What we do
Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) defends and advances the right to artistic freedom, providing practical resources and support to artists and cultural workers, so they can live and work safely, free from fear.
Protect
ARC provides direct assistance to at-risk artists and connects them with an international network of organizations and resources.
Advocate
ARC monitors, documents, and advocates for artists targeted for their creative expression, social justice efforts, or human rights work. ARC defends and promotes artistic freedom around the world.
Amplify
ARC raises awareness about the challenges facing artists and cultural workers, and leads global calls for safeguarding the right to artistic freedom through storytelling, campaigns, publications, podcasts, and events.
Where we work
We work wherever artists face danger or repression, collaborating with local and international partners to ensure that no creative voice is silenced, regardless of geography or circumstances.
Africa
Latin America & The Caribbean
Asia & The Pacific
Middle East & North Africa
Europe
North America
Featured news from ARC
Artist
stories
Stories of at-risk artists from all over the world who are committed to protecting their right to freedom of expression and using their art to fight for justice.
Nigeria
DJ Switch
Cuba
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara
Saudi Arabia
Ms Saffaa
Myanmar, {Burma}
Thiha
United States
Dread Scott
Ukraine
Anna Kostritskaya
INSTAGRAM FEED
🇮🇷‼️“ARC strongly condemns the brutal flogging punishment carried out against Mehdi Yarrahi, which has been deemed inhumane and is strictly prohibited under international human rights law.”
🎤Iranian singer Mehdi Yarrahi (@mehdiyarrahi)–who was sentenced to two years of imprisonment for his song “Roosarita” (In Farsi, “Your headscarf”), which he released to mark the one year anniversary of the Woman, Life, Freedom protest movement–received 74 lashes this week as part of a so-called “deal” to end the criminal charges against him.
Read our full statement! https://artistsatriskconnection.org/statement/arc-condemns-the-inhumane-flogging-of-iranian-musician-mehdi-yarrahi/
#womanlifefreedom #MasihAlinejad
🇮🇷‼️“ARC strongly condemns the brutal flogging punishment carried out against Mehdi Yarrahi, which has been deemed inhumane and is strictly prohibited under international human rights law.”
🎤Iranian singer Mehdi Yarrahi (@mehdiyarrahi)–who was sentenced to two years of imprisonment for his song “Roosarita” (In Farsi, “Your headscarf”), which he released to mark the one year anniversary of the Woman, Life, Freedom protest movement–received 74 lashes this week as part of a so-called “deal” to end the criminal charges against him.
Read our full statement! https://artistsatriskconnection.org/statement/arc-condemns-the-inhumane-flogging-of-iranian-musician-mehdi-yarrahi/
#womanlifefreedom #MasihAlinejad
🌻🇺🇦Tune in tomorrow at 6:00pm Kyiv time (11:00am EST) for "Navigating the War as Artists in Ukraine: The Future of Emergency Support Programs," a special virtual event for the the launch of MOCA NGO`s new resource "Navigating the War as Artists in Ukraine: A Practical Resource."
Created with ARC`s support, the publication provides essential advice on ensuring both personal safety and the continuity of artistic practice amid the full-scale invasion. 80 of ARC`s own artist grantees have shared their lived experiences, adding to a collection of lessons learned about staying safe in a full-scale war. The report is available in English and Ukrainian.
The panel event will include speakers from MOCA NGO (@ukrainian_emergency_art_fund), the Ukrainian Museum of Contemporary Art (@umca.museum), @UNESCO, and ARC, as well as a musical performance from Ukrainian musician, soldier, and ARC grantee Max Robotov (@maxrobotov).
Don`t miss out on this crucial testimony from Ukraine`s artists and cultural workers!
Learn more and REGISTER: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/launch-event-and-panel-how-artists-in-ukraine-navigate-the-war
@peninternational @pen_ukraine @penamerica @umca.museum @ukrainian_institute @ukrainianinstitute @ukrainianpavilioninvenice @mystetskyiarsenal @pinchukartcentre
🌻🇺🇦Tune in tomorrow at 6:00pm Kyiv time (11:00am EST) for "Navigating the War as Artists in Ukraine: The Future of Emergency Support Programs," a special virtual event for the the launch of MOCA NGO`s new resource "Navigating the War as Artists in Ukraine: A Practical Resource."
Created with ARC`s support, the publication provides essential advice on ensuring both personal safety and the continuity of artistic practice amid the full-scale invasion. 80 of ARC`s own artist grantees have shared their lived experiences, adding to a collection of lessons learned about staying safe in a full-scale war. The report is available in English and Ukrainian.
The panel event will include speakers from MOCA NGO (@ukrainian_emergency_art_fund), the Ukrainian Museum of Contemporary Art (@umca.museum), @UNESCO, and ARC, as well as a musical performance from Ukrainian musician, soldier, and ARC grantee Max Robotov (@maxrobotov).
Don`t miss out on this crucial testimony from Ukraine`s artists and cultural workers!
Learn more and REGISTER: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/launch-event-and-panel-how-artists-in-ukraine-navigate-the-war
@peninternational @pen_ukraine @penamerica @umca.museum @ukrainian_institute @ukrainianinstitute @ukrainianpavilioninvenice @mystetskyiarsenal @pinchukartcentre
This Friday, ARC will host a panel “Art on the Frontlines: Navigating Risks and Fostering Resilience,” as part of Transcultural Exchange 2025!
The panel will explore central themes such as how artistic freedom is under growing threat from authoritarian regimes, the weaponization of mis/disinformation, and how artists on the frontlines of social justice movements are frequently targeted due to their powerful creative voice. Panelists` firsthand experiences will highlight the most prevalent challenges artists face and underscore the critical role of global support networks in safeguarding artists at risk and freedom of expression.
Read more about ARC`s participation:
https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/arc-at-transcultural-exchanges-2025-international-conference
@achirop @mosab_abutoha @taniabruguera @qudratwasefi
This Friday, ARC will host a panel “Art on the Frontlines: Navigating Risks and Fostering Resilience,” as part of Transcultural Exchange 2025!
The panel will explore central themes such as how artistic freedom is under growing threat from authoritarian regimes, the weaponization of mis/disinformation, and how artists on the frontlines of social justice movements are frequently targeted due to their powerful creative voice. Panelists` firsthand experiences will highlight the most prevalent challenges artists face and underscore the critical role of global support networks in safeguarding artists at risk and freedom of expression.
Read more about ARC`s participation:
https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/arc-at-transcultural-exchanges-2025-international-conference
@achirop @mosab_abutoha @taniabruguera @qudratwasefi
‼️“As this crusade against DEI programs accelerates, it is clear that these policies are simply a pretext to target voices who stray from the dominant narrative; namely, people of color, the LGBTQIA+ community, or women, and the institutions that support them.”
🇺🇸ARC forcefully condemns the recent “termination” of two scheduled exhibitions of predominantly Black and LGBTQIA+ artists at the Art Museum of the Americas (AMA), after they were classified as DEI-related content and “gender ideology” by the current U.S. administration.
✊We steadfastly stand against this assault on artistic freedom, the autonomy of cultural institutions, and the diversity of our artistic communities. Read our statement:
https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/arc-condemns-the-federal-defunding-of-black-and-lgbtqia-exhibitions
@oea_oficial
‼️“As this crusade against DEI programs accelerates, it is clear that these policies are simply a pretext to target voices who stray from the dominant narrative; namely, people of color, the LGBTQIA+ community, or women, and the institutions that support them.”
🇺🇸ARC forcefully condemns the recent “termination” of two scheduled exhibitions of predominantly Black and LGBTQIA+ artists at the Art Museum of the Americas (AMA), after they were classified as DEI-related content and “gender ideology” by the current U.S. administration.
✊We steadfastly stand against this assault on artistic freedom, the autonomy of cultural institutions, and the diversity of our artistic communities. Read our statement:
https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/arc-condemns-the-federal-defunding-of-black-and-lgbtqia-exhibitions
@oea_oficial
🌱Around the world, indigenous artists are creatively intertwining ancestral world views and new technologies to envision and prefigure different futures in response to the looming threats of environmental catastrophe and unending warfare.
🌟An online panel discussion hosted by ARC tomorrow at #RightsCon2025 (@rightscon) will bring together some of the most creative Indigenous artists from different continents to engage in a dialogue about the intersection of futures, Indigenous art, and environmental challenges.
🎤Speakers will include Kazakh independent curator and cultural activist Aigerim Kapar (@aigerimkapar), South African professor of statistics Daniel Maposa, indigenous Mapuche artist and activist (@sebacalfuqueo), and Indian visual artist Shilo Shiv Sulemna (@shiloshivsuleman).
READ MORE about this rich discussion: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/arc-at-rightscon-2025-2
🌱Around the world, indigenous artists are creatively intertwining ancestral world views and new technologies to envision and prefigure different futures in response to the looming threats of environmental catastrophe and unending warfare.
🌟An online panel discussion hosted by ARC tomorrow at #RightsCon2025 (@rightscon) will bring together some of the most creative Indigenous artists from different continents to engage in a dialogue about the intersection of futures, Indigenous art, and environmental challenges.
🎤Speakers will include Kazakh independent curator and cultural activist Aigerim Kapar (@aigerimkapar), South African professor of statistics Daniel Maposa, indigenous Mapuche artist and activist (@sebacalfuqueo), and Indian visual artist Shilo Shiv Sulemna (@shiloshivsuleman).
READ MORE about this rich discussion: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/arc-at-rightscon-2025-2
🇺🇦🌻🎨“When I left, I took only a small set of paints and brushes with me, which was enough to get me started. And after receiving a grant from ARC, I was able to buy more quality materials and some digital equipment. Now my sales are paintings made in exile.” - Mykola Koidan (@mykola.koidan), Ukrainian painter and ARC grantee.
Read this moving testimony and others from MOCA NGO’s (@ukrainian_emergency_art_fund) new report “Navigating the War as Artists in Ukraine: A Practical Resource,” produced with ARC`s support over the last two years.
The extensive and detailed report deals with the toll that the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has taken on the country’s artists and cultural workers.
"Navigating the War as Artists in Ukraine" is a collection of lessons learned about staying safe in a full-scale war, developed in consultation with artists who have lived through the reality of war in Ukraine.
🎤On March 6th, MOCA and ARC will host a live panel and report launch event on Zoom. Stay tuned for more details!
Read the report, in English and Ukrainian: https://moca.org.ua/en/navigating-the-war-as-artists-in-ukraine/
🇺🇦🌻🎨“When I left, I took only a small set of paints and brushes with me, which was enough to get me started. And after receiving a grant from ARC, I was able to buy more quality materials and some digital equipment. Now my sales are paintings made in exile.” - Mykola Koidan (@mykola.koidan), Ukrainian painter and ARC grantee.
Read this moving testimony and others from MOCA NGO’s (@ukrainian_emergency_art_fund) new report “Navigating the War as Artists in Ukraine: A Practical Resource,” produced with ARC`s support over the last two years.
The extensive and detailed report deals with the toll that the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has taken on the country’s artists and cultural workers.
"Navigating the War as Artists in Ukraine" is a collection of lessons learned about staying safe in a full-scale war, developed in consultation with artists who have lived through the reality of war in Ukraine.
🎤On March 6th, MOCA and ARC will host a live panel and report launch event on Zoom. Stay tuned for more details!
Read the report, in English and Ukrainian: https://moca.org.ua/en/navigating-the-war-as-artists-in-ukraine/
✨ We’re on Bluesky! ✨
More and more organizations, artists, and activists are making the move, and so are we! It’s time to build alternative spaces that put communities first.
💙 Join us @atriskartists.bsky.social!
#bluesky
✨ We’re on Bluesky! ✨
More and more organizations, artists, and activists are making the move, and so are we! It’s time to build alternative spaces that put communities first.
💙 Join us @atriskartists.bsky.social!
#bluesky
🌍🇹🇿ARC was honored to co-host the 2025 PANAF (@panaf_org) summit last Friday—in Zanzibar, Tanzania—with the support of our partner, Selam!
⭐️Learn more about the summit we presided over, “Strategies for Regional Artistic Solidarity - Residencies and Emergency Response:”
https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/arc-at-panaf-2025
#artisticfreedom #artisnotacrime #humanrights
🌍🇹🇿ARC was honored to co-host the 2025 PANAF (@panaf_org) summit last Friday—in Zanzibar, Tanzania—with the support of our partner, Selam!
⭐️Learn more about the summit we presided over, “Strategies for Regional Artistic Solidarity - Residencies and Emergency Response:”
https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/arc-at-panaf-2025
#artisticfreedom #artisnotacrime #humanrights
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