Adelaide Festival Disinvites Palestinian-Australian Author

The Adelaide Festival has announced a significant change to its upcoming program, withdrawing an invitation extended to Palestinian-Australian sociologist and author Randa Abdel-Fattah. The festival communicated this decision to Abdel-Fattah the week prior to the announcement, stating it did not "wish to give effect to her participation."

This disinvitation has precipitated a notable reaction within the literary community. A wave of disengagements has followed, with other invited authors and participants choosing to withdraw their involvement from the festival. The event, scheduled to take place between February 27 and March 15, now faces potential programming challenges as the fallout continues. The situation underscores the complex intersection of cultural programming and geopolitical sensitivities in the current arts landscape.

The Adelaide Festival confirmed the withdrawal of the invitation to Randa Abdel-Fattah during the previous week. Abdel-Fattah, recognized as a sociologist and author, was initially slated to participate in the event scheduled for late February through mid-March. The festival administration conveyed the decision using specific language, noting they did not "wish to give effect to her participation."

While the festival has not released a detailed public statement explaining the specific reasons behind the disinvitation, the timing of the decision has drawn attention. The festival is a major cultural fixture in Adelaide, attracting national and international attention. The removal of a participant with a high profile in sociological and literary circles represents a significant shift in the event's planned programming.

The announcement regarding Randa Abdel-Fattah has triggered an immediate and growing response from fellow artists. Reports indicate that multiple writers and contributors have chosen to withdraw their own participation from the festival in solidarity. This collective action suggests a strong reaction within the creative community to the festival's handling of the invitation.

The withdrawals represent a potential logistical and reputational challenge for the festival organizers. As the event dates in late February approach, the loss of multiple participants could necessitate significant adjustments to the schedule. The growing list of disengagements highlights the influence of collective action among artists regarding institutional decisions.

• Sociologist and author Randa Abdel-Fattah
• Multiple other invited writers
• Participants in solidarity with the disinvited author

Based on the information provided regarding the event, the following details are established:

• The Adelaide Festival is scheduled to run from February 27 to March 15.
• The festival notified Randa Abdel-Fattah of the decision the week prior to the report date.
• Abdel-Fattah is identified as a sociologist and author.
• The festival stated it did not "wish to give effect to her participation."

The situation surrounding the Adelaide Festival and Randa Abdel-Fattah remains developing. The initial decision to disinvite the author has evolved into a broader controversy involving the participation of other cultural figures. As the festival dates approach, the impact of these withdrawals on the event's final program will likely become clearer. The incident serves as a focal point for discussions regarding the boundaries of cultural expression and institutional decision-making in the arts sector.