Afghan artists at risk | Lunchtime briefing

The situation in Afghanistan following the chaotic withdrawal of Western allies last summer left many Afghans in a precarious situation. Anyone who was perceived to be working for ‘the allies’ or who was involved in activities not in line with the Taliban’s moral and religious code is in danger. This includes artists, journalists and educators, especially women.

At Culture Action Europe we stand up for artists at home and abroad working closely with agencies like ICORN, Artists At Risk, PEN International, Freemuse, etc. CAE member Fanak Fund has been leading an in-depth discussion regarding this theme with other members of Culture Action Europe such as Trans Europe Halles, and have taken action towards the support of refugee and migrant communities.

We are now reaching out to our members to take action at local and regional level as well as working with national governments and EU institutions, to build support mechanisms for our Afghan peers, including relocation to cultural organisations in Europe where they can continue to work. We know that this will enrich our culture as it has done for centuries.

We are therefore inviting you to an online meeting on Thursday, 10 February (1:00-2:30pm CET) for a briefing on the situation of Afghan artists and cultural activists, to inspire action and to design a collective plan, including lobbying the relevant EU, national and local institutions.

Our guests film director/producer Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Dr Samay Hamed from PEN International and Elisabeth Dyvik from ICORN will share their perspectives. The event will be chaired by CAE Board Member Julie Ward, a former MEP and Vice Chair of the European Parliament’s Culture and Education Committee.

Open for Culture Action Europe members only.