The Great Escape withdraws The Faroe Islands as country partner over concerns on whaling practices

nme.com:

The Great Escape has withdrawn the Faroe Islands as its lead country partner over concerns over its whaling practices, amid outcry from local interest groups.The festival, held in Brighton and Hove each May, made the announcement this evening (September 24) in a statement on Instagram after concerns were raised over whaling in the Faroes – part of the Kingdom of Denmark – by local groups.

The festival announced the Faroe Islands as its lead country partner earlier this month.In the statement, the festival says it’s “proud” to have worked with Faroese artists over the years, adding, “Faroese musicians have been an inspiring and integral part of our festival, and we remain dedicated to supporting these incredible artists as they continue to captivate audiences worldwide.”It goes on to say that concerns regarding whaling practices in the Faroes had been raised by local interest groups, including the Sussex Dolphin Project, and clarifies that these issues are separate from the “thriving music scene“ there.

It continues, “We believe the contributions of Faroese artists should not be overshadowed by this matter, which bears no relation to their artistic work or their significant achievements.”A post shared by The Great Escape Festival (@greatescapefest)It explains, however, that it’s made the decision to withdraw the Faroe Islands as its lead country partner for the festival, to allow it to “address the concerns raised while staying focused on creating an inclusive festival environment that welcomes diverse perspectives.”However, the change won’t affect the festival’s support for Faroese musicians, and The Great Escape intends to continue collaborating with them and giving them a platform.