Prison Sentence Against Iranian Filmmaker Saeed Roustayi Effort to “Asphyxiate” Vibrant Ideas and Silence Creative Voices
“The Iranian regime strategically wields the term 'propaganda' as a potent tool, skillfully harnessing it to asphyxiate the vibrant exchange of ideas within society. This calculated manipulation transforms the… More
PEN America: Postponement of Mesa Az. Art Exhibit Due to City’s Objection Over Shepherd Fairey Work Sets Up a “Chilling Precedent”
The postponement of an exhibition in Mesa, AZ at the direction of city officials who objected to a piece by Shepherd Fairey sets up a “chilling precedent." More
New Report Calls for Greater Protections for Threatened Artists on the Frontlines of Social and Political Change Worldwide
“With their unique ability to challenge dominant narratives, bring people together, and foster hope in a brighter future, socially engaged artists are a critical part of the battle to… More
Artist Coalition Day of Action 6/15 in New York City Advocates for Robust Online Protections for Artists
ARC Director Julie Trebault said: “Artists rely on social media to promote their work, connect with followers, and earn a living. Unfortunately, art is arbitrarily suppressed or taken down… More
PEN America: Sweeping Ban on Drag Performances in Montana In Effect Criminalizes a Wide Range of Artistic Choices
Jonathan Friedman, director of PEN America’s Free Expression and Education Programs, said: “In their effort to censor drag and LGBTQ+ expression, Montana legislators have enacted a law that is… More
Removal of Art About Abortion at Idaho College is a “Slap in the Face” to Academic and Artistic Freedom, Says PEN America
“Lewis-Clark State College’s decision to pull artworks from an exhibit on urgent challenges in healthcare today is a slap in the face to academic and artistic freedom; it undermines… More
Arbitrary Arrests of Six Artists and Activists in Cuba Strike at Silencing Dissent and Curtailing Artistic Freedom
“The arbitrary arrests of multiple young members of Cuba’s artistic community are part of a broader systematic effort to silence dissent and to curtail artistic freedom in the island,”… More
PEN America Calls on Cooper Union to Reopen an Exhibit on the Legacy of Vkhutemas, a Design School Shuttered by Joseph Stalin
Kristen Shahverdian, senior manager of free expression and education, released the following comments: “Cooper Union’s decision to halt the opening of Vkhutemas: Laboratory of the Avant-Garde, 1920–1930 raises serious questions… More
National Organizations Condemn Cancellation of Student Play at Douglas Anderson School of Performing Arts in Duval County, FL
“Indecent is a critically acclaimed and award-winning 2015 play by Paula Vogel that possesses rich educational and artistic merit. It has been produced Off-Broadway, on Broadway, and has been broadcast… More
New Report: Troubling Rise in Restrictions on Artistic Freedom and Human Rights in Latin America and the Caribbean
“In the last few years, political and social tensions have risen dramatically in Latin America and the Caribbean amid the confluence of grave crises and dramatic changes. Authoritarian governments… More
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