The New Boycott Crisis

Something has gone wrong in the arts. Not at the margins, but structurally in how decisions are made about who gets to create, perform, exhibit, publish and be heard. An ecology once shaped by artistic judgement and creative risk is increasingly influenced by fear, informal sanction and reputational anxiety. The question is no longer simply “is this good work?” but “what will happen if we programme this?”

The New Boycott Crisis, produced by Freedom in the Arts, examines how cultural boycotts are reshaping the UK arts sector. Drawing on surveys and interviews with artists, venue leaders, agents and promoters, it documents patterns of cancellation, institutional exclusion and compelled political alignment that narrow the boundaries of acceptable expression. While these dynamics predate October 2023, they have intensified sharply since.

The report finds that the consequences fall most heavily on individual artists, particularly those who are Jewish or gender-critical, many of whom describe professional exclusion and pressure to self-censor. It also highlights anticipatory compliance within venues and a cascade of risk across the wider ecosystem. Without clearer governance and collective resolve, the sector risks defending diversity of identity while losing diversity of thought.

© Fahmy, D, Kay, R. and J. Phoenix February 2026
Central Archive at the University of Reading
To find out more about our work visit freedominthearts.com