The International Forum on Artistic Freedom of Expression
The forum is now fully booked.
The International Forum on ArtisticFreedom of Expression focuses on how artists can stand together to defendfreedom and take a stronger, more active role in their work and in society. Theforum aims to be a meeting place for artists and artistic freedom defenders,where we can strengthen our knowledge, networks, and awareness of artisticfreedom of expression as a fundamental democratic value.
This year’s gathering on May 4 will take the form of a workshop ledby PhDResearch Fellow Remi André Slotterøy from the Department ofVisual Arts and Drama at the University of Agder (UiA). The focus will be bothon the forum’s overall objectives and on identifying concrete opportunities forcollaboration to help achieve these goals.
TheForum was established during Democracy Week 2025. The initiative tocreate the forum was taken by Kulturredaksjonen,comprising the staff of the Director of Culture and Citizen Dialogue inKristiansand Municipality, in collaboration with Freemuse – Defending artistic freedom, Agder County,and the University of Agder. These partners, together with aworking group made up of participants from last year’s gathering, are keycollaborators and contributors to this year’s meeting.
TheForum brings together artists and human rights defenders, with participantsrepresenting a wide range of countries and backgrounds.
Severalforum members will contribute program sessions to an open publicmeeting Free Voices: Bringing together artists, activists and everyonepassionate about artistic freedom of expression on Sunday, May 3,from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. We will also take part in the EuropeanConference on May 5, and we particularly look forward toattending an event led by Deeyah Khan titled Freedom of Expression in PolarizedTimes on the same day.
Ifyou would like to get in touch with the Forum, please contact Marianne Laukvik(mobile: +47 988 63 975) or Anne Kristin Undlien (mobile: +47 908 70683). Both are members of the staff of the Director of Culture in Kristiansand Municipality.
