Artists at Risk

Artists at Risk Artists at Risk (AR) is an institution at the intersection of human rights and the arts. A Mondial Institution for Art Practitioners at Risk.

We share this update with pride for AR-Alumnus Ruhangara Bazamuka Alain, known as Brown Messia, who completed his reside...
20/08/2026

We share this update with pride for AR-Alumnus Ruhangara Bazamuka Alain, known as Brown Messia, who completed his residency at the Zanzibar Arts and Education Foundation (ZAEF) in 2025.

Since returning to Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Alain tells us that he has been living and working under conditions that would have stopped many others. And still, he chose to create. With almost no resources to work with, he organized the Kwasa Kwasa Urban Dance Battle at Espace Culturel Kwetu Art, bringing together performers from Bukavu and surrounding areas across four disciplines Afro Dance, Hip-Hop, Krump, and Break Dance with a small cash prize for each category's champion.

Alain says that the event revealed an entire generation of young dancers, full of talent and discipline, with almost nowhere to go. Their hunger for a stage, for recognition, for a future in art, is real but so is the fragility of everything that made this one battle possible.

To try to change that, Alain has founded SAUTI YA MWILI ART FOUNDATION, an accessible platform meant to give this youth something steadier to hold onto rather than a single night of performance in a context that offers very little safety net for artists.

Alain and the young people around him are carrying something fragile and important, largely alone. We invite the international arts community to follow this journey, lend support, and help Sauti Ya Mwili () reach the young artists who need it most.

We are excited to continue following Alain’s journey and to see the new works and initiatives that will grow from his resilience and dedication.

Read Bazamuka’s biography on our website at this link: https://artistsatrisk.org/2026/03/02/ar-resident-alain-bazamuka/

Warm thanks for the Swedish Arts Council’s Programme for Artistic Freedom for funding this residency.

We are delighted to welcome AR-Resident Alina Sarnatska to AR Safe Haven Helsinki!A playwright, writer, war veteran, PEN...
14/08/2026

We are delighted to welcome AR-Resident Alina Sarnatska to AR Safe Haven Helsinki!

A playwright, writer, war veteran, PEN member and PhD in social work based in Ukraine, Sarnatska's work explores resilience, trauma, and social justice, with a particular focus on women affected by violence and communities impacted by war.

She is the author of nine plays and two books, with her work produced and presented by leading theatres and institutions across Ukraine, Germany, Sweden, Poland and the United States. Her writing has reached international audiences through productions, staged readings, and literary events at institutions including Yale University, the Royal Dramatic Theatre, Schauspiel Stuttgart and many others.

Alongside her artistic practice, Sarnatska is deeply engaged in humanitarian work. She co-founded and directs the Teplonosiї Charitable Foundation, supporting wounded veterans, and leads the Veterans Department of the international volunteer network Balakun.

Her numerous fellowships and awards reflect a remarkable commitment to literature, human rights and civic engagement. During her residency at AR-Helsinki, we look forward to supporting her continued artistic practice and welcoming her perspective into our community.

Don’t miss the Presentation of her book SCAM, a powerful new novel about Russia's war against Ukraine, on the 15th of September in Helsinki, you can find more info at this link: https://helmet.finna.fi/FeedContent/LinkedEvents?id=helsinki%3Aagp3pgrmz4&lng=en-gb

Read her full bio on our website: https://artistsatrisk.org/2026/07/28/ar-resident-alina-sarnatska/

Sarnatska is part of the Artists at Risk (AR) / Ecologists at Risk (ER) - A European Network for Creative Resilience (AR/ER-ENCR) program, a residency-network designed to foster resilience in times of heightened threats to artists and cultural professionals within the AR/ER Network, and reaching out across EU neighbourhood regions, co-Funded by the Creative Europe Program of the European Union.

We thank Creative Europe,The Finnish Arts and Culture Agency, the City of Helsinki and the Culture and Leisure Division, for funding the residency. Welcome to AR-Helsinki, Alina! ✨

🇺🇦 Відкритий конкурс для митців та екологів з України!Якщо ви зараз проживаєте в Україні та ще не брали участі в резиден...
07/08/2026

🇺🇦 Відкритий конкурс для митців та екологів з України!

Якщо ви зараз проживаєте в Україні та ще не брали участі в резиденціях за нашою програмою — цей проект саме для вас!

Ми запрошуємо українських митців із різних дисциплін до участі у 2–3 місячних програмах резиденцій у країнах Європи, а також в Україні. Мережа інституцій, що приймають, включає таких партнерів, як ZKM (Німеччина), No Callarem (Іспанія), AR Safe Haven Helsinki (Фінляндія), Creative Residency MC6, Detali, Bakota Hub, Slow River House (Україна).

Програма підтримує митців, забезпечуючи безпечні умови праці, міжнародний обмін та можливості для професійного розвитку. Цей конкурс включає кілька програм резиденцій для Митців у зоні ризику (AR) та Екологів у зоні ризику (ER).

✨ Резиденція забезпечує:
🔹 Безпечне середовище та можливість продовжувати мистецьку практику
🔹 Проживання терміном до 3 місяців
🔹 Грант на проживання та транспортні витрати
🔹 Кураторське менторство та обмін досвідом з колегами
🔹 Нові можливості для творчої співпраці та адаптації в міжнародному контексті
🌿 Особливо заохочуємо подавати заявки митців, які працюють із темами екології, прав людини, соціального залучення та різноманітних мистецьких практик.

Для цих напрямів доступні додаткові програми резиденцій та обміну в межах Artists at Risk (AR) / Ecologists at Risk (ER) — European Network for Creative Resilience. Це частина партнерства програми співпраці «Креативна Європа» від Perpetuum Mobile (PM), що співфінансується програмою ЄС «Креативна Європа».

Ми щиро вдячні програмі Європейського Союзу «Креативна Європа» та Фінському національному агентству з питань освіти (EDUFI), чия підтримка дозволяє нам продовжувати фінансування цих ініціатив.

📩 Подати заявку: artistsatrisk.org

З нетерпінням чекаємо на ваші заявки!

We're proud to announce the premiere of “Sour and Sweet” by Sofiia Onishchenko at ACUD Theater, Berlin. This powerful pi...
29/07/2026

We're proud to announce the premiere of “Sour and Sweet” by Sofiia Onishchenko at ACUD Theater, Berlin.

This powerful piece of theatre by AR-Resident Sofiia Onishchenko and Ukrainian theater GAS will open on July 30 & 31 at 19:00. The moving solo performance tells the story of Kyslivka, a village in Ukraine's Kharkiv region that was completely destroyed by the Russian army between 2022 and 2024. To quote:

"Sour and Sweet is the taste of the memory of Kyslivka. It is a play about rights and justice in a world where Russia exists. Kyslivka disappeared prematurely and in the most unjust way possible. Life lies ahead of us to build or rebuild something. Life lies ahead of us to fight for our right to build our own."

🎭 Performed in Ukrainian with English and German subtitles
📅 July 30 & 31, 19:00
📍 ACUD Theater, Berlin
🎟 Tickets: €5

This performance is deeply connected to Onishchenko's ongoing work at her AR-Ukraine Internal Residency at Slow River House, in particular, about her home village and its erasure.

Berliners and visitors - we hope to see you at ACUD! Get your tickets here: https://www.acud-theater.de/programm/5713-sour-and-sweet.html

Thanks to Cultural Traffic for hosting Onishchenko at Slow River House! This AR-Residency is part of the AR Ukraine-Internal Network Ukraine, and supported by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.

El Mundo , the major Spanish daily, dedicated a full-length feature to the role of Artists at Risk (AR) in defending art...
24/07/2026

El Mundo , the major Spanish daily, dedicated a full-length feature to the role of Artists at Risk (AR) in defending artistic freedom and protecting the lives of artists globally.

The article examines the global rise of authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic freedoms, based on an interview with AR’s co-founders and directors. They discuss the growing challenges faced by artists and cultural workers worldwide, and how artistic freedom and human rights go hand in hand.

"The number of authoritarian governments is growing around the world, while democracy is retreating”, Marita Muukkonen says. “In Afghanistan, the Taliban have passed a law that effectively legalizes the enslavement of women"

“Right now,” Ivor Stodolsky says, “the media spotlight is on Iran [...] But [..] Sudan is experiencing its second genocide in ten years against Black Africans, with armies financed by Arab states. There are around 15 million displaced people, between 80,000 and 150,000 civilian deaths, and almost no media coverage.”

It’s a stark reminder that defending artists means defending democratic space itself.

The interview took place last April in the context of the opening of the major human-rights festival Irìdia Fest in Barcelona, which AR inaugurated with a keynote panel at the CCCB with the Iranian writer Mahsa Mohebali among others.

We express our heartfelt thanks to Vanessa Graell and El Mundo / La Lectura for bringing these issues—and the artists behind them—to a global Spanish-speaking audience.

Read the article on our website, in Spanish and in machine-translated English (with comments): https://artistsatrisk.org/2026/04/02/press-the-ngo-saving-artists-at-risk-the-number-of-authoritarian-governments-is-growing-worldwide-while-democracy-is-retreating-by-la-lectura/.

We're delighted to share that Aikamme musiikki (Time of Music) is now one of our hosting partners in Finland! 💙Together ...
22/07/2026

We're delighted to share that Aikamme musiikki (Time of Music) is now one of our hosting partners in Finland! 💙

Together with the City of Viitasaari, they are building a new home for contemporary music in Central Finland, and we're thrilled that the residency programme is among the first concrete steps in bringing this vision to life.

Rooted in the rich cultural legacy of Musiikin aika (Time of Music) —one of Finland's leading contemporary music festivals since 1977—the residency offers artists the opportunity to work in the inspiring surroundings of the Finnish lake district while connecting with an internationally renowned contemporary music community.

The first AR-Resident from Ukraine, Oksana Ozarchuk, has already been welcomed and is currently in Viitasaari!

We're grateful to Aikamme musiikki, the City of Viitasaari, The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, the Finnish Culture Fund and TAIKE for making this collaboration possible, and we look forward to seeing this residency programme continue to grow as a lasting hub for international artists in the Nordic region.

📸 Pictured: AR-Resident Ozarchuk at the sculpture park at Tuulensuu Atelier House.

AR Talk with AR-RKF Residents at the Rubezh spaceAR-Residents Erfan Ghiasi from Teheran and Asya Yakovlieva from Dnipro,...
09/07/2026

AR Talk with AR-RKF Residents at the Rubezh space

AR-Residents Erfan Ghiasi from Teheran and Asya Yakovlieva from Dnipro, currently hosted by Ria Keburia Foundation in Georgia, recently held artist talks at Rubezh Space, where they introduced their practices and shared the ideas, experiences and processes behind their work.

Yakovlieva presented her work with graphics, textiles, beads, sculpture, video, installation and her ongoing project ‘THE GAME OF DISGUISE’.

Ghiasi presented his two main curatorial projects, and The Tehran Biennale, along with his ongoing artistic research project, Hayula-Nameh.

The event was also attended by AR Co-Directors Marita Muukkonen and Ivor Stodolsky in support of the residents and the exchange.

Asya Yakovlieva’s residency is part of the newly launched Artists at Risk (AR) / Ecologists at Risk (ER) – European Network for Creative Resilience (ENCR) program, co-funded by the European Union, fostering exchange, connection and resilience through artistic practice.

A heartfelt thank you to Ria Keburia Foundation for hosting and making this exchange possible, and to Rubezh Space for hosting the talks. 💚

In the wake of devastating Russian attacks on 14–15 June, cultural institutions across Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro have suf...
16/06/2026

In the wake of devastating Russian attacks on 14–15 June, cultural institutions across Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro have suffered severe damage. Museums and heritage sites, including UNESCO-listed landmarks, have been directly affected in one of the most extensive assaults on Ukrainian culture to date.

Due to these attacks, the Ukrainian Museum Association (UMA) was unable to participate in our AR/ER-ENCR network meeting in Tbilisi. Our network stands in full solidarity with Ukraine and the UMA, whose work has become even more critical under these circumstances.

Since 2022, UMA has been at the forefront of protecting Ukraine’s cultural heritage, supporting museum professionals, safeguarding collections, coordinating emergency responses and building long-term resilience through digitisation, restoration and international cooperation. Today, as museum staff face immense pressure and shortages, UMA is mobilising urgently on the ground to respond to this latest wave of destruction.

At this critical moment, we reaffirm our support for UMA’s mission and for all those working tirelessly to preserve Ukraine’s cultural memory in the face of ongoing violence.

Cultural heritage is not collateral, it is identity, history and resilience. Its protection must remain a global priority.

New Creative Europe partnership coordinated by Perpetuum Mobile (PM):Artists at Risk (AR) / Ecologists at Risk (ER)A Eur...
15/06/2026

New Creative Europe partnership coordinated by Perpetuum Mobile (PM):
Artists at Risk (AR) / Ecologists at Risk (ER)

A European Network for Creative Resilience
(AR/ER-ENCR)

AR/ER-ENCR is a residency-network designed to foster resilience in times of heightened threats to artists and cultural professionals - from the risks of war or terror, persecution or oppression, to the mondial ecological crisis. By strengthening, expanding and deepening the existing AR/ER Network, and reaching out across EU neighbourhood regions, this project develops AR/ER Residency practices designed for rest, respite and artistic freedom for endangered cultural professionals. These are places where artistic expression can flourish, and capacities and resources can be sourced and shared. It reinvigorates artistic, ecological and human-rights related activities of both residents and partner institutions fighting for our democratic future. In an era of geopolitical disruption and reconfiguration, European cooperation - internally and externally - is essential to promoting freedom of artistic expression and cultural resilience worldwide.

In the context of AR/ER-ENCR:
🏆 The new ARTISTS AT RISK PRIZE will be launched at the European Parliament!
🌍 “Resilience Residencies” promote artistic safety and freedom of expression.
🤝 “Peer Residencies” allow Coordinators of AR/ER Residences to share savoir-faire.
🎓 Pan-European capacity-building workshops exchange and collect best practices.
🎨 Artistic productions, seminars and public events share high-level artistic outcomes.
📣 Policy advocacy initiatives support cultural freedom.

AR/ER-ENCR Project partners:
- Ria Keburia Foundation
- Perpetuum Mobile
- ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe
- Artists at Risk Barcelona / Panorama 180
- Creative Residency MC6
- Bakota Hub
- Instituto Buena Bista
- Prins Claus Fund / Framer Framed

Artists at Risk (AR) / Ecologists at Risk (ER) – A European Network for Creative Resilience (AR/ER-ENCR) is coordinated by Perpetuum Mobile (PM), which runs Artists at Risk (AR) and Ecologists at Risk (ER).

Co-Funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

We are happy to welcome Yves Zagabe, a contemporary dancer and performer based between the Democratic Republic of Congo ...
10/06/2026

We are happy to welcome Yves Zagabe, a contemporary dancer and performer based between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, who has started his Artists at Risk (AR) residency this week at our new partner hosting institution Africa Nomads Art Space in Kenya.

Yves’ artistic practice explores the connections between intimate memory, identity, and the realities of conflict. Since beginning his artistic journey in 2010, he has developed his work through experiences with Studios Kabako, training in digital art and art therapy, and more recently through the prestigious “Appui aux Opérateurs Culturels en Afrique” (AOCA 2023, Institut Français de Paris), which supported the creation of his first solo work, Mon Fardeau.

The Journey is an Art and Culture Travel Series by Africa Nomads Art Space that creates a platform for people from different countries and cultural backgrounds to share their personal stories, experiences, and creative journeys. Through open dialogue, storytelling, artistic exchange and cultural immersion, the series promotes deeper understanding between communities while celebrating the diversity that shapes our world.

In this edition, Zagabe will share his experiences as an artist navigating displacement, identity, memory and creative expression.

Africa Nomads Art Space (AFNO) is a multidisciplinary cultural and creative hub based in Mombasa, Kenya, dedicated to fostering artistic excellence, cultural exchange, research, education and community engagement. The space serves as a meeting point for artists, researchers, cultural practitioners, travelers, and local communities, providing opportunities for learning, collaboration and creative production.

We thank the Africa Nomads Art Space for making this possible and wish Yves Zagabe an inspiring stay!

Dirección

Barranquilla
080020

Página web

Notificaciones

Sé el primero en enterarse y déjanos enviarle un correo electrónico cuando Artists at Risk publique noticias y promociones. Su dirección de correo electrónico no se utilizará para ningún otro fin, y puede darse de baja en cualquier momento.

Contacto La Organización

Enviar un mensaje a Artists at Risk:

Atajos

Compartir

Categoría