C-Stunners of Cyrus Kabiru. Photo: Sylvia Gichia
Mimeta is organizing this panel in partnership with the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN), as a side event to the World Expression Forum (WEXFO), taking place in Norway, Lillehammer 22-23 May - 9:30-12:30. WEXFO was launched last year with a mission to be a catalyst for freedom of expression defenders from around the world to unite them in a strong and active global community. Mimeta is a stakeholder in the WEXFO conference.
Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Ms. Alexandra Xanthak
The Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Ms. Alexandra Xanthaki, will continue to work on cultural rights in development for her next report to the General Assembly, examining more closely the global governance of development and its impact on cultural rights, and she asks for your input!
It is of urgency to invest in these structures as their foundations are crackling. The number of people that are involved concretely in the protective work globally is countable on few hands. The protective structures on ground are alarmingly scarce and not fully integrated in the international system of protection, according to head of Mimeta, Cato Litangen.
Authorities, philanthropy, cultural institutes, and key organizations and artists from vulnerable regions, took part in the first meeting of the Artist at Risk Funding Initiative. The aim is to strengthen the protection of artists at risk.
This Mimeta proposed initiative aims to mobilize resources for safeguarding artists at risk by facilitating a process for funder collaboration and exchange, leading to the establishment of a joint fund dedicated to supporting the artist protection field.
Mimeta would like to invite you as a funding partner to a meeting on Thursday 23rd March 11:30 – 16:00 (lunch included, venue tbc) to discuss this Artist at Risk funding Initiative, and confirm partnerships with those interested. The meeting will take place in cooperation with and around ICORN annual network meeting, 22-24 March in Brussels.
Press release from Voices of Culture
Voices Of Culture – The structured dialogue between the European Commission and the cultural sector has published a Brainstorming report on “International Cultural Relations” (ICR) and made it available in 5 languages, namely, English, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi and Spanish.
The Brainstorming report represents a collection of topics, recommendations, tangible steps and project ideas drawn from the Voices of Culture Structured Dialogue on ICR in February 2022. Four considerations – equity, space, access and time – have been used to address complex topics in ICR. They enhance, within this framework, a more inclusive approach and bring new voices into the co-design of ICR activities and the exploring of funding mechanisms. While avoiding reinventing the wheel, the discussions gave space to share knowledge, time to read and learn from others, and an understanding of the gaps in information, knowledge and perspectives.
Artists mostly fall short when the fight for freedom of expression is proclaimed in international forums. The focus is on the media and journalists, political dissidents, and rights activists. A little over a year ago, then Norwegian Foreign Minister Søreide launched the ministry's Strategy for freedom of expression in foreign and development policy. The strategy marked a breakthrough for artistic expression. They were included as part of the work for freedom of expression in Norway's foreign policy.
Brett Davidson is the Narrative Lead at IRIS (read about the partnership between Mimeta and IRIS here). What makes narrative change so hard? Non-profits and funders can go too far in pointing fingers at their own shortcomings, and the reality is that they are playing on an uneven psychological field, explains Brett Davidson for the Stanford Social Innovation Review.
Brett Davidson, a narrative strategist with deep experience in health equity, is particularly interested in the role of storytelling, popular culture, and arts activism in bringing about social change (from IRIS Hopepage)
Incoherence in Open Space - an Encounter with Sarri Elfaitouri about “Tahafut” (AFAC)
In the October issue of their newsletter, Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, invite us to read interviews with three AFAC-supported artists that delve into the various specificities and challenges of the Arab region’s habitats, as they frame it. They ask: How do we preserve our lands? How do we ensure continuity and sustainability for our communities? And how do we reclaim public spaces and instill a sense of belonging in conflict-ridden areas? The questions are done on background of Climate change, conflicts and health crises that have exacerbated inequalities and vulnerabilities with respect to the basic right for adequate shelter and safe space.
As a peer organisation we would like to express support to AFAC for their storytelling, and we take the liberty to share. If you are not subscribing to their newsletter, please do!
27 to 30 October 2022 - Centro Cultural del Bosque INBAL - Colegio de San Ildefonso
This year, Landscapes of Hope , launched by Action For Hope العمل للأمل, is organizing its annual international rally of artists and writers for Social Justice live in Mexico City.
Sanad in the Digital Realm responds to the needs of Syrian people, both inside and outside Syria, who cannot necessarily gather in physical spaces to reach audiences safely. Digital space offers a viable alternative, particularly for projects using bold and innovative formats
En av Arendalsukas største begivenheter i år var da Ytringsfrihetskommisjonen la frem sin rapport, som også omfatter et kapittel om kunstnerisk frihet. Den sier at «Knapt noen steder i verden ligger forholdene like godt til rette for en velfungerende ytringsfrihet og sunn ytringskultur enn i Norge. Det gjelder også for kunstnere og den kunstneriske friheten. Med dette utgangspunktet følger også et ansvar for å engasjere seg i kunstneres kår andre steder i verden, der forholdene er langt mer krevende. Norske myndigheter og kunstnerorganisasjoner bør være pådrivere og rollemodeller for kunstnerisk frihet også internasjonalt.
Prom the Perss release of Créer en Afrique Centrale
The ACP-EU Culture Programe - Créer en Afrique Centrale has launched its third call for proposals to support cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in Central Africa as economic, social and cultural actors, with the aim of increasing the economic revenues of the creative sector, fostering the creation of sustainable jobs in the cultural sector as well as better accessibility, recognition and valorisation of artists and their works.
Action for Hope was founded to provide cultural development and cultural relief programs that meet the social, cultural and psychological needs of distressed and displaced communities.
Our partner on cultural rights, Action for Hope, Announces the Opening of its New Branch in Amman, Jordan: Action for Hope started its work in Jordan in 2016 in partnership with CARE International and Crescendo Music and Art Academy; two highly regarded organizations that provided support to Action for Hope’s activities in the country. Over the past six years Action for Hope organized two cultural relief convoys in Amman in 2015 and 2016, provided advanced training in filmmaking to 49 young people, and provided music education to 61 young people who graduated from its music school in Amman.
This step reflects the organization’s commitment to continuing its work to provide marginalized communities in Jordan with cultural services and activities. The Amman branch will also complement the organization’s work out of its Beirut and Brussels offices to promote and protect cultural rights and support cultural actors working under difficult conditions, especially in the countries that are undergoing difficult social, political and economic turbulences such as Sudan and Iraq.
The 8th edition of Dream City will take place from 30 September to 9 October 2022 with a programme built around creative works in dialogue with the city and its inhabitants, developed during long periods of residency, broadcast works that resonate and echo the creations and, as always, times for debate, exchange and reflection.
Our partner Action for Hope is inviting for their Fa’ael Forum. The 2022 edition aims to present a realistic image of the economic, political, and social challenges facing art and cultural practitioners in the Arab region, specifically those who are on the margins of the central and elitist art circles, and it will also attempt to probe into some of the strategies used to address these challenges.
This forum will bring together over 20 former participants in the Fa’ael programme from several Arab countries, who also proposed the discussion topics in the program. We also added to the program brief focus sessions to shed light on the reality of cultural work in Yemen, Libya and Sudan, since very little information is available to art and culture practitioners beyond these countries’ borders.
We hope that the Forum will provide an opportunity, both for participants and for the general public, to get acquainted with the work of art and culture activists and directors outside of elitist circles. This is the second edition of the Forum, following last years’ first edition which took place online and was streamed on social media platforms. (The invitation text of Action for Hope)
Thursday 1 September to Saturday 3 of September 2022
At Al Madina Theatre, Beirut - Lebanon
#Culture2030goal Statement on UNESCO Mondiacult 2022
As a contribution to the UNESCO Mondiacult Conference, to be held from 28 to 30 September 2022 in Mexico City, the #Culture2030Goal campaign issued a Declaration on 28 April. The Declaration calls for concrete, bold and engaging actions to accelerate the transition to a world where culture is at the heart of decision-making. It also calls for a stand-alone Goal on Culture. The campaign is organized by International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity and partners.
For its 8th edition, become a volunteer and participate in the implementation of the Festival of Art in the City Dream City which will take place from September 30 to October 9 in the Medina of Tunis and downtown.
Dream City, whose vocation is, since 2007, to bring Art where it is not, presents for this 2022 edition ten days of performances and installations in public spaces, in the streets, cafés, houses and squares of the Medina of Tunis and the city centre. In a festive and friendly atmosphere, the smooth running of the biennial is ensured at each edition thanks to the strong participation, enthusiasm and commitment of the volunteers.
Aspiring mediators, art lovers, artists, communication enthusiasts or cultural explorers... It's your turn to be part of the adventure!
> I register
From left: Helena Nassif (CR), Julie Trebault (ARC). Sara Ishaq (ICFR), Elisabeth Dyvik (ICORN) and Peter Noorlander (Researcher)
Many thanks to Culture Resource for this report from our event. From our view, it is needed that regional organizations, like Culture Resource and field initiatives like The International Coalition for Filmmakers at risk, are teaming up with PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) and the International Cities of Refuge (ICORN).
Det fjortende i rekken av det internasjonale Møtet mellom partnere for utvikling av kulturelle rettigheter i arabisk kulturliv vil i år arrangeres på Lillehammer i tilknytning til World Expression Forum (wexfo.no). Møtet samler et trettitalls representanter, fra fra krigsherjede land, fra land med autoritære regimer og land som har en betinget frihet for sektoren. Kunstnerisk frihet, tilgang til deltakelse i kunstproduksjon, ytrings- og forsamlingsfrihet er del av tematikken.
Download the May-edition of our Newsletter. Click here.
Cultural institutions in Arendal have established an initiative, Art27Arendal: for artistic rights, freedom of expression, democracy and internationalization.
I work carefully and imperceptibly below the surface when it comes to freedom of artistic expression. Deep down I stand by those who want to break it but remind them of realities above the surface. At the same time, the water becomes shallower. This is my duty as a producer.
(Faisal Kiwewa, Bayimba, Uganda.)
Poster A3 for uploading
Poster A3 for uploading
The short version
Mimetas vision is to give GIVE PEOPLE THEIR RIGHT TO FREE CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS, created on free terms and presented by independent institutions.
Our mission is to support and protect those who want to enhance a culture by aesthetic or intellectual means.
By both our vision and mission Mimeta highlight the impact arts have on developing open societies, including the culture itself and the political spfere.
On the strategic level Mimeta is acheiving results by supporting organisations and individuals who work on behalf of the arts, to improve the sectors´ position on rights issues, in political and legal matters, on professionalism and skills, the distribution of the arts and - in the end - the sustainability of the sector.
We call them the service providers to the arts.
For more information on our priorities and strategic initiatives
Nadia Cherif was given the task of evaluating Mimeta's program for cultural sector development (2020-22. It was finalized in november 2023, and gave good input for next stage. Read here
