Free to Create

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Photo (c) Fabio Melotti

A new report entitled Free to Create: Artistic Freedom in Europe examines the challenges European artists and cultural workers face in the practice of their right to freedom of artistic expression.

These range from laws that curtail creative freedom, attacks from non-governmental groups and online threats to the “under-the-radar” pressures that contribute to self-censorship.

Artistic freedom is a core human right requiring protection and it has worsened recently under multiple challenges – political extremism, economic collapse, a global pandemic, threats from digitisation, an emerging environmental catastrophe, and the return of war within Europe – all crises with major impacts on human rights across society.

This comprehensive overview reflects the work carried out by the Council of Europe, other international intergovernmental organisations promoting freedom of expression and human rights, and non-governmental, civil society and cultural organisations concerned with artists’ and cultural rights, as well as the experiences and perspectives of artists.

It concludes with recommendations on measures to protect artistic freedom, by international institutions and by the cultural sector and artists themselves.

The report is available here.

Choreographic Convention in Zagreb

19 to 23 November 2024

advocacy event

Advocating for stability and improved work conditions in the field of contemporary dance within the Balkan region.

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