Funding
FUNDING
Funding Sources for Artists at Risk and Human Rights Defenders
Funding supporting the field of artistic freedom is dispersed in two main channels:
1. directly to artists at risk
2. to the organizations that advocate for and support those artists.
The direct finding of artists generally comes through human rights and arts organizations, while the organizational funding comes from large foundations, as well as government and inter-governmental entities.
Funding Sources for Artists at Risk and Human Rights Defenders
Funding supporting the field of artistic freedom is dispersed in two main channels:
1. directly to artists at risk
2. to the organizations that advocate for and support those artists.
The direct finding of artists generally comes through human rights and arts organizations, while the organizational funding comes from large foundations, as well as government and inter-governmental entities.
Organizations offering funds for relocation and emergency costs to artists
The Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), based in the USA, aims to be a central coordinator for artists at risk, providing referrals and connecting artists with an appropriate organization which can support their particular needs. ARC maintains an up-to-date database of organizations, especially regional and local, that offer support to artists at risk. In 2022 ARC established an emergency fund offering artists at risk emergency and resilience grants. ARC also offers fellowships to artists in exile.
Al Mawred Al Thaqafy, also known as Culture Resource, is a regional non-profit organization based in Lebanon which supports artistic creativity in the Arab region by supporting artists, cultural actors and cultural institutions. Through its program ‘Stand for Art’, and its emergency fund scheme, Al Mawred offers artists from Arab countries assistance in relocation, legal advice and psychosocial support.
Ettijahat is a civil society cultural organization based in Lebanon working to promote independent culture across the Arab world. Through the project SANAD Ettijahat provides legal and practical support for artists in exile. Particular areas of focus for SANAD are Syrian artists in exile living in Lebanon and Germany.
Front Line Defenders is an international human rights organization, based in Dublin. They offer international advocacy on behalf of human rights defenders at risk, including emergency support for those in immediate danger, as well as grants and support for practical security needs, including temporary relocation.
The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk is a network organization registered in the Netherlands working with artists at risk, specifically filmmakers. Their work mainly focuses on advocacy and campaigning, and mainly on jailed filmmakers. They offer emergency funds for filmmakers at risk.
PEN International is a registered charity which works to protect, shelter and resettle writers at risk. This includes international campaigns, monitoring, direct assistance to writers at risk, research & reports, and advocacy. PEN consists of 147 autonomous centers across 100 countries which work in their respective regions, networked from London and PEN International.
The Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development is an NGO, based in the Netherlands, which seeks to support artists and cultural practitioners in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe, especially where cultural expression is under pressure.
The Martin Roth Initiative of ‘Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen’ and the ‘Goethe Institute’, focuses on the relocation of at-risk artists and cultural workers. The organization runs two programs. The first, which works with and supports host institutions, offers temporary residence in Germany where the artist can continue their artistic work through a host institution. The second program focuses on in-regional relocation meant to provide the artist at risk with ‘rest and respite’ for a shorter period.
Organizations offering funds for relocation and emergency costs to artists
The Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), based in the USA, aims to be a central coordinator for artists at risk, providing referrals and connecting artists with an appropriate organization which can support their particular needs. ARC maintains an up-to-date database of organizations, especially regional and local, that offer support to artists at risk. In 2022 ARC established an emergency fund offering artists at risk emergency and resilience grants. ARC also offers fellowships to artists in exile.
Al Mawred Al Thaqafy, also known as Culture Resource, is a regional non-profit organization based in Lebanon which supports artistic creativity in the Arab region by supporting artists, cultural actors and cultural institutions. Through its program ‘Stand for Art’, and its emergency fund scheme, Al Mawred offers artists from Arab countries assistance in relocation, legal advice and psychosocial support.
Ettijahat is a civil society cultural organization based in Lebanon working to promote independent culture across the Arab world. Through the project SANAD Ettijahat provides legal and practical support for artists in exile. Particular areas of focus for SANAD are Syrian artists in exile living in Lebanon and Germany.
Front Line Defenders is an international human rights organization, based in Dublin. They offer international advocacy on behalf of human rights defenders at risk, including emergency support for those in immediate danger, as well as grants and support for practical security needs, including temporary relocation.
The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk is a network organization registered in the Netherlands working with artists at risk, specifically filmmakers. Their work mainly focuses on advocacy and campaigning, and mainly on jailed filmmakers. They offer emergency funds for filmmakers at risk.
PEN International is a registered charity which works to protect, shelter and resettle writers at risk. This includes international campaigns, monitoring, direct assistance to writers at risk, research & reports, and advocacy. PEN consists of 147 autonomous centers across 100 countries which work in their respective regions, networked from London and PEN International.
The Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development is an NGO, based in the Netherlands, which seeks to support artists and cultural practitioners in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe, especially where cultural expression is under pressure.
The Martin Roth Initiative of ‘Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen’ and the ‘Goethe Institute’, focuses on the relocation of at-risk artists and cultural workers. The organization runs two programs. The first, which works with and supports host institutions, offers temporary residence in Germany where the artist can continue their artistic work through a host institution. The second program focuses on in-regional relocation meant to provide the artist at risk with ‘rest and respite’ for a shorter period.
