Debates about representation, cancel culture and access have changed the way we understand the concept of censorship in arts and culture. It calls for a more sophisticated understanding of the many ways that artists and cultural creators meet censorship, requiring cultural institutions and agents to grow in self-awareness and work within spaces of hyper complexity.<\/em><\/p>\n

Censorship covers a broad spectrum of violations<\/h3>\n

In 2021, a record-high number of artistic freedom violations were documented, with cases involving censorship legal action, harassment and even murder (Freemuse.org, The State of Artistic Freedom 2022). This shows how in times of military conflict, political instability, and with democracy under pressure, arts and culture is being responded to as a threat when seeking to lead open and free dialogue. Signals gathered for the Living Catalogue show some of the many examples of censorship and cancellation: from the explicit and autocratic censorship to different modes of self-imposed censorship where artistic work is being adjusted or amended in order not to upset funders, commissioners, or the wider audience. Whilst in some cases artistic work can pose questions of life or death, in others, the reason for disqualification can be more symbolic, motivated by a will to signal a clear message to the media, political community or wider audience. For example, in spring 2022 the Russian invasion of Ukraine prompted a fast removal of Russian artists from exhibitions and programs with little time to consider the full complexity of the situation.<\/p>\n

The discussions are complex<\/h3>\n

The collected signals illustrate the difficulties of analysing and documenting the full extent and impact of restraints on artistic freedom. Where in international reports the focus is often solely on concrete cases of censorship and cancellation of art works, in reality, artists often meet many indirect and subtle obstacles before a work is even finalised or exhibited. As Sara Whyatt, researcher and advocate on freedom of artistic expression and humans rights puts it in her contribution to IFACCA\u2019s report on Artistic Freedom*: “When I am told that there are few artists in prison and, by implication, that there is little to be concerned about, I reply that there are several hurdles that need to be jumped before an artist\u2019s work gets noticed by the authorities or angry mobs.”<\/p>\n

Debates on censorship and cancel culture are also often centred around the question of how absolute the right to artistic freedom should be. The complexity of this area becomes clear in cases where artistic freedom is encountered by other cultural rights, that are activated to fight against cultural exclusion, discrimination and marginalisation. A recent example comes from Germany where the major exhibition, Documenta Fifteen, was called to cancel a screening of films amid ongoing accusations of anti-Semitism by its own advisory committee.<\/p>\n

The examples above underline how safeguarding artistic freedom requires that its value is understood in a wider societal context, as a right that matters to the whole society and not only to a narrow group. According to cultural manager and activist Basma El Husseiny the root cause for censorship or other attacks on artistic freedom is a social environment that does not value freedom of expression: \u201cIt is impossible to defend and protect freedom of expression in a social environment that is oblivious, or even hostile to it. In this kind of environment, self-censorship easily becomes the norm and it also becomes easier to imprison artists or legalise censorship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Institutions and individuals need to look critically at themselves<\/h3>\n

Taking representation seriously is the new normal that any institution must be able to live up to. However, signals and cases show that this strategy falls short in a global and complex world, where identity, politics, gender and ethnicity are not static categories we can \u201ccheck-list\u201d our way around.
\nWhen looking to a brighter future for artistic freedoms and expression, embracing complexity is key. Influential institutions and agents of the field need to be able to enter into dialogues and self-reflection that critically examines biases and privileges. As the broader public, we all hold a responsibility to allow institutions and agents to not have ready-made political answers to complex issues of censorship, but instead open up the space of institutional vulnerability and ambiguity that will allow for real change.<\/p>\n

*Discussion Paper: 9th World Summit on Arts & Culture 2023 by International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA).<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":1244,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_themes":[139],"class_list":["post-1243","insights","type-insights","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","_themes-artistic-freedoms"],"acf":{"signals":[{"ID":1213,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-10-11 21:31:13","post_date_gmt":"2022-10-11 21:31:13","post_content":"Freemuse, an independent international non-governmental organisation advocating for freedom of artistic expression and cultural diversity, have produced a report illustrating the stark reality of the struggle for artistic freedom globally. \r\n\r\nThe report documents over 1,200 violations of artistic freedom worldwide. Among them is a record number of 39 artists who were reportedly killed. More than 500 artists faced legal consequences for challenging the authorities, public figures, and religious and traditional values. \r\n\r\nRecords show that music was the most suppressed art form, followed by visual art and film. Political authorities and government-led bodies remained the major violators of artistic freedom, while non-state groups, such as militias, criminal gangs and mobs threatened and attacked artworks, using intimidation and at times violence. \r\n\r\nThe report also notes, how traditionalism and conservatism alongside the rise of populism in recent years has had a negative impact globally on the ability to create art on issues around LGBTQIA, women\u2019s rights, religion, and other works challenging traditional norms.","post_title":"The State of Artistic Freedom Report 2022","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-state-of-artistic-freedom-report-2022","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-11 21:31:13","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-11 21:31:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/the-state-of-artistic-freedom-report-2022\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1215,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-10-10 09:46:45","post_date_gmt":"2022-10-10 09:46:45","post_content":"\"An advisory committee who had been tasked to oversee the programming of Documenta 15 festival in Germany, called for the cancellation of a screening of films produced by the artist collective Subversive Film amid ongoing accusations of anti-Semitism. Meanwhile, organisers of the heralded Kassel exhibition, responded that the calls for cancellations were \u201ccensorship.\u201d \r\n\r\nThe film project, titled \u201cTokyo Reels,\u201d features a group of previously unseen films made between the 1960s and 1980s related to Japanese and Palestinian relations. A statement on a website set up by the Ramallah-to-Brussels-based collective described the restoration project completed for Documenta as exploring \u201cthe imperfect archives of transnational militant cinema.\u201d\r\n\r\nAn advisory committee consisting of seven cultural experts, recommended the \u201curgent\u201d cancellation of the screening due to its alleged content of anti-Semitic leanings. The organisers of Documenta 15 denied the allegations in a written statement and criticised the panel for \"using an unclear methodology to establish its findings.\" \u201cBecause we stand by our rejection of censorship, we vigorously opposed the creation of this scientific advisory panel,\u201d it reads.","post_title":"Major Contemporary Art Exhibition Denies Allegations of Anti-Semitism","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"major-contemporary-art-exhibition-denies-allegations-of-anti-semitism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-10 09:46:45","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-10 09:46:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/major-contemporary-art-exhibition-denies-allegations-of-anti-semitism\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1235,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-07-03 14:33:57","post_date_gmt":"2022-07-03 14:33:57","post_content":"An e-book features a compilation of 25 unique contributions on the subject of artistic freedom and creative expression in Africa by writers across the continent. The titles of the contributions include:'How Digital and Social Tools Empower Storytellers Today and Enable Modern-Day African Conversations', 'Revolting or Writing? \u2013 The Impact of Turbulent Times on Writers' and 'Art and Artists in Sudan: A History of Harassment' amongst many others. \r\n\r\nThe book has been produced as part of Arterial Network\u2019s Artwatch Africa project that aims to defend freedom of creative expression on the continent.","post_title":"How Free Is FREE?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-free-is-free","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-07-03 14:33:57","post_modified_gmt":"2022-07-03 14:33:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/how-free-is-free\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1237,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-07-03 14:18:34","post_date_gmt":"2022-07-03 14:18:34","post_content":"Ayodele Ganiu is an artist and activist advocating and defending artistic freedom of expression, cultural policy and copyright reforms in Africa. He has served as coordinator for Artwatch Africa, a human rights program within Arterial Network, promoting and protecting African artists\u2019 rights and freedom of expression.\r\nAyodele Ganiu's research covering the continent, argues that for artists to function effectively, artistic freedom is a precondition. The challenges to artistic freedom are worsened by limitations to judicial independence in a number of African states. Courts in Africa are vulnerable to undue interferences such as threats, attacks, bribery and removal of judges by the executive arm of government. Undue interferences also occur in the form of informal networks arising from political affiliations, and ethnic and religious ties.","post_title":"Artistic Freedom and the Question of Judicial Independence in Africa","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"artistic-freedom-and-the-question-of-judicial-independence-in-africa","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-07-03 14:18:34","post_modified_gmt":"2022-07-03 14:18:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/artistic-freedom-and-the-question-of-judicial-independence-in-africa\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1239,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-07-03 13:59:49","post_date_gmt":"2022-07-03 13:59:49","post_content":"In 2020, the East African Journal of Peace & Human Rights, released a special issue on Freedom of Expression, Access to Information and Assembly. \r\n\r\nIn it, the article The Use of Music as a Form of Artistic Freedom of Expression in Uganda, by R. Kakungulu-Mayambala & Solomon Rukundo, highlights \"recent trends in the music industry, practices and emerging issues in the region impacting the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms, in particular the rights of freedom of expression, assembly and access to information with a focus on the situation in Uganda\u2019s music industry.\" \r\n\r\nThe article presents original research on the law and practices that have had a significant impact on the exercise of freedom of expression, media freedom, assembly and access to information in the context of music. The article also reviews the opportunities and challenges for using strategic litigation to advance or protect freedom of expression in Uganda, and the role of regional human rights courts in protecting the right of freedom of expression and assembly in the music industry.\r\n","post_title":"Music as a Form of Artistic Freedom of Expression in Uganda","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"music-as-a-form-of-artistic-freedom-of-expression-in-uganda","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-07-03 13:59:49","post_modified_gmt":"2022-07-03 13:59:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/music-as-a-form-of-artistic-freedom-of-expression-in-uganda\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1241,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-07-03 13:35:02","post_date_gmt":"2022-07-03 13:35:02","post_content":"In Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, artists across different mediums are often punished for speaking out against political oppression and advocating for change through arbitrary government arrests, harassment, intimidation, and even murder. Some of their common areas of focus include governance, peace building, gender fluidity, emerging societal trends, environment and climate change, sexual reproductive rights, and gender based violence.\r\n\r\nThe article from The Conversation, details the arrests, kidnappings and banishments of a number of artists in East Africa in 2018, noting that creatives are susceptible to state suppression through draconian legislation because there are not enough laws to protect their rights. \r\n\r\nA number of other barriers also affect freedom of expression - one of them being cultural values. Critical work by artists is not always well received because part of the audience is deeply conservative \u2013 politically, culturally and spiritually.","post_title":"How Artistic Expression is Being Stifled in East Africa","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-artistic-expression-is-being-stifled-in-east-africa","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-07-03 13:35:02","post_modified_gmt":"2022-07-03 13:35:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/how-artistic-expression-is-being-stifled-in-east-africa\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1151,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2021-12-16 13:29:25","post_date_gmt":"2021-12-16 13:29:25","post_content":"\"Lately, I've been working with Anne Samat, a transgender activist and artist from Malaysia. She uses South East Asian weaving in her works and inserts a wide range of everyday objects like things from the kitchen and more. In her works, she makes two worlds meet. For her mixing, the traditional and contemporary symbolise freedom of expression. \r\n\r\nShe desires to merge the feminine and the masculine, being able to move freely and not be boxed in according to categories. Doing these beautiful works, she can tell a story in a country where the basic right of self-expression is being restricted in the face of increasing religious conservatism that she would not have been able to tell with words.\"","post_title":"The soft power of Art is politically relevant","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-soft-power-of-art-is-politically-relevant","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-06-28 12:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2022-06-28 12:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/the-soft-power-of-art-is-politically-relevant\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1135,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-01-27 11:37:24","post_date_gmt":"2022-01-27 11:37:24","post_content":"\"Private museums, galleries and publishers as well as social media platforms are, by definition, outside the realm of First Amendment law. They can censor at will. And pressures for them to do so are growing. Many of these pressures come from the liberal left, whose traditional support for free speech is wavering. They are fueled by a rise in political discontent, which manifests as moral outrage. Social media, with their unprecedented mobilizing powers, amplify and give traction to outrage campaigns. And, since the quick-gratification logic of clicktivism does not allow for a depth of engagement, nuance, experimentation and ambiguity become liabilities. This may explain the paradox that the targets of moral outrage are often on the same side politically as the outraged. Artists and writers are sometimes intimidated into pulling their own work from public view and cultural institutions are yielding to the pressure of protesters \u2013 and censoring\" (Mintcheva, 2019)","post_title":"Can free speech survive the onslaught of moral outrage?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"can-free-speech-survive-the-onslaught-of-moral-outrage","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-01-27 11:37:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-01-27 11:37:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/can-free-speech-survive-the-onslaught-of-moral-outrage\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1100,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-21 17:23:11","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-21 17:23:11","post_content":"According to a new report initiated by the Saami Council, the national arts funding structures and schemes in the Nordic countries don't recognize and acknowledge the Sapmi region and community as one nation. The report states that most of the funding opportunities for S\u00e1mi art and culture comes from outside the S\u00e1mi authorities, which gives national policy instruments a great deal of decision-making and definition power. Projects are expected to fulfill requirements and expectations based on nationally defined relevance and quality objectives. Many S\u00e1mi artists therefore feel that they need to make compromises and adapt to the Nordic and Western prevailing approaches.\r\n\r\n","post_title":"Weakened by national borders","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"weakened-by-national-borders","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-21 17:23:11","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-21 17:23:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/weakened-by-national-borders\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1094,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-20 18:09:10","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-20 18:09:10","post_content":"COVID-19 has not only led to a global health crisis and severe economic consequences. Several international reports document how the pandemic has also led to new restrictions on freedom of expression for artists. The international rules tell us that some restrictions may be justified, but in most cases, the restrictive measures taken by governments globally are disproportionate and hard to justify. To avoid a new normal with additional restrictions, the report \u2018Critical Voices\u2019 recommends that the international community monitor the rollback of such illegitimate measures. The UN system provides tools to ensure greater transparency around such issues and hold states accountable. However, many artists are unaware of these tools or simply do not know how to use these tools. More needs to be done to raise awareness and build the capacities. A Danish initiative seeks to mobilize a new coalition of stakeholders who can lead by example and inspire other stakeholders to join. Stakeholders from Latin American countries have mobilized, and a calendar of work is in the making. The work plan will cover the period 2022-2027. The Danish office is leading the initiative mentioned in the description box above.","post_title":"Some governments misuse crises and emergencies to restrict freedom of expression for artists","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"some-governments-misuse-crises-and-emergencies-to-restrict-freedom-of-expression-for-artists","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-20 18:09:10","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-20 18:09:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/some-governments-misuse-crises-and-emergencies-to-restrict-freedom-of-expression-for-artists\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1090,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-20 17:31:39","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-20 17:31:39","post_content":"The United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has normative instruments that outline states\u2019 obligation to ensure a safe and enabling environment for artists. The United Nations Human Rights Council provides an innovative platform to hold states accountable for those obligations. If better activated within the Human Rights Council, the UNESCO instruments can reinforce efforts to counter the increasing number of threats and attacks on artists. At present, some stakeholders are exploring this potential, but much more can be done \u2013 by UN agencies, Member States, human rights institutions and professional organizations of artists. A new Danish initiative seeks to rally key stakeholders to enhance their engagement, and to take better advantage of already available UN tools that will hold states more accountable. The objective is to facilitate efforts that may lead to positive results at country level, in terms of law reforms, and other policy measures. ","post_title":"The United Nations offer tools to defend the freedom of expression for artists","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-united-nations-offer-tools-to-defend-the-freedom-of-expression-for-artists","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-20 17:31:39","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-20 17:31:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/the-united-nations-offer-tools-to-defend-the-freedom-of-expression-for-artists\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1082,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2022-05-19 15:43:38","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-19 15:43:38","post_content":"Sara Whyatt - Unesco expert introduces the complexity of Artistic Freedom in the introduction to the the discussion paper for IFACCA World Summit\n\n\"In summary, UNESCO sees artistic freedom as:\n\u03d8 the right to create without censorship or intimidation\n\u03d8 the right to have artistic work supported, distributed, and remunerated\n\u03d8 the right to freedom of movement\n\u03d8 the right to freedom of association\n\u03d8 the right to the protection of social and economic rights\n\u03d8 the right to participate in cultural life.\"\n\n\"When I am told that there are few artists in prison and, by implication, that there is little to be concerned about, I reply that there are several hurdles that need to be jumped before an artist\u2019s work gets noticed by the authorities or angry mobs.\"\n\n\"As such, obstacles to artistic freedom not only affect artists, but they also deny audiences and the public general access to ideas and experiences that fall outside the mainstream, and leave a cultural sector dominated by an elite. Censorship and blocks to practising as an artist affect the marginalised most, denying the full expression of their culture.\nArtistic freedom matters in all its forms, not only to creators but to the whole of society.\"","post_title":"Sara Whyatt: A journey with the Cinderella of Rights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"sara-wyatt-a-journey-with-the-cinderella-of-rights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-25 18:35:35","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-25 18:35:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/sara-wyatt-a-journey-with-the-cinderella-of-rights\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1081,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-19 15:31:49","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-19 15:31:49","post_content":"Since the dawn of human civilization, all artists have faced a common enemy: the destruction of their art. This could take the form of tyrannical leaders censoring artistic expression, iconoclasts from enemy tribes hoping to wipe out a culture, or even an accident, such as the tragic fire at the library of Alexandria. But these enemies are entering their final days and the human race is preparing itself to enter a new era, free from censorship or the accidental destruction of data?\r\n\r\nWith the advent of cryptography and cryptocurrency, this new era is not only possible but seems to be inevitable. What started as an endeavour to decentralize money from any governing body has evolved into a new kind of internet, one that rewrites the rules of power and ownership that currently plagues billions of artists and independent creators worldwide. This new internet is called Web3, and it\u2019s going to change everything. Most importantly, users get to own their data, changing the concept of censorship as we know it today.","post_title":"The Death of Censorship: Is web3 creating a new era for artists?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-death-of-censorship-is-web3-creating-a-new-era-for-artists","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-19 15:31:49","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-19 15:31:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/the-death-of-censorship-is-web3-creating-a-new-era-for-artists\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1067,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 13:52:34","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 13:52:34","post_content":"According to the cultural manager and activist Basma El Husseiny, it is impossible to defend and protect freedom of expression in a social environment that is oblivious, or even hostile to it. In this kind of environment, self-censorship easily becomes the norm and it also becomes easier to imprison artists or legalise censorship.\r\nEl Husseiny underlines that artists and other actors defending artistic freedom should build strong alliances with other sectors of civil society to make artistic freedom more understandable and defendable\r\n\r\nAccording to her, people should also become better at explaining the benefits of artistic freedom and why it matters from a broader societal perspective, and this task should not only be imposed on the artists themselves.","post_title":"Artistic freedom matters to the whole society","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"artistic-freedom-matters-to-the-whole-society","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:34","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 13:52:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/artistic-freedom-matters-to-the-whole-society\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1053,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2022-05-04 10:34:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-04 10:34:04","post_content":"The contributions are written by authors and researchers from a wide variety of humanities disciplines and institutions. They address the most important topics in recent years' discussions of identity politics, literature, and the challenged freedom of art.\nFrom the review from the Danish newspaper Politiken: \"We are in the middle of an identity-political cultural war that has significance for many. It's about who can say, paint or write what. About how we should talk about things, and about what identity really is for something.\"\n\n\"We are in a cultural ford where the great challenge for the West, which has had the power of definition, is both to hold on and to make room. The latter because Western thinking represents both enlightenment and exclusion... At the same time, it is crucial to recognize that identities and their interests are politically created. Precisely for this reason, any statement of representation requires a political justification and cannot simply refer to identity.\"","post_title":"The identity-political cultural war","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-identity-political-cultural-war","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-25 18:33:10","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-25 18:33:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/the-identity-political-cultural-war\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1052,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-04 10:14:40","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-04 10:14:40","post_content":"Many debates in Sweden started after the publication of \"S\u00e5 fri \u00e4r konsten\". \r\n33% have relinquished from applying to Arts Councils\/organisations because they thought that the criteria were in conflict with the concept of artistic freedom. 46% have adjusted the content to criteria - without adding to the quality of the project. ","post_title":"Criteria and artistic freedom","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"criteria-and-artistic-freedom","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-04 10:14:40","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-04 10:14:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/criteria-and-artistic-freedom\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1044,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 15:58:07","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 15:58:07","post_content":"Censorship limits the work of artists in many countries. They are also at risk of persecution, torture, abduction, imprisonment, or even death in some cases. When an artist applies for asylum, the asylum process must consider better freedom of speech and expression as a fundamental human right. However, several asylum decisions made by the Finnish Immigration Service have conflicted with the concept of freedom of expression, says the authors of ArtsEqual's recent policy brief on artists as asylum seekers and subjects to international protection. Finnish Immigration Services does not sufficiently understand what kind of art, in a particular context, appears threatening to those in power. Therefore they must consult reliable sources of expertise in this matter. Country-specific information about art and the situation of artists is needed to support decision-making, the authors of the policy brief argue.\r\n","post_title":"Artists as asylum seekers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"artists-as-asylum-seekers","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-04-26 15:58:07","post_modified_gmt":"2022-04-26 15:58:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/artists-as-asylum-seekers\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1026,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-04 10:27:53","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-04 10:27:53","post_content":"\"I have to think about this twice a week, for each drawing separately,\" remarks Ville Ranta about freedom of expression. Ranta, a Finnish cartoon artist and former recipient of Finnish PEN's Freedom of Expression Award, was interviewed on the limits of free speech in a recent Perjantai talk-show episode on YLE1 in Finland. The interview referred to the trial of a Christian Democrat MP and former Interior Minister P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen, charged with incitement against a minority group concerning her accounts about homosexuality. While opposing R\u00e4s\u00e4nen's views, Ranta sees it as problematic to hold trials \"to consider the insulting nature of people's speeches or how the subjects of the speeches feel.\" Holding hate speech laws in high regard, he sees that such statutes are meant \"for something else.\" While R\u00e4s\u00e4nen's voicings may be discriminatory, they are not threatening, Ranta assesses. He notes his personal interest in defending the freedom of expression. He utilizes mockery, satire, and humour \u2013 \"a kind of malice,\" he says, which \"is treated so that it is always insulting to someone.\" \r\n\r\nRanta trusts that laws against hate speech do not apply to his works. He asks whether it is up to the judiciary to consider which statements, thoughts, and opinions are unfit or immoral \"because, in principle, the law should be the same for everyone.\" That could lead to \"the police and the judiciary...starting to think about which opinions are correct and which are the wrong ones.\" He sees such a development as worrying. While Ranta sees the need to get minority voices heard, he notes that limiting freedom of expression does not serve to fix equality problems.","post_title":"On hate speech laws","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"on-hate-speech-laws","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-04-04 10:27:53","post_modified_gmt":"2022-04-04 10:27:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/on-hate-speech-laws\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1017,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2022-03-30 14:47:19","post_date_gmt":"2022-03-30 14:47:19","post_content":"On 30 March 2022, UNESCO adopted a resolution on the account of Russia's invasion in Ukraine. The resolution addresses the impact and consequences of the current situation in Ukraine in all aspects of UNESCO\u2019s mandate. Among the decisions adopted by UNESCO's executive board are: \"... 21. Invites the governing bodies of all relevant UNESCO conventions and intergovernmental programmes, facilitated by the Director-General and the Secretariat, to assess and develop measures taking into account the situation in Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders across UNESCO\u2019s fields of competence.\"","post_title":"Who will monitor the security and integrity of artists in Ukraine if not UNESCO?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"who-will-monitor-the-security-and-integrity-of-artists-in-ukraine-if-not-unesco","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-25 18:27:07","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-25 18:27:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/who-will-monitor-the-security-and-integrity-of-artists-in-ukraine-if-not-unesco\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1012,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-03-29 18:33:14","post_date_gmt":"2022-03-29 18:33:14","post_content":"Freemuse reported 978 violations of artistic freedom in 2020 in 89 countries and online. These violations include 17 killings, 82 imprisonments, and 133 detentions of artists. Twenty-six percent of all documented attempts to limit artistic freedom occurred in Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions on cultural events have not stopped the oppression of artists\u2019 voices. Instead, they have become even more intense. The Freemuse report exemplifies the fraudulent use of anti-terrorism legislation, blasphemy, and COVID-19 actions as false excuses to suppress the nonconformist voices of artists and their artworks. The attackers included political and religious groups, private individuals, and social media platforms, about 60 percent of the documented violations made by government authorities.\r\n\r\nFreemuse is an independent international NGO with United Nations Special Consultative Status to the Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC) and Consultative Status with UNESCO. ","post_title":"Artistic freedom under threat in Europe","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"artistic-freedom-under-threat-in-europe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-03-29 18:33:14","post_modified_gmt":"2022-03-29 18:33:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/artistic-freedom-under-threat-in-europe\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":990,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2022-03-16 09:23:37","post_date_gmt":"2022-03-16 09:23:37","post_content":"1. A Russian painter has been arrested for creating an installation in the shape of giant excrement near a memorial in the center of Saint Petersburg, police announced. The gallery wrote on Instagram, \"The artist created an installation of snow in the form of giant faeces, ironically about the fact that this year municipal services in the city did not remove snow well, which residents of the city repeatedly complained about\".\n\n2. Three Members of Pussy Riot Were Arrested in Russia\u2019s Mass Protests Against the Jailing of Opposition Leader Aleksei Navalny\nThe activist artists were among the thousands calling for the release of the jailed anti-corruption activist.","post_title":"Russian artist arrested after symbolic dirty protest near memorial","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"russian-artist-arrested-after-symbolic-dirty-protest-near-memorial","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-25 18:23:35","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-25 18:23:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/russian-artist-arrested-after-symbolic-dirty-protest-near-memorial\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":989,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2022-03-15 13:18:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-03-15 13:18:54","post_content":"Horsens Art Museum has canceled an exhibition with the two Russian sisters, Maria and Natalia Petschatnikov, as a result of the invasion of Ukraine.\n\nIt was not the museum's doing, but the municipality's politicians canceled the exhibition. Andreas Boesen, chairman of the culture and leisure committee in Horsens Municipality, said, \"There are many victims in such a war here. This is one of them. Are the sisters 'official Russia'? No, they are not. What the Minister of Culture further called for, was that they review the activities and partnerships they have, and that is what we have taken on\".\n\n\u201cI'm just saying that it's hard for me to have to go up and cut a red string to something that pays homage to something that in that context is known to be Russian. I do not feel that the time is right.\"\n\nThe two sisters, who have both Russian and German citizenship, have not lived in their hometown of St. Petersburg since 1991 but studied in the United States and France and have lived and worked in Germany since 1999. Nevertheless, they are affected by the boycott that a number of Danish cultural institutions have introduced after Danish Minister of Culture Ane Halsboe-J\u00f8rgensen (S) said that all cooperation with the official Russia at Danish state institutions must end.","post_title":"Cancellation at museum - decided by local politicians.","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cancellation-at-museum-decided-by-local-politicians","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-25 18:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-25 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/cancellation-at-museum-decided-by-local-politicians\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":987,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-03-10 14:01:05","post_date_gmt":"2022-03-10 14:01:05","post_content":"In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kunsthal Charlottenborg chose to remove two works by Sergei Prokofiev from their Spring Exhibition, works that had just been awarded the exhibition's solo prize.\r\n\r\nHowever, after a tumultuous weekend in which both politicians and artists have commented critically on the decision on social media and a number of major media have since taken up the matter, Kunsthal Charlottenborg decided after an extraordinary board meeting to reexhibit Sergei Prokofiev. In the response, Kunsthal Charlottenborg told the media that \"the removal of Sergei Prokofiev's works has never been motivated by a desire for artistic censorship, restriction of freedom of expression or the like, but only by a desire for adherence to a common national or global statement to Russia.\"","post_title":"Who's censoring who?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"whos-censoring-who","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-03-10 14:01:05","post_modified_gmt":"2022-03-10 14:01:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/whos-censoring-who\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":983,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-03-10 13:12:12","post_date_gmt":"2022-03-10 13:12:12","post_content":"A Swedish newspaper, Svenska Dagbladet, article criticizes the decision of the Nordic Council of Ministers to cancel and pull back support to cultural projects in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. According to the Secretary-General, the aim has been to send a \"clear signal\" to Russia and to condemn the invasion of Ukraine. However, the decision affects also projects such as \"Filmmakers and Risk\", Civil society organisations, and independent artists who have been working to promote human rights, free expression, and democracy and thereby risking their lives in doing so. In the article experts and former diplomats call the decision \"insane.\" \r\n\r\nAt the same time, other organisations and institutions are stressing the need for continued support to projects, practitioners, and organisations in Russia that contribute to the development of free civil society and independent artistic and cultural life.","post_title":"Nordic ministers cancel funding to independent film makers in Russia","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"nordic-ministers-cancel-funding-to-independent-film-makers-in-russia","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-03-10 13:12:12","post_modified_gmt":"2022-03-10 13:12:12","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/nordic-ministers-cancel-funding-to-independent-film-makers-in-russia\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":971,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2022-03-05 08:13:38","post_date_gmt":"2022-03-05 08:13:38","post_content":"The popular Zambian musician \"Pilato\" left Zambia after receiving threats from supporters of the ruling party, the Patriotic Front, as a result of his hit song \u201cKoswe Mumpoto\u201d. In the local Bemba dialect, the song title means \u201crat in the pot\u201d. Supporters claimed the song accuses President Edgar Lungu and his ministers of corruption.","post_title":"Zambian musician and activist \u201cPilato\u201d arrested for speaking out on government graft","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"zambian-musician-and-activist-pilato-arrested-for-speaking-out-on-government-graft","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-25 18:41:13","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-25 18:41:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/zambian-musician-and-activist-pilato-arrested-for-speaking-out-on-government-graft\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":967,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-03-03 07:08:06","post_date_gmt":"2022-03-03 07:08:06","post_content":"The 37-year-old artists has received several threats in the past few years and has been arrested for his controversial paintings of politicians and business people. ","post_title":"Acclaimed artist in hiding after attacks on his life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"acclaimed-artist-in-hiding-after-attacks-on-his-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-03-03 07:08:06","post_modified_gmt":"2022-03-03 07:08:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/acclaimed-artist-in-hiding-after-attacks-on-his-life\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":963,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2022-02-21 14:12:43","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-21 14:12:43","post_content":"The platform and publishing house Laboratory for Aesthetics and Ecology withdrew their translation of Fran\u00e7oise Verg\u00e8s' essay \"Capitalocene, Waste, Race, and Gender\" because: \"we [they] were made aware of some blind spots in the translation due to our heritage and privileges as white publishers and people.\" Further, they write that \"we are very aware of the responsibility that rests on us and that we did not manage that responsibility with the first version of the edition.\"\n\nIn conclusion, they write that: \"This is just another reminder that we must all actively take part in and take responsibility for how the Danish language is to develop.\"","post_title":"Small publishing house withdraws their translation due to \"white blind spots\"","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"small-publishing-house-withdraw-their-translation-due-to-white-blind-spots","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-25 18:20:50","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-25 18:20:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/small-publishing-house-withdraw-their-translation-due-to-white-blind-spots\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":952,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2022-02-09 10:16:31","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-09 10:16:31","post_content":"\"Voices\" is a play written and directed by Palestinian Israeli actor Hisham Suliman based on true stories told by Arab Women who have experienced domestic violence.\nThe play has been staged in several Arab cities in Israel but in February when it was supposed to be shown in the town of Jatt the town mayor said: \"This is what is necessary for the good of the community\" and canceled the performance. Based on true testimonies, bringing to the surface the point of view of women being oppressed and the way they experience violence. \u201cThis is a play that deals with one of the most painful topics, and it\u2019s a challenge for us. I\u2019m trying to start a discussion about femicide, but encounter attempts to silence me,\u201d said Suliman. The reactions in protest towards the cancellation were strong from men and women in the Arab cultural scene to the Women Against Violence NGO.","post_title":"A play aimed at raising awareness of violence against women gets canceled in Israeli Arab town","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"palestinian-israeli-cultural-voices-create-works-to-raise-awareness-of-violence-against-women","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-25 18:22:25","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-25 18:22:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/palestinian-israeli-cultural-voices-create-works-to-raise-awareness-of-violence-against-women\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":948,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-02-01 20:56:56","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-01 20:56:56","post_content":"In 2020, HBO removed the 1939 US Civil War historical romance Gone With the Wind from its streaming service, describing it as a racist \u2018product of its time\u2019 for its nostalgic portrayal of slavery. It occurred in the context of Black Lives Matter, and it makes sense for HBO to do this: you can now once again watch the film, but now you'll see it in a particular way, in its \u2018context\u2019; thus HBO still gets to carry the film and yet not be tainted, or potentially \u2018cancelled\u2019, for hosting it. Stewart\u2019s introduction draws attention to the absence of any brutal depiction of slavery and black characters' stereotypes as inept servants.","post_title":"HBO removes \"racist\" Gone With the Wind (1939) from its streaming service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"hbo-removes-racist-gone-with-the-wind-1939-from-its-streaming-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-02-01 20:56:56","post_modified_gmt":"2022-02-01 20:56:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/hbo-removes-racist-gone-with-the-wind-1939-from-its-streaming-service\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":946,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-02-01 20:45:55","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-01 20:45:55","post_content":"The photographs depicted the looks of living rooms where gay men live. None of the pictures depicted explicit nudity. However, following museum president Brian Knicely: \u201cWe have to be cognisant of who our patrons are ... \"The board chair made the decision that it didn\u2019t meet the needs of what our space is about.\u201d Knicely said the museum was only shown two of Larson's photographs before they agreed to host the show, and those two weren\u2019t installed for display.\r\n\r\nLike many private museums and libraries across America, Stonewall has had to create new programs and activities to earn financial support to survive. In response to the demand in classrooms for a greater understanding and tolerance of LGBT issues for all students to help stem the tide of bullying, homelessness, and teen suicide, Stonewall has joined with school districts in partnership to make available LGBT history education.","post_title":"Museum president cancels \"LGBTQ-exhibition\" due to sponsor concern","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"museum-president-cancels-lgbtq-exhibition-due-to-sponsor-concern","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-02-01 20:45:55","post_modified_gmt":"2022-02-01 20:45:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/anordic.org\/livingcatalogue\/signals\/all\/museum-president-cancels-lgbtq-exhibition-due-to-sponsor-concern\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"signals","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}]},"full_image":["https:\/\/livingcatalogue.anordic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Insight_censorship.png",2560,1200,false],"thumb":["https:\/\/livingcatalogue.anordic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Insight_censorship-300x141.png",300,141,true],"thumb_large":["https:\/\/livingcatalogue.anordic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Insight_censorship-1024x480.png",640,300,true],"yoast_head":"\n