Artistic Freedom Initiative

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Artistic Freedom Initiative Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI) facilitates pro-bono legal services & resettlement for artists.

AFI/ILA was proud to co-sponsor Artistic Freedom Now! at the European House in Berlin, bringing together artists, cultur...
09/28/2026

AFI/ILA was proud to co-sponsor Artistic Freedom Now! at the European House in Berlin, bringing together artists, cultural organizations, and policymakers to discuss protecting artistic freedom across Europe.

The conversation addressed growing political pressure on cultural institutions and the proposed European Artistic Freedom Act, being developed by AFI/ILA and our partners to strengthen protections for artistic and institutional independence.

📷️ Image by Bernard Ludewig.

ACN is back for its second year!In 2026, AFI’s Artist Community Network (ACN) returns with a new cohort of four NYC-base...
09/24/2026

ACN is back for its second year!

In 2026, AFI’s Artist Community Network (ACN) returns with a new cohort of four NYC-based performing artists working across theater, music, and film.

Designed to be artist-led and community-driven, ACN creates space for artists to share knowledge, build professional networks, collaborate across disciplines, and advocate for issues that matter to their communities.

Over the coming year, the cohort will work together on professional development, advocacy, and a collaborative public event, all while building relationships rooted in creativity, solidarity, and mutual support.

Swipe to meet the 2026 cohort! 💫

AFI-ILA is launching the Afghanistan Pavilion 2028: an initiative to bring Afghan artists and cultural voices to the Ven...
09/23/2026

AFI-ILA is launching the Afghanistan Pavilion 2028: an initiative to bring Afghan artists and cultural voices to the Venice Biennale.

On 9 October, we make it public in Venice: the first step on the road to 2028.

Afghanistan’s culture is centuries deep — music, art, poetry, craft. What it lacks is a way to represent it at the Venice Biennale: a national pavilion can only be put forward by a state, and Afghanistan has none that can legitimately do so.

That’s why the Afghanistan Pavilion 2028 exists: a space for Afghan artists to represent themselves. Built by the community, the way a national pavilion is built. Fittingly, “pavilion” comes from papillon, a butterfly: something that carries its shelter with it, and still moves.

A panel of Afghan voices and international curators: Richard Bennett (UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan), Jeanno Gaussi (Visual Artist), Yama Rahimi , Leeza Ahmady (curator) , Jonathan Watkins (curator) — moderated by Sanjay Sethi (co-executive director, AFI-ILA).

📍 Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia,
🗓️ 9 October 2026 · 18:00 · in English

👉 Open to all. More information and registration: https://afi-ila.ch/events/road-to-afghanistan-pavilion-2028/

How can your scholarship illuminate today’s political and cultural conversations, and how can those conversations streng...
09/22/2026

How can your scholarship illuminate today’s political and cultural conversations, and how can those conversations strengthen your approach to pitching?

Join Ed Simon for the second workshop in the Secrets of Publishing series, exploring how writers and scholars can connect their work to current events and develop more strategic pitches.

Simon is Public Humanities Special Faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, founding editor of The Pittsburgh Review of Books, and the author of more than 20 books. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Paris Review Daily, and more.

🔗 Learn more and register at the link below.
https://onwardsproject.org/event/writing-about-current-events/

🗣️Can Europe build legal tools to shield artists from political pressure?On 23 September, the Artistic Freedom Now! pane...
09/18/2026

🗣️
Can Europe build legal tools to shield artists from political pressure?

On 23 September, the Artistic Freedom Now! panel takes up the question at the Europäisches Haus in Berlin.

Ahead of the discussion, hear from the speakers on what’s at stake for artistic freedom in Europe. 👉

📅 23 September 2026, 2:00 – 4:00 pm (CET)
📍 Europäisches Haus, Berlin — on-site only, no live stream
🔗 Registration open until 22 September, 4 pm — link in bio

With Sanjay Sethi, Claudia Roth, Milo Rau, Dr Katalin Krasznahorkai, Heidi Wiley, Barbara Gessler, Manos Tsangaris, and Christian Johann.

A joint event by Artistic Freedom Initiative and European Alliance of Academies , , in cooperation with Europäische Kommission DE

The Trump administration plans to install government signs outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History...
09/17/2026

The Trump administration plans to install government signs outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, warning visitors that exhibits reflect the alleged ideological biases of museum curators.

Using government authority to discredit curators and promote an official interpretation of history threatens the independence of cultural institutions. Museums must remain spaces where history can be interpreted, debated, and questioned without political interference.

✨️ Through our Artistic Freedom Monitor, AFI continues to document threats to artistic freedom and institutional independence across the U.S.

🔗 Explore the Artistic Freedom Monitor to learn more: https://artisticfreedominitiative.org/artistic-freedom.../

Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after several venues refused to host show...
09/16/2026

Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after several venues refused to host shows with him on the lineup following his onstage statements in support of Palestine. In response, Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Beoga withdrew from the tour in solidarity.

The controversy raises an important question about artistic freedom: when access to major cultural platforms depends on what artists can or cannot say, who gets to draw that line?

➡️ At AFI, we believe artists must have space to engage with political and social issues. Protecting artistic freedom does not mean insulating artists from criticism or disagreement. It means remaining vigilant when institutional or economic power determines which perspectives are allowed a platform.

Each month, we’ll share a selection of mission-aligned opportunities from across our network, including residencies, fel...
09/14/2026

Each month, we’ll share a selection of mission-aligned opportunities from across our network, including residencies, fellowships, grants, commissions, and other resources for artists.

At AFI, our work with immigrant and forcibly displaced artists goes beyond legal assistance. We empower artists to access the community, resources, and opportunities they need to continue creating and build sustainable artistic careers in the U.S.

➡️ Swipe through for opportunities with upcoming September deadlines.
Do you have an opportunity our artist community should hear about? Send it our way!

🗣️Across Europe, the space for free artistic expression is narrowing.On 23 September, this challenge takes centre stage ...
09/11/2026

🗣️
Across Europe, the space for free artistic expression is narrowing.

On 23 September, this challenge takes centre stage at the Artistic Freedom Now! panel discussion on the European Artistic Freedom Act.

Artistic Freedom Initiative , the European Alliance of Academies / European Alliance of Academies and the Resistance Now! Together coalition are convening a public panel on the dangers of political interference in the cultural sector — and how the European Artistic Freedom Act could respond.

📅 Wednesday, 23 September 2026, 2:00 – 4:00 pm (CET)
📍 Europäisches Haus, Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin - on-site only, no live stream
🔗 Registration required until 22 September, 4 pm (link in bio)

🎙️ Keynote by Sanjay Sethi
🗣️ Panel with Dr Katalin Krasznahorkai, Milo Rau, Claudia Roth and Heidi Wiley
Welcome address by Barbara Gessler and Manos Tsangaris | Moderation by Christian Johann

👉 Full programme: link in bio

A joint event organised by Artistic Freedom Initiative and European Alliance of Academies, , in cooperation with Europäische Kommission DE

📸 Claudia Roth ©Kristian Schuller, Manos Tsangaris ©gezett, Barbara Gessler ©European Commission, Milo Rau ©Marc Driessen, Christian Johann ©Europäische Akademie Berlin, Sanjay Sethi ©Artistic Freedom Initiative, Heidi Wiley ©Pascal Gely, ©Katalin Krasznahorkai

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