An Appeal for Peace
A few months ago, shortly after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, we issued an initial statement regarding the concerning escalation of violence in the Israel/Palestine region. In this statement, we condemn all forms of violence, their endorsement or trivialization, as well as racism and anti-Semitism. We expressed our conviction that attacks on civilians are never acceptable or justified and declared our solidarity with all those who endure the consequences of this escalation and with those who seek the path of peace.
For us, this message remains valid today. At the same time, we recognize the need to update and make it more precise as we witness the alarming scenes in Gaza daily. We also see the difficulty for German cultural institutions to take a clear stance in this situation, as the risk of instrumentalization is extremely high. We unequivocally reject any form of political instrumentalization of such statements and advocate for the respect of humanity and an end to the suffering of innocent people.
We wish to express our solidarity with all those who suffer under the relentless barrage of rockets, bombs, and gunfire, as well as with the people who are still being held hostage, and with their families and friends.
We support the call for a ceasefire. We join the many voices calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, a pause in the offensive that has devastated Gaza. Urgent assistance must reach the Palestinian population securely, quickly, and to the extent needed.
Furthermore, we join the many voices calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages, innocent victims caught in the crossfire of a conflict they did not cause.
Finally, we join the many voices advocating for viable political solutions, even if they may seem impossible at this stage of the conflict. Only through meaningful participation and genuine dialogue can peace be achieved.
For us, this message remains valid today. At the same time, we recognize the need to update and make it more precise as we witness the alarming scenes in Gaza daily. We also see the difficulty for German cultural institutions to take a clear stance in this situation, as the risk of instrumentalization is extremely high. We unequivocally reject any form of political instrumentalization of such statements and advocate for the respect of humanity and an end to the suffering of innocent people.
We wish to express our solidarity with all those who suffer under the relentless barrage of rockets, bombs, and gunfire, as well as with the people who are still being held hostage, and with their families and friends.
We support the call for a ceasefire. We join the many voices calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, a pause in the offensive that has devastated Gaza. Urgent assistance must reach the Palestinian population securely, quickly, and to the extent needed.
Furthermore, we join the many voices calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages, innocent victims caught in the crossfire of a conflict they did not cause.
Finally, we join the many voices advocating for viable political solutions, even if they may seem impossible at this stage of the conflict. Only through meaningful participation and genuine dialogue can peace be achieved.
What we all can do
↪ Possibilities of support for refugee artists
On the website of Artists at Risk, information for refugee artists is consolidated. Artists at Risk is dedicated to supporting persecuted artists, facilitating their safe departure from their countries of origin, accommodating them in AR Residences, and curating related projects.
↪ Discuss the issue sensitively
We wish to comprehend the complexity of this conflict and discuss it in a more sensitive manner, without resorting to aggressive, discriminatory, and polemical language or actions and distorting complex content through abbreviated slogans. Inflammatory rhetoric or the use of symbols associated with hate or extremism only serve to exacerbate tensions and hinder efforts for peace, dividing our society.
↪ Learn about the conflict and better understand the German context
We wish for all of us to inform ourselves about the conflict through various well-vetted sources and avoid one-sided sources, as well as information shared only on social media, to gain a better understanding of the complexity of the Israel/Palestine conflict and its effects in Germany.
A closing note
This issue and its implications here in Berlin have caused great concern in the Berlin dance scene. Many employees, artists, and spectators have close relationships with people in Palestine and Israel. They are affected by the situation in different ways, and many of them are concerned about the actions of cultural institutions in Germany.
We see Tanzfabrik as a place for peaceful exchange. We curate our program in collaboration with artists and partners with whom we work trustfully, focusing on the creativity, practices, and expressions they bring to the stage. For this reason, we do not scrutinize private statements or political views unless their expressions on stage or in our spaces promote racism, anti-Semitism, or misanthropy. We have established this basic stance in our mission statement as well as in our awareness guidelines, and we measure our actions against it.
We try to spread current information about help for artists and similar actions. If you have important info, please contact us at stein@tanzfabrik-berlin.de