

Reports and studies
Multiple reports related to the state of artistic freedom are produced every year by advocacy organizations as well as by the United Nations. There are also extensive studies of various aspects of the work necessary to support artistic freedom and of the general environment around it. Here, we are listing some of the top organizations that are monitoring specific incidents in a country, region or globally. These are followed by a list of notable artistic freedom reports, many of which also offer analysis of the state of artistic freedom and its political context, and include best practice recommendations to policy makers.
Finally, there is a selection of studies related to various aspects of artists’ rights plus links to the Arts Rights Justice Library Project at the University of Hildesheim, which keeps a comprehensive list of such resources.
One significant gap here is the underserved need to monitor policy implementation.
Multiple reports related to the state of artistic freedom are produced every year by advocacy organizations as well as by the United Nations. There are also extensive studies of various aspects of the work necessary to support artistic freedom and of the general environment around it. Here, we are listing some of the top organizations that are monitoring specific incidents in a country, region or globally. These are followed by a list of notable artistic freedom reports, many of which also offer analysis of the state of artistic freedom and its political context, and include best practice recommendations to policy makers.
Finally, there is a selection of studies related to various aspects of artists’ rights plus links to the Arts Rights Justice Library Project at the University of Hildesheim, which keeps a comprehensive list of such resources.
One significant gap here is the underserved need to monitor policy implementation.
Organizations regularly monitoring and reporting on violations

The Artistic Freedom Initiative
Artists at Risk Connection (global)
CADAL (regional, Latin America))
Freemuse Annual reports: State of Artistic Freedom (global)
Human Rights Foundation (global)
Index on Censorship (global)
Koalisi Seni (regional, Indonesia)
National Coalition Against Censorship (regional, USA)
Nhimbe Trust (regional, Africa)
The Pan-African Network for Artistic Freedom (regional, Africa)
PEN International (global)
General artistic freedom reports

Global
David Kaye. 2020. Research Report on Artistic Freedom of Expression – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and promotion and protection of the freedom of opinion and expression.
Farida Shaheed. 2013 Report of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, The right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity
The Permanent Delegation of Denmark to UNESCO. 2021. Critical Voices. UNESCO’s Instruments in Defence of Freedom of Expression of Artists, Journalists and Scientific Researchers. Dystan and Rosenberg, Denmark
Regional
Art in Turmoil: Artistic Freedom and Human Rights in Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Alessandro Zagato, Jessica Sun, Julie Trébault, and Juliette Verlaque (2022). Published by Artists at Risk Connection (ARC).
African Artists at Risk: Opportunities for Temporary Shelter and Relocation
Author: Kara Blackmore (2021). Published by the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (IFA), as part of their Edition Culture and Foreign Policy series
Connecting the Dots: Artist Protection & Artistic Freedom in Asia (2020) by Manojna Yeluri, Frances Rudgard, Jessica Sun, Julie Trébault, and Juliette Verlaque, published by ARC
We Have Always Had to Fight: African Artists on Human Rights and Artistic Freedom
Authors: Margaret Aduto, Charles Chimedza, Jessica Sun, Julie Trébault, and Juliette Verlaque (2020). Published by Artists at Risk Connection (ARC).
The Arts Rights Justice Library Project at the University of Hildesheim maintains indexes of reports and recommendations, both country specific and general.
Studies related to artists rights

Defending Creative Voices: Artists in Emergencies, Learning from the Safety of Journalists (2023) by Rosario Soraide, UNESCO.
The Cultural Rights Manual (2022) by Helle Porsdam and Ole Reitov.
Arts Rights Justice Observatory Study III: Justice, Opportunities, and Challenges for
Artistic Freedom (2019) by Mariam Hüber.
The Arts Rights Justice Library Project at the University of Hildesheim maintains a current list of studies and academic research on issues related to artists rights and freedom of expression.

Organizations regularly monitoring and reporting on violations
The Artistic Freedom Initiative
Artists at Risk Connection (global)
CADAL (regional, Latin America)
Freemuse Annual reports: State of Artistic Freedom (global)
Human Rights Foundation (global)
Index on Censorship (global)
Koalisi Seni (regional, Indonesia)
National Coalition Against Censorship (regional, USA)
Nhimbe Trust (regional, Africa)
The Pan-African Network for Artistic Freedom (regional, Africa)
PEN International (global)

General artistic freedom reports
Global
David Kaye. 2020. Research Report on Artistic Freedom of Expression – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and promotion and protection of the freedom of opinion and expression.
Farida Shaheed. 2013 Report of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, The right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity
The Permanent Delegation of Denmark to UNESCO. 2021. Critical Voices. UNESCO’s Instruments in Defence of Freedom of Expression of Artists, Journalists and Scientific Researchers. Dystan and Rosenberg, Denmark
Regional
Art in Turmoil: Artistic Freedom and Human Rights in Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Alessandro Zagato, Jessica Sun, Julie Trébault, and Juliette Verlaque (2022). Published by Artists at Risk Connection (ARC).
African Artists at Risk: Opportunities for Temporary Shelter and Relocation
Author: Kara Blackmore (2021). Published by the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (IFA), as part of their Edition Culture and Foreign Policy series
Connecting the Dots: Artist Protection & Artistic Freedom in Asia (2020)by Manojna Yeluri, Frances Rudgard, Jessica Sun, Julie Trébault, and Juliette Verlaque, published by ARC
We Have Always Had to Fight: African Artists on Human Rights and Artistic Freedom
Authors: Margaret Aduto, Charles Chimedza, Jessica Sun, Julie Trébault, and Juliette Verlaque (2020). Published by Artists at Risk Connection (ARC).
The Arts Rights Justice Library Project at the University of Hildesheim maintains indexes of reports and recommendations, both country specific and general.

Studies related to artists rights
Defending Creative Voices: Artists in Emergencies, Learning from the Safety of Journalists (2023) by Rosario Soraide, UNESCO.
The Cultural Rights Manual (2022) by Helle Porsdam and Ole Reitov.
Arts Rights Justice Observatory Study III: Justice, Opportunities, and Challenges for
Artistic Freedom (2019) by Mariam Hüber.
The Arts Rights Justice Library Project at the University of Hildesheim maintains a current list of studies and academic research on issues related to artists rights and freedom of expression.