Jewish creatives and philanthropists withdraw due to ambient antisemitism

Many Jewish creatives have withdrawn from public roles or professional networks due to ambient antisemitism in the creative industries, a new report from Monash University has found.

The study revealed Jewish creatives had lost work opportunities, experienced online harassment, and felt reluctant to attend arts venues due to safety concerns. Some are concealing their Jewishness or connections to Israel out of fear of discrimination.  

Philanthropists have been forced to withdraw funding after facing antisemitic tropes about “wealthy Jewish families contributing ‘Zionist blood money’”.

The study identifies ambient antisemitism as a climate marked by anti-Israel hostility that, while not necessarily inherently antisemitic, creates an environment that feels unwelcoming and unsafe for many Jewish stakeholders.

The report calls for stronger sector-wide recognition of antisemitism and clear, consistent strategies to support cultural safety for Jewish communities.

Antisemitism in the Cultural and Creative Industries report was produced by the Monash Initiative for Rapid Research into Antisemitism (MIRRA), led by Associate Professor David Slucki. The 95 artists, philanthropists, arts industry leaders and representatives from major arts organisations interviewed reported significant challenges facing Jewish stakeholders in the sector following the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023.

Jewish stakeholders reported many instances of hostile workplace and professional network interactions. Many described navigating “enemy territory” and retreating from spaces that “once felt like home”.