Freemuse (freemuse.org) is an independent international non-governmental organisation advocating for freedom of artistic expression and cultural diversity. Freemuse has United Nations Special Consultative Status to the Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC) and Consultative Status with UNESCO.
Freemuse operates within an international human rights and legal framework which upholds the principles of accountability, participation, equality, non-discrimination and cultural diversity. We document violations of artistic freedom and leverage evidence-based advocacy at international, regional and national levels for better protection of all people, including those at risk. We promote safe and enabling environments for artistic creativity and recognise the value that art and culture bring to society. Working with artists, art and cultural organisations, activists and partners in the global south and north, we campaign for and support individual artists with a focus on artists targeted for their gender, race or sexual orientation. We initiate, grow and support locally owned networks of artists and cultural workers so their voices can be heard and their capacity to monitor and defend artistic freedom is strengthened.
Freemuse is known for its annual flagship report, The State of Artistic Freedom, widely referenced by governments, UN officials, academia and key actors in the fields of culture and art. In 2019, Freemuse initiated the Global Action Network (GAN) for Artistic Freedom, connecting artists, cultural workers, cultural institutions, art organisations and individual artistic freedom defenders so they can collectively and effectively respond to the shrinking space for culture and art.
On 10 December, honouring Human Rights Day 2020, Freemuse launched its premier report on LGBTI artists, art and artistic freedom, Painting the Rainbow: How LGBTI Freedom of Artistic Expression is Denied.
The report highlights 149 acts of artistic violations against LGBTI persons and art documented by Freemuse between January 2018 and June 2020.
“Freedom of artistic expression of LGBTI artists is freedom of artistic expression of everyone. It is alarming to witness this large scale of illegitimate restrictions of LGBTI artistic freedom including in Europe,” said Dr Srirak Plipat, Freemuse Executive Director. “At least 77 countries use criminalisation of homosexuality laws, criminal codes, and the newly popular ‘anti-LGBTI propaganda laws’ to silence LGBTI artists, while these legal instruments are inconsistent with international human rights standards in the first place.”
The pioneering Freemuse report, reveals that even though LGBTI artists have been facing different types of discrimination in many different social, political, and legal contexts no laws, traditions, or religions can entirely stop artistic expression around these issues.
The report was launched on Human Rights Day 2020 during the online event co-organised with the City of Krakow. The event included special address by Andrzej Kulig – First Deputy Mayor of the City of Krakow for Social and Municipal Policy, and a keynote speech by Maria Arena, Chair Subcommittee on Human Rights in the EU Parliament.
The event included a series of artistic performances, the report presentation, and a panel discussion.
Download the report here.