A dolphin conservation group is celebrating after a music festival withdrew its controversial partnership with the Faroe Islands, a country where dolphins are hunted. Warning: This article contains graphic imagery which some readers may find upsetting.
The Great Escape (TGE), a new music festival in Brighton, pairs up with a country each year to share its music and culture.
Last week, it announced it would be partnering with the Faroe Islands for its 2025 festival.
The Sussex Dolphin Project, a conservation group, said it was "utterly shocked" to see the partnership and in an open letter urged TGE to change its lead country partner.
"The Grind is a violent killing method of driving a pod of cetaceans to shore using power boats, where people await in the shallows with blowhole hooks, spinal lances and huge knives to hook, stab and hack at these creatures, bringing unimaginable pain and fear.
"Besides the physical injuries, there is also the emotional torment and stress of seeing their families die in front of them, with no possibility of a great escape. They just wait for their turn to be murdered while floundering in bloody waters.
"Six drive hunts have occurred so far this year alone, causing the unnecessary death of 592 long-finned pilot whales and 150 white-sided dolphins in 2024 and 861 cetaceans in 2023."
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After facing growing pressure, TGE last night announced it was withdrawing its partnership with the Faroe Islands.
In a statement posted online, TGE said: "We are proud to have worked closely with Faroese artists over the years, witnessing the extraordinary talent that the Faroe Islands has brought to our stages.
"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.
"While recent concerns regarding whaling practices in the Faroe Islands were raised by local interest groups, including the Sussex Dolphin Project, it is important to clarify that these issues are completely separate from the thriving music scene in the Faroes.
"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."
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