge £34, costs £85.
William Thomas Bushnell, 34, of Downsview Road, St Helens. Drink driving.
Maria Chantelle Vecsei, of Field Lane, St Helens. Drink driving.
David Toker, 40, of Hogan Close, Newport. Possession of cannabis.
The publication of these listings is covered by a legal defence called qualified privilege.
When a court is sitting in the open, the press can report on anything that happens, unless there are specific reporting restrictions.
As a principle, we do not remove a defendant s identifying information (such as name, age and address) from court reports. To do so would be set a precedent and damage the foundations of open justice. It could also defame someone innocent, who happens to have the same name.
Don t criticise the sponsors, comics told
Comedians attending a major arts festival next year have been told they mustn’t say anything to offend the sponsors, who include a controversial fossil fuel giant.
Fringe World in Perth, Australia, is facing a backlash from performers over a clause in their contracts which commits them to doing nothing to ‘prejudice any of Fringe World’s sponsorship arrangements’.
And they have been told if they are not happy to accept those terms, they shouldn’t be applying to be in the programme.
Stand-up Tom Ballard, pictured, who has often spoken about climate change in his act, told Guardian Australia the clause was ‘a pretty obvious contravention of a commitment to freedom of expression’, adding: ‘I think we’re in really dicey territory.’
Artists outraged at Fringe World âgag clauseâ banning criticism of sponsors
Weâre sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later.
Dismiss
Artists outraged at Fringe World âgag clauseâ banning criticism of sponsors
Save
Normal text size
Advertisement
Artists and promoters have slammed one of Perthâs largest arts festivals over a âgag clauseâ in their agreements preventing criticism of corporate sponsors.
The clause, part of Fringe Worldâs sponsorship policy, seeks to âprotect the festivalâs partnershipsâ, but performers say it censors their art while putting the interests of the fossil fuel industry first.
Woodside has been a sponsor of Perthâs Fringe World since 2012.
Included in Fringe World’s artists’ registration pack, the contract also states: “If you have an objection to a Fringe World sponsor, we ask that you consider whether participation in the festival is the right platform for your presentation.”
Performers who spoke to Guardian Australia said the clause effectively amounted to a gag order, curtailing comment on anything from climate change to local politics.
Comedian Tom Ballard told the Guardian the clause was “disappointing and concerning”.
“It’s a pretty obvious contravention of a commitment to freedom of expression,” he said.
Woodside, Australia’s largest gas and oil exploration and production company, is listed as the event’s principal partner and has naming rights for the festival’s central entertainment hub, the Pleasure Garden.