The Trustees of the Rio Cinema in Dalston have been strongly reprimanded by the Charity Commission, which found there was misconduct and / or mismanagement in its administration. This follows complaints by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) and others about the Rio cancelling the screening of the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel’s participation in the competition.
At the same time the Rio had said that it continued to support charities such as Medical Aid for Palestine and Queer Cinema for Palestine (despite widespread and severe resistance and oppression of LGBTQ+ rights in Palestine).
The Charity Commission has now issued regulatory advice and guidance to the trustees.
The Rio had issued a statement which said, “Following discussions with the organisers of Eurovision Party London, we have collectively decided not to screen the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest this year while Israel remains in the competition.”
UKLFI complained last March to the Charity Commission, having first written to the Rio to ask it to reinstate the Eurovision event.
UKLFI claimed that the Rio had breached its charitable objects, which include providing recreational facilities to residents of the area “without distinction of sex or political, religious or other opinions….” The Rio had also breached the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest, which was not a contest between governments or states.
The Charity Commission has now told UKLFI:
“The Commission requested information and relevant documentation from the trustees and conducted an on-site inspection of the Charity’s premises, which included a meeting with the trustees.
After reviewing the information gathered, the Commission has determined that the Post was shared without adequate oversight by the trustees. Further, the content was inaccurate and misleading regarding the reasons for the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest screening. The failure to properly review content shared by a charity cannot be excused.
Additionally, the Commission takes the view that those reading the Post could have fairly concluded that the Charity, by making specific reference to Israel, was engaged in impermissible campaigning and/or political activity which does not further the purposes of the Charity.
As a result, the Commission has found there was misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the Charity. The Commission has addressed the misconduct and/or mismanagement by issuing regulatory advice and guidance to the trustees under section 15(2) of the Charities Act 2011.”
Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI commented: “We are happy that the Charity Commission has reprimanded the Rio and hope that next year the Eurovision Song Contest will be screened at the cinema again. It is extremely destructive and divisive to bring politics into a cultural contest which is supposed to unite audiences through music.”
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