Artists
Against Antisemitism UK
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Artists Against Antisemitism UK (AAAUK) was established in response to the experienced hostility towards Jews within the arts, culture and creative sector, following the 7th of October attack in Israel, and the subsequent military response in Gaza.
In the UK we are experiencing unprecedented levels of antisemitism, and this includes within the arts and cultural sector.
As Seen In...
We are here to...
Highlight and amplify the voices and experiences of Jewish creatives working in the UK.
Assist UK arts institutions needing support to navigate this time and to uphold impartiality and neutrality.
Support artists and creatives experiencing antisemitism within the sector - either directly or indirectly.
Sign-post individuals working within the arts and cultural sector, looking to learn more about understanding antisemitism in the arts.
AAAUK Research
Key to our mission is highlighting and amplifying the voice of Jewish creatives. AAAUK independent research surveyed the views and experiences of UK Jewish Art Sector Workers. These are our findings:
Over 71% feel that the creative and cultural industries are not as aware of antisemitism as other forms of racism
54% felt training, discussion and education were key to improving current hostility
We surveyed individuals working in visual arts, performing arts, film and moving image, curating, design, fashion, cross arts, writing and literature.
Respondents talked about their workplace becoming a hostile place, or even of not being able to return to spaces as they feel so unwelcome;
“I feel that a massive element of my inspiration, influence and self - my Judaism - is in some sort of hiding now to be able to exist in the creative industries, or online. There are some theatres which I have worked in before that I would be scared to work in.”
“It is a very lonely place to be a Jew.”
“I used to be proud of my employer, now I'm ashamed.”
Meet the team
Liat Rosenthal
Liat Rosenthal (FRSA) is a creative director and curator, specialising in participative arts practices. From 2015-2
024 she was Senior Creative, Tate Modern Curatorial. Liat founded the internationally celebrated brand Tate Modern Lates; the organisation’s largest public event, and key vehicle for audience diversification. Prior to joining Tate, Liat worked to launch JW3, serving at the Head of Community Programming. She has an MEd Art, Culture, Creativity, University of Cambridge and an MA Puppetry & Object Theatre (AHRC Award). She is currently Head of Creative Programming at Woolwich Works.
Rosie Kay
Rosie Kay is a multi-award-winning choreographer, dancer and director with 25 years’ experience in the dance world, making productions based on in-depth research on serious subjects such as war in 5 SOLDIERS (2010) and cults in MK ULTRA (2017). She is a former Leverhulme Artist in Residence to the University of Oxford. Other works include Romeo + Juliet (2021) set in contemporary Birmingham and Absolute Solo (2021) which earned Kay a nomination for Most Outstanding Female Performer at the National Dance Awards. Her work has received multiple awards and nominations with Rosie Kay Dance Company named ‘Best Independent Dance Company’ in 2016.Kay choreographed the Commonwealth Games Live Handover ceremony in 2018. Kay set up a new vehicle for her works, K2CO in 2022, touring the UK. The company website is K2CO and the patron is Lady Deborah MacMillan, the wife of the late choreographer, Sir Kenneth MacMillan. Kay is also a Director of Dance Consortium and co-founder of Freedom in the Arts.
Barak Ganor
Barak Ganor serves as the Head of Cultural Affairs at the Embassy of Israel in the United Kingdom, relocating to London in January 2019. In this capacity, he promotes cultural exchange, enhances Israeli heritage awareness, and fosters collaborations between Israeli and British cultural institutions. Previously, he was the producer of Israel's BatSheva Dance Company. Since October 7th, he has played a crucial role in coordinating crisis response efforts at the Embassy, with a strong focus on advocating for Israeli and Jewish artists, musicians, and writers, etc.
Manick Govinda
Manick Govinda is an independent writer, commentator, mentor, curator, artists’ producer, project manager and lecturer. Prior to going freelance he was programme director for SPACE (2018), Head of Artists Advisory Services and Artists Producer for Artsadmin (1998 – 2017) and projects officer for Arts & Book Publishing at the Paul Hamlyn Foundation (1993-1996). He was formerly a trustee/non-executive director for a-n: The Artists Information Company, The Showroom Gallery, The Pacitti Company, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company and Akademi. He was a Producer for 2007 Turner Prize shortlisted Zarina Bhimji, 2015 Marcel Duchamp Prize shortlisted Zineb Sedira (representing France at 2022 Venice Biennale) and 2021 Jarman Award shortlisted artists Larry Achiampong (Paul Hamlyn Visual Arts Awardee) & David Blandy, to name a few. He was a member of the Mayor of London’s Cultural Strategy Group between 2008 – 2016 and worked with the civil liberties campaign group, The Manifesto Club where he successfully changed visa rules for visiting artists to the UK. He co-curated a series of pertinent public discussions called Culture Tensions at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, Warsaw on hot issues where arts, culture, ideas and politics collide. He also curated Miriam Elia’s major solo exhibition The New Normal in Spring 2023.
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