In Pune’s Pimple Nilakh, musician Swapnil Thakur has become the face of resistance against the controversial Mula Riverfront Development (RFD) project. With a drum kit, guitar, and harmonica, his protest anthem “Bahut bada ghotala hain…” has energized thousands. Blending music with activism, Thakur channels public outrage into powerful performances, challenging urban overdevelopment while reclaiming ecological and cultural identity along the threatened riverbanks.
Olin Monteiro’s three-decade journey redefines feminist activism in Indonesia, merging art, political resistance, and historical memory. From founding ArtsforWomen Indonesia to connecting rural and urban movements, she uses creativity as both protest and healing. Her initiatives—spanning community theater, zines, and intergenerational networks—challenge patriarchal norms and state repression, positioning art as essential infrastructure for liberation.
In August 2024, Slovakia’s Cultural Strike began after key cultural leaders were dismissed by Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová. The movement, led by artists and institutions, protests government censorship, ideological control, and poor labor conditions. Backed by international support, it demands merit-based leadership, fair funding, and worker protections, symbolizing broader resistance to the country’s growing authoritarianism.
On April 3, 2025, Lusaka's streets echoed with the voices of protesters demanding justice for the alarming rise in child rape cases. Among them were prominent musicians like Sista D, B’Flow, and Wezi Heartsound, who joined civil society groups to call for legal reforms to protect Zambia’s children from sexual violence.
In response to the authoritarian shifts under President Trump’s administration, several international artists have taken a stand by boycotting performances in the United States. Notable figures such as András Schiff, Christian Tetzlaff, and Jean-Guihen Queyras have canceled U.S. engagements, highlighting the global resistance against Trump’s controversial policies, including his overhaul of cultural institutions like the Kennedy Center.
In Tunisia, artists face growing harassment and censorship, yet they continue to reclaim public spaces through creative expression. Ballet dancer Nesrine Ben Arbia performs in historic locations, resisting conservative pressures. Despite threats from extremist groups and restrictive laws, artists persist in challenging societal norms. Initiatives like Street Art in Médenine and the Dream City Festival highlight art’s power to inspire change in Tunisia’s evolving political landscape.
Theatre workers join Serbia’s mass protests after the Novi Sad railway tragedy, demanding justice
Protests over inequality persist in Chile, with artists involved, despite government crackdowns and ongoing unrest in 2025
Mozambique artists rally for peace, urging dialogue to end violence after disputed 2024 elections.
Artists played a crucial role in Dhaka's fight for freedom during the recent student-led revolution in Bangladesh. The creative community utilized various art forms to express dissent, inspire change, and document the struggle against oppression.
