Artists at Risk Pavilion: Artists. Risks. Humans. Rights.

The Artists at Risk Pavilion with the support of UNESCO is a celebration of artists and cultural professionals who risk their lives on the frontlines of artistic freedom and human rights. An exhibition and discursive programme at the intersection of the arts and human rights, the AR Pavilion will feature art, discursive panels and networking events for and by residents, alumni, partners and those who stand in solidarity with Artists at Risk (AR), the global residency programme for artists at high risk.

This  edition of the AR-Pavilion holds particular significance as it marks the 10th anniversary of Artists at Risk (AR). Artists at Risk (AR) has relocated over 850 (principal) artists and art professionals together with over 300 hosting partners around the world in its first, intense decade.

Blast the colours of the rainbow
Eyes unflinching
Flipping fingers
Tongues all out.
Get up, Stand up..

and face the corollary:

Pitch-black solitary.
Eyes for snipers
Whole hands, off
Cut the tongues
Necks on blocks.

Where would you go if the world fell apart?

The Artists at Risk Pavilion with the support of UNESCO—Artists. Risks. Humans. Rights. is curated by Marita Muukkonen and Ivor Stodolsky, the co-directors of Artists at Risk (AR) and co-founders of Perpetuum Mobile (PM).

Artists in the pavilion: Said Ahmed Mohamed Ali, visual artist, Tunis/Khartoum  Suva Deepdas, multi-disciplinary artist, Helsinki/Shillong Meghalaya  Kholod Hawash, textile artist, Helsinki/Basra  Saddam Jumaily, artist, Helsinki/Basra  Nikita Kravtsov, artist, Paris/Kyiv  Damian Le Bas, Sr., artist, Gypsyland/Worthing (1963–2017)  Delaine Le Bas, artist, Worthing  Nkosilathi Emmanuel Moyo, activist and poet, Kweke  Issa Touma, photographer and filmmaker, Aleppo  Mirwais Rekaib, film director, Hamburg/Kabul  Barış Seyitvan, artist and curator, Berlin/Diyarbakir  Aws Zubaïdy, dancer, actor and dancer, actor and dancer, Verscio/Bethlehem

Full programme 
NB Guests will not be able to attend without registration via rsvp@artistsatrisk.org due to UNESCO security measures and limited seating

Brunch: April 18, 10am–12:30pm
with UNESCO Paris, Finnish Minister of Culture, DG Swedish Arts Council (by invitation only)

Opening words: April 19, 3pm
with Magdalena Landry (UNESCO), Kajsa Ravin (Director General, Swedish Arts Council)  and Marja Karttunen (Saastamoinen Foundation)

Panel discussions 
chaired by the Directors of Artists at Risk (AR), Ivor Stodolsky and Marita Muukkonen

Panel one: 3:20pm 
Joseph Bikanda (Defend Defenders, Kampala), Romana Cacchioli (PEN International), Elisabet Goula Sardà (CCCB), Timea Junghaus (ERIAC, Berlin), Hito Steyerl (filmmaker/artist, Berlin), Issa Touma (photographer/filmmaker, Aleppo)

Performance 
Aws Zubaïdy, actor and dancer, Verscio/Bethlehem

Panel two: 4:30pm 
Anaïs Chagankerian (UNESCO, Paris), Elyla (performance artist/activist, Chontales),  Nikita Kravtsov (artist, Kyiv/Paris), Nkoshilathi Moyo (human rights activist/poet), Simon Mraz (Austria Kultur International), Margit Rosen (ZKM, Karlsruhe), Kweke), Barış Seyitvan (artist, curator, Berlin/Diyarbakir)

Reception and concert: 5pm 
FO SHO (Ukrainian-Ethiopian hip-hop trio)
Opening words by Kaisa Rönkkö (Finnish Arts Promotion Center), Theresa Lekberg (SWAN-Swedish Artist Residency Network), Tessa Giller (Prince Claus Foundation)

Artists at Risk (AR) is operated by Perpetuum Mobile ry (PM), a nonprofit association at the intersection of human rights and the arts. Since 2013, AR has grown to become a truly mondial network supporting artists facing persecution, oppression, or fleeing conflict or terror. Artists at Risk (AR) is coordinated by the 10-20 member AR-Secretariat anchored in Helsinki. Following an outpouring of solidarity and growing international renown in past years, securing funding is once again a key challenge. 

UNESCO does not endorse any product, service, brand or company.

This event is part of Artists at Risk (AR)—A European Network of Safe Havens, with AR, ZKM, CCCB and Artveda, a Creative Europe project co-funded by the EU.

For full press materials and inquiries, please contact press@artistsatrisk.org.