The State of Artistic Freedom 2019

Freemuse’s new report The State of Artistic Freedom 2019: Whose Narratives Count?  is an in-depth analysis of 673 cases of violations of artistic freedom that occurred in different cultural spheres in 80 countries throughout 2018. It identifies key challenges for artists’ freedom of expression and points out violation patterns and trends. Additionally, the report calls for accountability for these violations.

The report illuminates counter-terrorism legislation as a troubling and growing method of violating freedom of artistic expression. In 2018, 19 artist were imprisoned and 10 were detained under the guise of counter-terrorism. Freemuse’s research concludes that nine countries (Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Nicaragua, Russia, Spain, Turkey and the United States) are found to have used anti-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation and measures against artists in 2018.

Check also this video of the UN Special Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights, Karima Bennoune, on Freemuse's report on the State of Artistic Freedom (SAF) 2019.