A group of eleven former leaders from the Adelaide Festival have launched a fierce public rebuke of the festival's current board. Their criticism centres on a controversial decision to remove a Palestinian author from the prestigious Writers' Week program.
A Letter of Condemnation from Festival Veterans
The letter, which invokes the powerful sentiment that "wickedness thrives in darkness," directly challenges the Adelaide Festival Board's actions. Dated January 10, 2026, the correspondence represents a significant show of dissent from some of the state's most respected arts figures. The signatories argue the board's move undermines the festival's core values of open dialogue and artistic freedom.
Leadership and Legacy Behind the Protest
The letter was spearheaded by Rob Brookman AM, a former executive director of the Adelaide Festival. Brookman's career is a testament to his influence, having led major cultural institutions across Australasia. His experience includes leadership roles at the Adelaide Festival Centre, WOMADelaide, the National Festival of Australian Theatre, the New Zealand International Festival of Arts, the Sydney Theatre Company, and the State Theatre Company of South Australia.
His involvement, alongside ten other former festival directors and chairs, lends considerable weight to the protest. It signals a deep concern within the arts community about censorship and the political dimensions of cultural programming.
Growing Fallout and Author Withdrawals
The board's initial decision has triggered a chain reaction, leading to a growing boycott of the event. Several confirmed authors have now withdrawn their participation from Writers' Week in solidarity with the excluded Palestinian writer. This exodus threatens to diminish the stature and diversity of the literary festival, a cornerstone of the broader Adelaide Festival.
The public airing of this dispute highlights a profound rift between the festival's current governance and its historical custodians. It raises urgent questions about artistic integrity, cultural boycotts, and the role of festivals in navigating complex global dialogues. The fallout continues to develop as the arts community and the public await a formal response from the Adelaide Festival Board.
