Chapters

Amplify

ARC elevates the voices of artists, advocates and allies to mobilize a resounding call for global artistic freedom.

Events

Baltimore - USA

ARC @ 2025 National Museum Publishing Seminar

29 June - 1 July 2025

ARC will participate in the panel "Publishing Without Fear or Favor: Maintaining Trust with Authors, Artists, and Audiences" to reflect on how museums can remain spaces for healthy debate and learning.

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Online

ARC @ New York Music Month

11 June 2025

ARC is pleased to partner with the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment to host the webinar "Lyrics Liberate: Music, Freedom, and Global Lessons to Confront National Challenges” on 11 June, 2025 as part of New York Music Month.

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Bolton Landing - USA

ARC @ 2025 Second Circuit Judicial Conference

2-4 June 2025

ARC Executive Director Julie Trébault will participate, underscoring attacks on artistic freedom and the potential of the judiciary to protect and advance artistic freedom through legal mechanisms.

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Seoul - South Korea

ARC @ 2025 IFACCA World Summit on Arts and Culture

27-30 May 2025

ARC will participate in the 2025 IFACCA Summit in Seoul (27–30 May), sharing expert insights on defending artistic freedom globally as part of the panel, "Navigating global shifts, mapping local impacts."

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New York - United States

ARC @ 2025 PEN America World Voices Festival

1-3 May 2025

ARC is pleased to co-present three events during the 2025 PEN America World Voices Festival, uplifting artistic freedom through engagements from 1-3 May 2025.

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Art on the Front Lines

Celebrating creativity and impact:
explore ARC’s stories, artist interviews, artwork reflections, collaborations, and exhibition highlights.

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.

India

Leena Manimekalai

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Sudan

Osman Obaid

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Russia

Zhenya Berkovich

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Nicaragua

Ludwing Gómez

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China

Rahima Mahmut

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Palestine

Shareef Sarhan

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Videos

Podcasts

Instagram

Follow ARC on Instagram for upcoming events, news and stories from artists around the the world.

🇨🇺 #Cuba | ARC and PEN International (@peninternational) strongly denounce the continued persecution of the writers and academics Alina Bárbara López Hernández and Jenny Victoria Pantoja Torres.

Alina and Jenny have faced violent acts, detentions, and intimidation from authorities due to their critical expression and activism. The charges culminating from these threats are indicative of the myriad forms of repression faced across the independent artistic, academic, and literary communities in Cuba.

Together, ARC and PEN International call on the Cuban government to end the judicial harassment against the writers, drop any charges, and ensure full respect for the right to peaceful assembly and the free exchange of ideas.

Read our full statement: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/statement/pen-international-arc-denounce-continued-persecution-of-alina-hernandez-jenny-pantoja/

#freeexpression #artisticfreedom

🇨🇺 #Cuba | ARC and PEN International (@peninternational) strongly denounce the continued persecution of the writers and academics Alina Bárbara López Hernández and Jenny Victoria Pantoja Torres.

Alina and Jenny have faced violent acts, detentions, and intimidation from authorities due to their critical expression and activism. The charges culminating from these threats are indicative of the myriad forms of repression faced across the independent artistic, academic, and literary communities in Cuba.

Together, ARC and PEN International call on the Cuban government to end the judicial harassment against the writers, drop any charges, and ensure full respect for the right to peaceful assembly and the free exchange of ideas.

Read our full statement: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/statement/pen-international-arc-denounce-continued-persecution-of-alina-hernandez-jenny-pantoja/

#freeexpression #artisticfreedom
...

Last week, ARC participated in the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) World Summit on Arts & Culture as part of the panel "Navigating Global Shifts, Mapping Local Impacts." During the event, ARC's Asia Regional Representative Manojna Yeluri (@manojnayeluri) provided vital insights on the polycrisis affecting the arts and culture sector and the steps needed to mitigate risk and empower daring art and artists. 

Despite the myriad challenges we face, the gathering in Seoul reinforced our collective power to stem repressive tides and uplift creative expression. 

We sincerely thank IFACCA, the ARTS COUNCIL KOREA (@arkokorea), and all those involved in coordinating this powerful summit.

To watch & relive the summit: https://www.youtube.com/@ifacca4/streams

#ArtsSummitKorea

Last week, ARC participated in the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) World Summit on Arts & Culture as part of the panel "Navigating Global Shifts, Mapping Local Impacts." During the event, ARC`s Asia Regional Representative Manojna Yeluri (@manojnayeluri) provided vital insights on the polycrisis affecting the arts and culture sector and the steps needed to mitigate risk and empower daring art and artists.

Despite the myriad challenges we face, the gathering in Seoul reinforced our collective power to stem repressive tides and uplift creative expression.

We sincerely thank IFACCA, the ARTS COUNCIL KOREA (@arkokorea), and all those involved in coordinating this powerful summit.

To watch & relive the summit: https://www.youtube.com/@ifacca4/streams

#ArtsSummitKorea
...

ARC urges the Whitney Museum to immediately reinstate the Independent Study Program and ensure the full implementation of its 2025–2026 iteration!

“By choosing suppression over engagement, the Whitney joins a broader and dangerous pattern of cultural repression that seeks to silence voices challenging dominant power structures. We stand in unwavering solidarity with the artists, scholars, and alumni of the ISP who have bravely resisted this act of censorship,” said Artists at Risk Connection’s Executive Director Julie Trebault following the Whitney Museum's decision to suspend its Independent Study Program (ISP)— cornerstone of critical artistic discourse for over half a century—following the cancellation of a performance mourning Palestinian lives.

Read our initial release: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/statement/arc-condemns-whitney-censorship-palestinian-mourning-performance/ 

For more on the situation: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/arts/design/whitney-study-program-suspended-palestinian-gaza.html 

Photo credit: Ajay Suresh

@penamerica @ncacensorship @aclu_nationwide

ARC urges the Whitney Museum to immediately reinstate the Independent Study Program and ensure the full implementation of its 2025–2026 iteration!

“By choosing suppression over engagement, the Whitney joins a broader and dangerous pattern of cultural repression that seeks to silence voices challenging dominant power structures. We stand in unwavering solidarity with the artists, scholars, and alumni of the ISP who have bravely resisted this act of censorship,” said Artists at Risk Connection’s Executive Director Julie Trebault following the Whitney Museum`s decision to suspend its Independent Study Program (ISP)— cornerstone of critical artistic discourse for over half a century—following the cancellation of a performance mourning Palestinian lives.

Read our initial release: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/statement/arc-condemns-whitney-censorship-palestinian-mourning-performance/

For more on the situation: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/arts/design/whitney-study-program-suspended-palestinian-gaza.html

Photo credit: Ajay Suresh

@penamerica @ncacensorship @aclu_nationwide
...

Join ARC in celebrating this year’s New York Music Month (NYMM)!

On 11 June at 12:30 PM ET, ARC, co-sponsored by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment - MOME (@madein_ny), will host the webinar “Music, Freedom, and Global Lessons to Confront National Challenges.”

Moderated by ARC Executive Director Julie Trébault, the conversation will feature four daring artists who use their music to push for social change, informing a candid discussion on domestic affronts to creative expression:

🎸 Siddique Ahmed (@sidahmd) – Afghan bassist and member of Kabul Dreams (@kabuldreams)
🎧 DJ Switch (@djswitch_) – Nigerian performing artist, DJ, and activist
🎭 David D’Omni (@daviddomni) – Cuban multidisciplinary artist and musician
🎙️ Nadine El Roubi (@nadineelroubi) – Sudanese rapper

NYMM is an annual, citywide celebration of music launched by MOME in 2017. Every June, NYMM unites artists, organizations, and cultural leaders across the five boroughs through free programming that underscores NYC’s role as a global music capital. 

Don’t miss out and register now! ➡️ bit.ly/arc-nymusicmonth

#NYMUSICMONTH @Shira_gans

Join ARC in celebrating this year’s New York Music Month (NYMM)!

On 11 June at 12:30 PM ET, ARC, co-sponsored by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment - MOME (@madein_ny), will host the webinar “Music, Freedom, and Global Lessons to Confront National Challenges.”

Moderated by ARC Executive Director Julie Trébault, the conversation will feature four daring artists who use their music to push for social change, informing a candid discussion on domestic affronts to creative expression:

🎸 Siddique Ahmed (@sidahmd) – Afghan bassist and member of Kabul Dreams (@kabuldreams)
🎧 DJ Switch (@djswitch_) – Nigerian performing artist, DJ, and activist
🎭 David D’Omni (@daviddomni) – Cuban multidisciplinary artist and musician
🎙️ Nadine El Roubi (@nadineelroubi) – Sudanese rapper

NYMM is an annual, citywide celebration of music launched by MOME in 2017. Every June, NYMM unites artists, organizations, and cultural leaders across the five boroughs through free programming that underscores NYC’s role as a global music capital.

Don’t miss out and register now! ➡️ bit.ly/arc-nymusicmonth

#NYMUSICMONTH @Shira_gans
...

ARC condemns the Whitney Museum’s last-minute cancellation of No Aesthetic Outside My Freedom, a powerful performance mourning Palestinian lives and exploring colonial violence.

We stand with the artists and curators of the Whitney ISP, including Fadl Fakhouri (@fadlfakhouri), Noel Maghathe, Fargo Tbakhi (@youknowfargo), Natalie Diaz (@ndinn), Christina Sharpe, Brandon Shimoda (@brandon_shimoda), and Sara Nadal‑Melsió, whose voices were silenced. This act reflects a growing wave of institutional censorship across the U.S.—a trend we documented in a joint report with the Association of Art Museum Directors (@museumdirectors) and PEN America (@penamerica) 

Museums must be places of dialogue, not silence. We urge the Whitney to live up to its mission of championing experimental, risk-taking art.

🔗To read the full statement: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/statement/arc-condemns-whitney-censorship-palestinian-mourning-performance/ 

 #ArtisticFreedom #WhitneyMuseum #Censorship #ISP

ARC condemns the Whitney Museum’s last-minute cancellation of No Aesthetic Outside My Freedom, a powerful performance mourning Palestinian lives and exploring colonial violence.

We stand with the artists and curators of the Whitney ISP, including Fadl Fakhouri (@fadlfakhouri), Noel Maghathe, Fargo Tbakhi (@youknowfargo), Natalie Diaz (@ndinn), Christina Sharpe, Brandon Shimoda (@brandon_shimoda), and Sara Nadal‑Melsió, whose voices were silenced. This act reflects a growing wave of institutional censorship across the U.S.—a trend we documented in a joint report with the Association of Art Museum Directors (@museumdirectors) and PEN America (@penamerica)

Museums must be places of dialogue, not silence. We urge the Whitney to live up to its mission of championing experimental, risk-taking art.

🔗To read the full statement: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/statement/arc-condemns-whitney-censorship-palestinian-mourning-performance/

#ArtisticFreedom #WhitneyMuseum #Censorship #ISP
...

Celebrating this year's #Cannes #PalmeDor award to Jafar Panahi @jafar.panahi with Bididul Productions @bididul_productions for his searing political drama "It Was Just an Accident" —a film in which five Iranians confront the man they believe tortured them—we reflect on the unyielding courage of an artist who has risked his freedom, his safety, and his voice to defend the right to create without fear.

When Panahi was unjustly imprisoned in Iran in July 2022, ARC stood in solidarity with many of our partners—advocating for his release and amplifying his voice when it was being silenced. His films continue to challenge censorship and authoritarianism with quiet, unflinching power.

🖋 Read more: 🔗https://artistsatriskconnection.org/artist-voice/jafar-panahi/

Join us in recognizing this award that has become a reminder of why artistic freedom must be defended, everywhere.

#JafarPanahi #FreedomToCreate #ArtisticFreedom #Iran #Censorship #HumanRights #CinemaForJustice #Cannes2025 #ICFFR

Celebrating this year`s #Cannes #PalmeDor award to Jafar Panahi @jafar.panahi with Bididul Productions @bididul_productions for his searing political drama "It Was Just an Accident" —a film in which five Iranians confront the man they believe tortured them—we reflect on the unyielding courage of an artist who has risked his freedom, his safety, and his voice to defend the right to create without fear.

When Panahi was unjustly imprisoned in Iran in July 2022, ARC stood in solidarity with many of our partners—advocating for his release and amplifying his voice when it was being silenced. His films continue to challenge censorship and authoritarianism with quiet, unflinching power.

🖋 Read more: 🔗https://artistsatriskconnection.org/artist-voice/jafar-panahi/

Join us in recognizing this award that has become a reminder of why artistic freedom must be defended, everywhere.

#JafarPanahi #FreedomToCreate #ArtisticFreedom #Iran #Censorship #HumanRights #CinemaForJustice #Cannes2025 #ICFFR
...

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