Thread by @NYUADArtsCenter

We’re at @womex in #Tampere Finland. Starting the day at a panel about how the world music community can support displaced artists. Panelists Matthew Covey of @tamizdatinc, Ashley Tucker of Artistic Freedom Initiative, @RamyEssam and his manager Val Denn and Sanni Kahilainen

Starting with definitions of “artists at risk” - those persecuted because of the content of their work, banned from performing, censored, or forced to leave.

Main point underpinning the panel is that the world music community works with many artists at risk, but is often incredibly disconnected from people working in the human rights community with some of the same individuals.

Ashley also raises the links to visa and immigration policies around the world as well. Asylum seekers and refugee migration issues are sometimes conflated with artists in exile, adds Sanni.

Emphasizing the importance of making distinctions between specific classifications of legal status, notes Matthew, since the legal approach relies on this specificity

Organizations working on this issue at intersection of human rights and art include @Freemuse98, Artistic Freedom Initiative, Int’l Cities of Refuge Network @ICORN_ORG, and others. Safe Havens annual conference is where they all gather

Some of the issues artists at risk face are the artist development issues all artists face - building their show, profile etc. but some specific issues come up, esp when passport status becomes in jeopardy. Delays, working out plan B’s. How do you stay in solution mode?

You have to be transparent and honest with presenters, notes manager Val Denn, so you can anticipate problems. But you also need to understand when certain topics can’t be discussed because it could put people further at risk.

You have to be flexible and more tenacious, notes Val

Artists retraumatizing themselves through charged work is a particular issue, says Matt, who got the actors from The Jungle into the US for @stannswarehouse. Mental health services is one of those underrecognized needs

Ramy Essam talks about his already difficult relationship with the govt in Egypt because of his political activism. Then he wanted to avoid military service. He ended up going to Sweden for a residency through @Freemuse98 who provided housing and pocket money.

Credit also to @ICORN_ORG for Ramy’s residency.

He mentions that many orgs are working to provide safety and security for artists at risk, but out of his activism, that wasn’t his priority.

One new aspect that @RamyEssam had to learn to navigate is the business structures and grants world in Scandanavia. Very different approaches than in Egypt.

New challenges for him in recent years was the cancellation of his passport, as well as arrest of his collaborators and team members. He now has a “travel document” but not a passport. Legal support helped him transfer an O1 visa which allowed him to keep touring to US

Matt brings up difference in needs for performing artists as opposed to writers and visual artists.

One goal is developing a formalized network of mentors, training for best practices, strategies to not overwhelm with the scope of need.

A coalition based approach is being tested as a Safe Havens initiative in NY at @WestbethNYC. Housing, artistic mentors, legal supports. “A Guide ro History Ethics & Practice” best practices book has been published.

Another affirmation of the importance of mental health support, not just for artists at risk but also for their support network as well, managers, agents etc.

Panel over. Thanks!