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News

Freemuse and Safemuse with a joint plea to Norwegian authorities

Post author By Akari
Post date December 14, 2022

FREEMUSE AND SAFEMUSE WITH A JOINT PLEA TO NORWEGIAN AUTHORITIES

December 14, 2022

Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi: “Don’t cry if I die tomorrow”

The following statement was sent by Freemuse and Safemuse to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Culture, the Mayor of Oslo, the head of the Oslo City Council and the head of Oslo’s Cultural Council today:

On the 30th of October, the rapper Toomaj Salehi was arrested in Iran because of his regime-critical lyrics. His Kurdish colleague Saman Yasin has been in prison since the 2nd of and was sentenced to death in a bogus trial. Both artists are subjected to severe torture and maltreatment. We call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to withdraw the death penalty in the case against Yasin and to drop the charges against him and to drop the charges against Toomaj Salehi, who is also at the risk of facing the death penalty.

We call on the Norwegian government to do everything necessary to save the lives of Toomaj Salehi and Saman Yasin. They are accused of “enmity against God” (moharebeh) and “gross corruption” (ifsad fil-arz). These are charges that in the 21st century carry the death penalty in Iran.

As rappers, these artists work with words. Their lives are threatened because of their use of free speech. They are our colleagues. We encourage the Municipality of Oslo to make them honorary citizens of Oslo. Anyone who harms Toomaj Salehi and Saman Yasin is committing an unpardonable crime.

We want to do everything we can to prevent this. “Don’t cry if I die tomorrow because you were not by my side today,” Toomaj Salehi said shortly before his arrest. Toomaj and Saman: We are by your side!

Sverre Pedersen Hans Ole Rian
Chair of Freemuse Chair of Safemuse

Følgende henvendelse gikk fra Freemuse og Safemuse til utenriksministeren, kulturministeren, ordføreren, byrådslederen og kulturbyråden tidligere i dag:

30. oktober ble rapperenToomaj Salehi arrestert i Iran på grunn av hans regimekritiske tekster. Hans kurdiske kollega Saman Yasin har sittet i fengsel siden 2. oktober og ble dømt til døden i en farserettssak med falske anklager. Begge blir utsatt for alvorlig tortur og mishandling. Vi oppfordrer den islamske republikken Iran til å trekke tilbake dødsstraffen i saken mot Yasin og frafalle anklagene mot ham og til å frafalle anklagene mot Toomaj Salehi – også han risikerer dødsstraff.

Vi oppfordrer den norske regjeringen til å gjøre alt som trengs for å redde livene til Toomaj Salehi og Saman Yasin. De er anklaget for “fiendskap mot Gud” (moharebeh) og “grov korrupsjon” (ifsad fil-arz). Dette er anklager som i det 21. århundre århundre medfører dødsstraff i Iran.

Som rappere jobber de to med ord. Deres liv er truet på grunn av deres bruk av frie ord. De er våre kolleger. Vi oppfordrer Oslo kommune til å gjøre dem til æresborgere av Oslo. Alle som skader Toomaj Salehi og Saman Yasin begår en utilgivelig forbrytelse.

Vi ønsker å gjøre alt vi kan for å forhindre det. “Ikke gråt hvis jeg dør i morgen fordi du ikke var ved min side i dag,” sa Toomaj Salehi kort før arrestasjonen. Toomaj og Saman: Vi er ved din side

Sverre Pedersen Hans Ole Rian
Styreleder Freemuse Styreleder Safemuse

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About Us What we do Our five pillars Our history Who we are Our members Media resources Contact Us News Safe residencies Residency programme Oslo Art Haven Hvitsten Art Haven How to apply Projects Safe Havens Conference Women’s network MoFA+ collaboration Salong på Salongen Artistic mobility Artistic Freedom Week LIDIO .SAFE Artists

Safemuse søker programmedarbeider

12 November, Album release of “Qaf” by Ghawgha @Nasjonal jazzscene, Oslo

Menu Close Safemuse – Safe Havens for Artists About Us What we do Our five pillars Our history Who we are Our members Media resources Contact Us News Safe residencies Residency programme Oslo Art Haven Hvitsten Art Haven How to apply Projects Safe Havens Conference Women’s network MoFA+ collaboration Salong på Salongen Artistic mobility Artistic

– Safe Havens for Artists About Us What we do Our five pillars Our history Who we are Our members Media resources Contact Us News Safe residencies Residency programme Oslo Art Haven Hvitsten Art Haven How to apply Projects Safe Havens Conference Women’s network MoFA+ collaboration Salong på Salongen Artistic mobility Artistic

“Qaf” – New album release from Ghawgha

“The Common Enemy” by Nikan Khosravi

Altyn Kapalova – A fearless advocate for feminist & queer art

21 September, “Dancing Into Fire” – Audiovisual performance @National Opera, Oslo

14 September, Concert by Pouya Pour-Amin at the Ultima festival @Trekanten, Oslo

OPEN CALL – Oslo and Hvitsten Art Haven 2025!

Når kunsten er å gjøre motstand

© Safemuse Organisation - Oslo/Norway

News Safe Residencies

Meet Safemuse’s newest artist in residence: Wang Chong – Ibsen, face masks and freedom to surf the Internet

Post author By Akari
Post date November 10, 2022

MEET SAFEMUSE'S NEWEST ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: WANG CHONG -- Ibsen, face masks and freedom to surf the Internet

November 10, 2022

A long-awaited arrival

Wang Chong is Safemuse’s newest and long-awaited second artist in residence of 2022. Wang was initially supposed to arrive in May around the same time as the first resident, Belarusian artist Zhanna Gladko, however obtaining a visa turned out to be a lengthy and unpredictable process. Safemuse was therefore very pleased to finally welcome Wang to our Oslo residence program in September.

— Working at Safemuse involves a lot of frustration; frustration over visa difficulties; over not having the opportunity to welcome more artists who need the kind of respite Safemuse can offer; and thereby the frustration of having to choose between a large number of highly qualified artists who really need to get away from situations that are difficult for us to imagine.

But it is also rewarding. Very rewarding and inspiring. When the artists arrive, watch them unfold and get the opportunity to work. Opportunities they don’t have at all where they come from, says Safemuse’s former general manager (now senior adviser), Jan Lothe Eriksen.

China’s most internationally-commissioned theater director

Wang Chong was born in Beijing in 1982. He received his bachelor’s degree in law from Peking University before he decided to pursue a master’s degree in theater from University of Hawaii. In 2008, Wang founded the Beijing-based performance group Théâtre du Rêve Expérimental (www.theatrere.org).

Wang has translated and directed Chinese premieres of internationally-acclaimed texts, such as Heiner Müller’s Hamletmachine, Peter Handke’s Self-accusation, Sarah Kane’s Crave, Nick Payne’s Constellations, Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues, and Woody Allen’s Central Park West.

Today Wang Chong is China’s most internationally-commissioned theater director and, so far, his works have been performed in 20 countries, including Norway at the Oslo International Ibsen Festival. Wang is happy to be in back in Ibsen’s homeland.

— Ibsen was part of our high school literature curriculum, and certainly essential to my theater education in the U.S. I started to work with the Oslo-based organization, Ibsen International, in 2012. Together with playwright Oda Fiskum, producer Inger Buresund, and dramaturg Hege Tørressen, we tried to bring most of Ibsen’s essence into one work, Ibsen in One Take, which was brought here in 2014 as part of the Ibsen Festival. I was commissioned by Ibsen International in the same year to direct Ghosts 2.0, an adaptation set in contemporary China. I hope that I can bring it too to Norway one day.

Wang Chong has an extensive and impressive artistic portfolio, and he is the recipient of numerous awards. Among his many productions, we find The Warfare of Landmine 2.0, which won the Festival/Tokyo Award; Lu Xun, which was noted as The Best Chinese Performance of the Year by The Beijing News; Teahouse 2.0, which won the One Drama Award; Waiting for Godot, a live online performance which has an audience of 290,000; and The Plague, a live online performance with artists working from six continents.

“Without the basic freedoms, I would not be able to learn, research, and experiment enough to come up with artistic concepts.”
— Wang Chong

Face masks, firewalls and basic freedoms

After two years of Covid restrictions and a lengthy six months of awaiting his temporary visa for Norway, Wang finally arrived in Oslo on the 17th of September.

— Being stuck in one country for two and a half years, as an international artist, it was stifling. I was hoping to once again dive into the world and see how people and artists in Norway and other countries are coping with life and arts. The most important thing, he notes, is that I got out of the zero-Covid zone, expecting to re-experience what life can be.

— Although I was here in 2014, it was more of a cultural shock moment this time around. On day one, when I stepped into the Central Station, I saw hundreds of men and women from all walks of life. They were standing, running, talking, laughing, and eating, all maskless and fearless. I stood there, speechless, trying to make sense. When I started to understand the situation, I couldn’t stop laughing. I took off my mask. I became a new being on my arrival.

Looking back at his first few weeks in Oslo, Wang says:

— I have regained Google freedom, YouTube freedom, Wikipedia freedom, and Netflix freedom. These things are not something to talk about or worry about in the Norwegian context, but I have to say these freedoms are forming a new foundation to my creativity. Right away I started to learn and create with artificial intelligence. The booming field looks so exciting, when there is no firewall blocking your vision. So many apps, websites, and open-source platforms are out there. Without the basic freedoms, I would not be able to learn, research, and experiment enough to come up with artistic concepts.

— The residency has been great so far. I have been focusing on an artificial intelligence (AI) generated short film and checked out performances, museums, and hiking trails of Oslo.

“I have regained Google freedom, YouTube freedom, Wikipedia freedom, and Netflix freedom. These things are not something to talk about or worry about in the Norwegian context, but I have to say these freedoms are forming a new foundation to my creativity.”
— Wang Chong”

Wang Chong’s artistic ambitions

Wang has large ambitions for the residency and his artistic plans include an AI-generated short film, a documentary film, and a new text for theater.

— I don’t want to spoil it by telling you how exactly the AI-generated short film would look like. What I can say is that I want to create an intriguing story about the future of humanity.

Wang’s ongoing documentary film project is titled A Director Sitting Still. It is about the life and death of Hu Bo, the young director of award-winning film An Elephant Sitting Still.

— In 2019 I started to ask, why did such a talented artist commit suicide at the age of 29? During the residency, I will focus on editing and post-production of the film. If you have not seen Hu Bo’s movie, I highly recommend it!

Wang is also working on his solo performance, Made in China 2.0. It will premiere in Boston before a world-tour. There is a possibility the piece will be shown in Oslo in 2023.

— Wang Chong is an artist who uses the newly acquired opportunities with great enthusiasm. And for us at Safemuse, the Norwegian art community and for the Norwegian public, it is a fantastic resource to have artists like this visit. We are very much looking forward to being able to present Wang on stage, and to get his look and his artistic approach to the themes he will present, says Jan Lothe Eriksen, before he continues: — At the same time, our guest artists are a reminder of what an incredible reality we live in here, compared to other countries and regions. Many thanks to Oslo municipality for making this program possible.

Safemuse’s residence coordinator, Jon Lundell, is also impressed by Chong’s artistic work and ambitions:

— Artistically, Chong stuck out from the vast number of applicants for our Oslo residence. I saw that his previous work and future plans are full of life, humor, creativity, experimentation and seriousness. He intelligently confronts difficult themes with a brave and open mind. This openness and interest of learning and meeting new obstacles professionally, is both inspiring and important in present and future collaborations. His interest in other people, their struggles and character also makes him humble and just a great guy to work with.

– –

For more information and artistic works, check out online articles on Wang Chong and his Youtube channel.

Meet our newest staff member

Safemuse søker programmedarbeider

12 November, Album release of “Qaf” by Ghawgha @Nasjonal jazzscene, Oslo

“Qaf” – New album release from Ghawgha

“The Common Enemy” by Nikan Khosravi

Altyn Kapalova – A fearless advocate for feminist & queer art

21 September, “Dancing Into Fire” – Audiovisual performance @National Opera, Oslo

14 September, Concert by Pouya Pour-Amin at the Ultima festival @Trekanten, Oslo

OPEN CALL – Oslo and Hvitsten Art Haven 2025!

Når kunsten er å gjøre motstand

© Safemuse Organisation - Oslo/Norway

Administration News

A new general manager in Safemuse from 1st of November

Post author By Akari
Post date October 31, 2022

A NEW GENERAL MANAGER IN SAFEMUSE

October 31, 2022

We are pleased to announce that Celina Jerman Bright-Taylor is set to become the new general manager of Safemuse – Safe Havens for Artists.

Bright-Taylor has worked as an advisor in the organisation for the past two years and will take on her new role starting on Tuesday 1 November 2022. She succeeds Jan Lothe Eriksen, who founded the organisation in 2011. Eriksen is now stepping down in his role as general manager of Safemuse, but will however continue as a senior advisor.

A planned transition

– Fortunately, the Safemuse board has had plenty of time to prepare for this change of general manager. Finding a new boss who could build on the excellent work Jan Lothe Eriksen has put in has been particularly crucial. Jan was the one who established Safemuse, and has his dedication has been crucial in developing the organisation into what it is today, says the chairman of Safemuse, Hans Ole Rian.

The board is confident that Celina Jerman Bright-Taylor is the right person for the position.

– She has a very relevant education, and through her work at Safemuse has shown that she has all the qualities we are looking for in Jan’s successor.

– The important thing going forward is to secure funding, establish Safemuse as an even more important and relevant organisation in the area of freedom of expression, and work for more residencies for some of the far too many persecuted artists we receive reports about. We will also ensure that the artists who come here to Norway develop their artistry – preferably in collaboration with colleagues here in the country – and also follow up the artists who have been in residence here once they return to work in their respective home countries, says Rian.

Time to pass on the baton

– It doesn’t look like Safemuse will be redundant anytime soon. On the contrary and unfortunately. Both Freemuse’s documentation of the increasing number of gross violations of artistic freedom in its annual reports, State of Artistic Freedom, and also when we see all the censored, threatened and persecuted artists from around the globe who send strong applications for residency to Safemuse, then Safemuse had far more residency places to offer, says outgoing general manager, Jan Lothe Eriksen.

– Thanks to this year’s contribution from the municipality of Oslo, we have been able to establish our new residency program together with Nordic Black Theatre. Next year, we plan to expand the intiative through a new collaboration with Hvitsten Salong and partner Strefa Kultury Wrocław in Poland. This is motivating and important work, so we really hope that the Ministry of Culture and the government in this year’s budget process will contribute to the further development of our projets.

– After 12-13 years of building the organisation, it is now the time to pass on the baton to younger forces. I will continue to assist in a transition phase in a more withdrawn position. And with Bright-Taylor as the new general manager, together with the rest of Safemuse’s brilliant team, and with the support of motivated board members, Safemuse is in the very best of hands.

Safemuse’s incoming general manager, Celina Jerman Bright-Taylor, is excited to embark on her new role in the organisation:

– I am grateful for the trust from my current boss and from the board. I look forward to continuing to work with them and with the artists, members and partners to strengthen artistic freedom of expression, human rights and not least contribute to the creation of art in all forms.

Meet our newest staff member

Safemuse søker programmedarbeider

12 November, Album release of “Qaf” by Ghawgha @Nasjonal jazzscene, Oslo

“Qaf” – New album release from Ghawgha

“The Common Enemy” by Nikan Khosravi

Altyn Kapalova – A fearless advocate for feminist & queer art

21 September, “Dancing Into Fire” – Audiovisual performance @National Opera, Oslo

14 September, Concert by Pouya Pour-Amin at the Ultima festival @Trekanten, Oslo

OPEN CALL – Oslo and Hvitsten Art Haven 2025!

Når kunsten er å gjøre motstand

© Safemuse Organisation - Oslo/Norway

News

Letter to the 65th Grammy edition: Conditions of Iranian artist Mehdi Rajabian

Post author By Akari
Post date October 11, 2022

Letter to the 65th Grammy edition: Conditions of Iranian artist Mehdi Rajabian

October 11, 2022

This letter was sent to CEO Harvey Mason Jr. on the 10th of October 2022.

“There will need to be a change of regime for him to get out…That he actually managed to be creative and to work with people outside of Iran through the internet and come out with an album of that kind of quality – I am totally impressed” Safemuse’s general manager, Jan Lothe Eriksen, said in an interview with Billboard.

Read the article here:

https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/grammy-voters-consider-dissident-iranian-composer-letter-1235153527/

Meet our newest staff member

Safemuse søker programmedarbeider

12 November, Album release of “Qaf” by Ghawgha @Nasjonal jazzscene, Oslo

“Qaf” – New album release from Ghawgha

“The Common Enemy” by Nikan Khosravi

Altyn Kapalova – A fearless advocate for feminist & queer art

21 September, “Dancing Into Fire” – Audiovisual performance @National Opera, Oslo

14 September, Concert by Pouya Pour-Amin at the Ultima festival @Trekanten, Oslo

OPEN CALL – Oslo and Hvitsten Art Haven 2025!

Når kunsten er å gjøre motstand

© Safemuse Organisation - Oslo/Norway

News Safe Residencies

“We are doing this to support independent voices”

Post author By Akari
Post date August 24, 2022

– We are doing this to support independent voices

August 24, 2022

Artistic freedom of expression, solidarity and collaboration

In an increasingly polarised world, with tensions between nations, cultures, political parties and cultural norms, a growing group of artists are encountering obstacles in the execution of their work. Artists are in many cases regarded as activists, even when they themselves do not identify with, or promote a political view or a political movement. This is especially true for female artists, artists that are queer, come from minority or indigenous groups or artists that work in genres not deemed acceptable by society or by their government. One of Safemuse’s most important projects is, therefore, to create safe residencies for artists and to promote artistic freedom of expression, as well as artistic solidarity and collaboration.

At the closing event of the Safe Havens Conference in Oslo in December of 2021, Vice Mayor for Culture and Sports, Omar Samy Gamal, expressed the City of Oslo’s unwavering endorsement for Safemuse’s residency program:

– We are doing this to support independent voices, and because diversity in the arts is what keeps it vibrant and alive. And we are doing it because freedom of expression is under pressure in many parts of the world.”

“We are doing this to support independent voices, and because diversity in the arts is what keeps it vibrant and alive. And we are doing it because freedom of expression is under pressure in many parts of the world.”

– Omar Samy Gamal, Vice Mayor for Culture and Sports in Oslo

At the opening of the Artistic Freedom Week in March, the Norwegian Minister of Culture, Anette Trettebergstuen followed suit and emphasised that she – cannot think of anything more important than to promote the importance of artistic freedom and to define artists’ right to move and express themselves. It is simply a matter of democracy, the most fundamental thing we have to fight for.

Safemuse Artistic Safe Haven residency program

At the beginning of the year, Safemuse established a residency program in the Norwegian capital of Oslo for artists subjected censorship, threats, persecution, or/and that for various reason cannot work freely in the place they currently reside. The program offers residencies for artists within all artistic disciplines. The residencies have a duration of up to six-month and are focused on artistic development and cooperation. The Safemuse Artistic Safe Haven residency program in Oslo is funded by the City of Oslo and carried out in collaboration with Nordic Black Theatre.

– After years of uncertain, unpredictable and scarce funding for our residency projects, Safemuse finally has the possibility, through the support of the City of Oslo’s enthusiastic political and administrative leadership, to invite artists in need for a safe space and possibilities for artistic development. But unfortunately, we are only able to host some few artists out of the many thousands who are in danger and in serious need of safe residencies. Hence, we are looking forward to develop the program further and be able to invite more independent voices, says Jan Lothe Eriksen, general manager of Safemuse.

Safemuse is also working to expand the program in order to offer similar residency opportunities in other places in Norway.

– We have been working hard to set up a well-functioning residency program that caters to the individual needs and aspirations of the artists who are selected to partake in the program. The response from organisations, institutions and individuals has been overwhelmingly positive and many have expressed an interest to collaborate with- or contribute to the initiative in various ways, says Jon Lundell, Safemuse’s residence coordinator. He reveals that Safemuse, in collaboration with the artist-run organisation Hvitsten Salong, will start up yet another residence in the coastal town of Hvitsten in 2023.

Open call for applications

On August 1^st, Safemuse published an open call for applications for its upcoming residencies in 2023. The deadline is on September 1^st and Safemuse encourages its friends and supporters around the world to help spread the word about this opportunity to artists at risk and in need of a safe space to develop their art.

Meet our newest staff member

Safemuse søker programmedarbeider

12 November, Album release of “Qaf” by Ghawgha @Nasjonal jazzscene, Oslo

“Qaf” – New album release from Ghawgha

“The Common Enemy” by Nikan Khosravi

Altyn Kapalova – A fearless advocate for feminist & queer art

21 September, “Dancing Into Fire” – Audiovisual performance @National Opera, Oslo

14 September, Concert by Pouya Pour-Amin at the Ultima festival @Trekanten, Oslo

OPEN CALL – Oslo and Hvitsten Art Haven 2025!

Når kunsten er å gjøre motstand

© Safemuse Organisation - Oslo/Norway

Administration Fri Kunst News Safe Residencies

Safemuse er bekymret over regjeringens kutt til menneskerettighetsarbeid i revidert statsbudsjett

Post author By Akari
Post date May 13, 2022

Revidert Statsbudsjett: Regjeringens kutt til menneskerettighetsarbeid skaper bekymring

May 13, 2022

Regjeringen møter ikke situasjonen verden står i

I forslag til revidert statsbudsjett 2022, som ble lagt frem på torsdag, foreslår regjeringen å kutte støtten til satsinger på menneskerettigheter, menneskerettighetsforsvarere, kvinners rettigheter, arbeidstakerrettigheter, ytringsfrihet, rettsstat og demokrati med 136 millioner kroner. Daglig leder i Safemuse, Jan Lothe Eriksen, er dypt bekymret for det foreslåtte kuttet på over 20 prosent i en urolig tid hvor behovet for å prioritere menneskerettighetsarbeid er større enn på lenge:

– Det er dypt foruroligende og meget overraskende at regjeringen velger å foreslå å kutte i budsjettposten som er satt av til arbeid for menneskerettigheter og menneskerettighetsforkjempere. I en tid med økende press mot ytringsfrihet og menneskerettighetsforkjempere, inkludert kunstnere, i Europa er dette området viktigere enn noen gang. Det foreslåtte kuttet er i sterk motsetning til hva regjeringen har signalisert så langt. Utenriksdepartementets egen strategi på dette området er krystallklar, og den løfter frem kunstnere som viktige menneskerettighetsforkjempere og demokratibyggere. Og Kulturminister Anette Trettebergstuen fremholdt under åpningen av Fri Kunst-konferansen 4. mars at dette område er noe av det viktigste man kan arbeide for, nettopp med henvisning til krigen i Ukraina og den urolige tiden vi lever i. Sist under Europakonferansen i Kristiansand 5. mai, hvor vel rammene for budsjettet var lagt, gjentok statssekretær i Kulturdepartementet Odin Adelsten Aunan Bohmann, viktigheten av å beskytte ytringsfrihet og kulturelle rettigheter, og påpekte kunstnernes viktige rolle som demokratiforkjempere.

Med Hurdalplattformens klare formulering på dette området blir budsjettforslaget helt uforståelig. I denne tiden er det snarere behov for en opptrapping og styrking av dette arbeidet, og ikke å foreta dramatiske budsjettkutt!

—

The government does not heed to the situation in the world

In the proposal for the revised state budget 2022, which was presented on Thursday, the Norwegian government proposes to cut the support for work related to human rights, human rights defenders, women’s rights, labor rights, freedom of expression, the rule of law and democracy by NOK 136 million. Safemuse’s general manager, Jan Lothe Eriksen, is deeply concerned that a more-than-20 percent-cut is proposed in these turbulent times when the need for these funds is acute:

– It is deeply disturbing and very surprising that the government chooses to propose cuts in the effort for human rights and human rights defenders. In times of increasing pressure on freedom of expression and human rights defenders, including artists, in Europe, this area is more important than ever. The proposed cut is in stark contrast to what the government has signaled so far. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ own strategy in this area is crystal clear, and it highlights artists as important human rights defenders and democracy-builders. At the opening of the Artistic Freedom Conference on March 4th, the Minister of Culture, Anette Trettebergstuen, emphasised that this area is one of the most important areas to work for, particularly with reference to the war in Ukraine and the turbulent times we live in. Most recently during the European Conference in Kristiansand on May 5th, State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Odin Adelsten Aunan Bohmann, reiterated the importance of protecting freedom of expression and cultural rights, and highlighted the important role of artists as pro-democracy activists.

With a national political platform that clearly states the importance of human rights efforts, the budget proposal becomes completely incomprehensible. This is the time to escalate and strengthen this work, rather than to make a dramatic budget cut!

Meet our newest staff member

Safemuse søker programmedarbeider

12 November, Album release of “Qaf” by Ghawgha @Nasjonal jazzscene, Oslo

“Qaf” – New album release from Ghawgha

“The Common Enemy” by Nikan Khosravi

Altyn Kapalova – A fearless advocate for feminist & queer art

21 September, “Dancing Into Fire” – Audiovisual performance @National Opera, Oslo

14 September, Concert by Pouya Pour-Amin at the Ultima festival @Trekanten, Oslo

OPEN CALL – Oslo and Hvitsten Art Haven 2025!

Når kunsten er å gjøre motstand

© Safemuse Organisation - Oslo/Norway

Concert Conference/Meeting Fri Kunst Music Freedom Day News

More important than ever: Artistic freedom and mobility

Post author By Akari
Post date March 31, 2022

The Norwegian Minister of Culture, Anette Trettebergstuen, opened the conference. Foto: Jon Lundell / Safemuse

More important than ever: Artistic freedom and mobility

March 31, 2022

As March comes to a close, Safemuse looks back at a month where artistic freedom has been celebrated and promoted. A mere week after the violent conflict in Ukraine was evoked, Safemuse organised the Artistic Freedom-week 2022 in order to raise the theme of artistic freedom of expression and free mobility of artists onto the public agenda.

Free Art – Free Movement

On the 4th of March, dozens of Norwegian organisations, institutions, cultural initiatives and artists gathered for the one-day conference “Free Art – Free Movement” (Fri Kunst – Fri Bevegelse) at Riksscenen in Oslo. In their welcoming speech, Riksscenen’s CEO / Artistic Director, Ane Carmen Roggen, and Safemuse’s General Manager, Jan Lothe Eriksen, underscored how deeply and disturbingly relevant the discussion of artistic freedom and mobility have become in light of the meaningless atrocities unfolding before the world’s eyes and the all too evident risks and barriers that confront many artists in Eastern Europe and beyond.

A committed Minister of Culture

In the opening speech, the Norwegian Minister of Culture, Anette Trettebergstuen, spoke of the necessity for artistic freedom of expression in democratic societies today and shared her unwavering support for Safemuse’s efforts:

“I cannot think of anything more important than to promote the importance of artistic freedom and to defend artists’ right to move and express themselves. It is simply a matter of democracy, the most fundamental thing we have to fight for.”

The minister also expressed her ambitions for Norway to take the lead.

– We must look at how we can make the conditions for development and cooperation across national borders in the world of art and culture even better. Norway to the world and the world to Norway. The world community is fragile [and] this makes it even more important to stand up and work for increased cooperation and contact.

Norway, Trettebergstuen pointed out, is one of the world’s best countries to live in, also for artists.

– We have good frameworks, good support schemes and we value artistic freedom. And so, allowing international artists to come here to exchange knowledge and experience security, is perhaps more important than ever, she said.

In her closing statement, Trettebergstuen reaffirmed the Norwegian government’s continued commitment to promote artistic freedom and mobility:

– While it is easy to experience discouragement when the world is fragile, this is an effort we must never give up. There is no alternative. Thank you so much for the work you do, it is more important than ever, and I promise on behalf of the government we will support you and work together with you.

The impossible task

The South African-Norwegian artist Nosizwe Baqwa moved the entire audience at the conference. In a powerful spoken-word performance that sent shivers down the audiences’ spines, she underlined the indispensable societal contribution of artists, and delivered an emotional appeal for the pressing need to protect and enhance artists’ freedoms:

“…What I know for sure is that artists are best at impossible tasks.
Artists continue to create because they have to, because they exist in a belief and truth that what they deliver to the world is more important and greater than themselves, that one must not be stopped, one must not be silenced, that which has accompanied humanity since the beginnings, are the rhythms, are the heartbeat, our pulsating inner percussion, it is the tones that hold us together, that created a we, a us, an idea, a thought, a dream, you can not be part of the system who refuse the dreamers to come together, especially not those who are already suffering from the violence of those who want to silence them, silence them to death, you must keep the dreams and dreams alive, because it is we who keep you alive.”

– Excerpt from Nosizwe Baqwas piece. (Translated from Norwegian. Read the entire, original text here).

Inconsistent visa practice

The conference included two panel discussions moderated by Ingeborg Moa (Norwegian Human Rights Fund). The first conversation was with Alexandra Archetti Stølen (Oslo World) and Per-Idar Almås (The Førde Traditional and World Music Festival) who shared their reflections and experiences as festival organisers. Thereafter Moa spoke with Ole Reitov (Unesco adviser and founder of Freemuse) and Celina Bright Jerman-Taylor (Safemuse) about the challenges and opportunities with regards to the 2005 Unesco convention on artistic diversity, which Norway has ratified together with 150 other countries as well as the EU.

The discussions were followed by a performance by an anonymous Afghan singer and a mini-concert by the Malmø-based ICORN guest artist, Egyptian oud player and sound-artist Yasmine El Baramawy together with Danish tuba player Rasmus Svale Kjærgård Lund. The conference closed off with an artist talk, organised in collaboration with Riksscenen, Ballade and SalsaNor’s initiative Ella, whereby Guro Kleveland, editor of the web-magazine Ballade, interviewed Ayhvin Bruno from Venezuela, Dayami Ross from Cuba and Yasmine El Baramawy.

—

Thank you to our supporters

Artistic Freedom Week 2022 and conference was organised with support from the Fritt Ord Foundation (Stiftelsen Fritt Ord) and the Norwegian Culture Council (Kulturrådet).

We extend a special thanks to all the participants, the engaged audience – both physical and digital -, and our partners Riksscenen, Ballade and SalsaNor.

Meet our newest staff member

Safemuse søker programmedarbeider

12 November, Album release of “Qaf” by Ghawgha @Nasjonal jazzscene, Oslo

“Qaf” – New album release from Ghawgha

“The Common Enemy” by Nikan Khosravi

Altyn Kapalova – A fearless advocate for feminist & queer art

21 September, “Dancing Into Fire” – Audiovisual performance @National Opera, Oslo

14 September, Concert by Pouya Pour-Amin at the Ultima festival @Trekanten, Oslo

OPEN CALL – Oslo and Hvitsten Art Haven 2025!

Når kunsten er å gjøre motstand

© Safemuse Organisation - Oslo/Norway

News

New chair elected at the Safemuse General Assembly

Post author By Akari
Post date March 15, 2022

New chair elected at the Safemuse General Assembly

March 15, 2022

Safemuse held its General Assembly on Monday 28th of February at Sentralen in Oslo, with both physical and digital attendees.

Thank you Anders Hovind!

For over a decade, Anders Hovind has been involved in the work of building Safemuse from the very beginning in 2011. He led the project group when we started as a project in Creo in 2011 and joined as a board member when Safemuse was established as an independent organisation in December 2013. In 2015, he accepted the position as chair of the board and has done a truly remarkable job during the six years he has headed the board. He has worked closely with both the administration and board members, and proved himself to be a committed, engaged and inclusive leader, whose efforts have contributed to Safemuse’s growth, professionalisation and achievements so far.

– Anders has throughout this time been an important and enthusiastic inspirer, sparring partner and supporter for me as a general manager through headwinds and tailwinds! He has been a stayer in this work. And also careful and responsible. A real pleasure to work with and have as a boss. A big thank you to Anders for his work in Safemuse for more than ten years! When Anders now chooses to step back and start a new phase in life, I wish him all the best, says Jan Lothe Eriksen, general manager of Safemuse.

Safemuse would also like to extend its gratitude to Tina Espejord who has been an alternate on board for the past years. We wish both Tina and Anders the best in their endeavors ahead!

Introducing the new board in Safemuse

At the General Assembly, a new board was elected for the upcoming year and we are happy to present a highly competent and committed board:

Hans Ole Rian was elected as the new chair of the board. Since 2013 he has been the president of Creo, the Union for Arts and Culture, Norway’s largest artists’ organisation with over 10,000 members. Creo was a central contributor when Safemuse was first founded and the association has been an avid and vocal supporter of Safemuse’s projects ever since. The union works to ensure their members working conditions and better pay, whether they are employees or self-employed and artistic freedom of expression is at the core of Creo’s values.

– I hope that I, together with the administration and the other board members, can keep up the good work that has been done so far, to both strengthen Safemuse and ensure that even more artists will have the opportunity to visit [Norway] for shorter or longer stays, Rian says in an interview with the magazine Kontekst.

– We are proud and grateful to have Hans Ole Rian as the next chairman of the board. He has already stood on the barricades of Safemuse, and I look forward to and look forward to the continuation!, says Jan Lothe Eriksen.

Another new member on the board is Karoline Aaskildt. Karoline is no stranger to the work of Safemuse, as she formerly worked in the Safemuse administration between 2018 and 2021, and has played a key role in developing many of Safemuse’s projects and building the organisation. Karoline is currently completing her Masters degree in musical therapy and has been elected to be an alternate in the Safemuse board.

In addition the following members continue in their board positions: Terese Mungai-Foyn (vice-chair), Halvard Bakkelund (deputy), Julian Skar (deputy), Heidi Vibeke Pedersen (deputy), and Per Jørgen Ystehede (alternate).

Meet our newest staff member

Safemuse søker programmedarbeider

12 November, Album release of “Qaf” by Ghawgha @Nasjonal jazzscene, Oslo

“Qaf” – New album release from Ghawgha

“The Common Enemy” by Nikan Khosravi

Altyn Kapalova – A fearless advocate for feminist & queer art

21 September, “Dancing Into Fire” – Audiovisual performance @National Opera, Oslo

14 September, Concert by Pouya Pour-Amin at the Ultima festival @Trekanten, Oslo

OPEN CALL – Oslo and Hvitsten Art Haven 2025!

Når kunsten er å gjøre motstand

Concert Conference/Meeting Music Freedom Day News

Safemuse inviterer til Fri Kunst 2022

Post author By Akari
Post date February 15, 2022

SAFEMUSE INVITERER TIL MARKERING AV KUNSTNERISK YTRINGSFRIHET

February 15, 2022

Følg live-stream fra konferansen via denne lenken. Start: 13:00.

Watch the live-stream from the conference via this link. Start: 13:00.

FRI KUNST 2022

Safemuse arrangerer Fri Kunst-uken den 1. – 7. mars 2022 for å sette temaet kunstnerisk ytringsfrihet og fri bevegelse av kunstnere på dagsorden. Vi inviterer til dagkonferanse, løfter saken i norske medier og sprer budskapet via nettbaserte kanaler. Bli med å markere uken!

VELKOMMEN TIL DAGKONFERANSE

Bli med på dagkonferansen “Fri Kunst – Fri Bevegelse” på Riksscenen den 4. mars 2022. Her samles relevante aktører fra organisasjoner, festivaler og andre arrangører, samt institusjoner som arbeider med kunst og kultur.

Dagkonferansen er åpen og gratis, men krever påmelding.

Meld deg på arrangementet via lenken: https://forms.office.com/r/jteb8MDm81

ÅRETS TEMA

Årets tema er fri bevegelse av kunst og kunstnere, og hvordan vi kan bidra til at Norge oppfyller UNESCO-konvensjonen om kulturelt mangfold (2005) art.16, Preferansebehandling (eller fordelsbehandling) av utviklingsland: Industriland skal legge til rette for kulturutveksling med utviklingsland ved å tilstå, gjennom hensiktsmessige institusjonelle og juridiske rammeverk, fortrinnsbehandling av kunstnere, andre kulturarbeidere og utøvere, så vel som av kulturvarer og -tjenester fra utviklingsland.

Vi ønsker å sikre at kunstnere og kulturarbeidere internasjonalt har mulighet til å forflytte seg fritt og mulighet til å samarbeide på tvers av grenser. En rekke aktører i kunst og kulturverdenen opplever store utfordringer med visum når artister og kulturarbeidere skal inviteres både ved kortere og lengre opphold. Det at kunstnere og andre kulturarbeidere ikke får visum hindrer den kunstneriske friheten, utveksling av ideer og hindrer kunsten i å utvikle seg og bli sett, hørt og opplevd også utenfor sin egen kulturelle kontekst. Spesielt er det viktig at kunstnere fra land i sør i økt grad får delta i utveksling, utviklet sitt arbeidsmarked og vist sin kunst i Norge, i Europa og resten av den vestlige verden.

PROGRAM

12:45 Dørene åpner

13:00 – 13:10 Velkomst og kort introduksjon om Fri Kunst v/ Ane Carmen Roggen, Riksscenen og Jan Lothe Eriksen, Safemuse.

13:10 – 13:25 Åpningstale v/ Kulturminister Anette Trettebergstuen.

13:30 – 14:30 Panelsamtale: “Samarbeid på tvers”. Deltakere: Per Idar Almås, Førdefestivalen, Alexandra Archetti Stølen, Oslo World, Marthe Valle, artist. Moderator: Ingeborg Moa, direktør i Menneskerettighetsfondet.

14:30 – 14:45 Pause

14:45 – 14:55 “Fri kunst – fri bevegelse – fri utveksling”, innlegg v/ Nosizwe Lise Baqwa, artist.

15:00 – 16:00 Panelsamtale: “Inkonsekvent visumpraksis”. Deltakere: Ole Reitov, grunnlegger/ tidligere direktør i Freemuse og UNESCO rådgiver og Celina Jerman Bright-Taylor, rådgiver, Safemuse. Politisk ledelse fra Justisdepartementet er invitert. Moderator: Ingeborg Moa, direktør i Menneskerettighetsfondet.

16:00 – 16:30 Pause

16:00 Dørene åpner til konsert / kunstnersamtale

16:30 – 17:30

DEL I: Konsert med Yasmine El Baramawy, egyptisk oudspiller, lydkunstner og fribymusiker i Malmö & Rasmus Svale Kjærgård Lund, tuba, og Inkognito, Afghansk sanger.

DEL II: Kunstnersamtale i samarbeid med Riksscenen, Ballade og SalsaNor med initiativet Ella. Deltakere: Ahyvin Bruno, venezuelansk vokalist, Las Karamba; Yasmine El Baramawy og Daiami Ross, leder, Cuba Cambia. Moderator: Guro Klevland, redaktør, Ballade.

Fri Kunst-konferansen arrangeres med støtte fra Stiftelsen Fritt Ord og Norsk Kulturråd.

—

English summary:

In connection with the annual celebration of Music Freedom Day, Safemuse is organising Artistic Freedom-week 2022 on the 1st – 7th of March to place the theme of artistic freedom of expression and free movement of artists on the agenda.

The week will include a one-day-conference on Friday the 4th of March at Riksscenen, as well as a campaign to raise the issue in the Norwegian media and spread the message via online channels.

The panel discussions will take place in Norwegian, but English-speakers are welcome to join us at 16:30 for the concert and artist talk. Seating is limited and all participants are asked to register their attendance: https://forms.office.com/r/jteb8MDm81

16:00 The doors open for a concert / artist talk

16:30 – 17:30

PART I: Concert with Yasmine El Baramawy, Egyptian oud player and sound artist based in Malmö & Rasmus Svale Kjærgård Lund, tuba, and Inkognito, Afghan singer.

PART II: Artist talk in collaboration with Riksscenen, Ballade and SalsaNor with the initiative Ella. Participants: Ahyvin Bruno, Venezuelan singer in Las Karamba; Yasmine El Baramawy and Daiami Ross, leader of Cuba Cambia. Moderator: Guro Klevland, editor of Ballade.

Meet our newest staff member

Safemuse søker programmedarbeider

12 November, Album release of “Qaf” by Ghawgha @Nasjonal jazzscene, Oslo

“Qaf” – New album release from Ghawgha

“The Common Enemy” by Nikan Khosravi

Altyn Kapalova – A fearless advocate for feminist & queer art

21 September, “Dancing Into Fire” – Audiovisual performance @National Opera, Oslo

14 September, Concert by Pouya Pour-Amin at the Ultima festival @Trekanten, Oslo

OPEN CALL – Oslo and Hvitsten Art Haven 2025!

Når kunsten er å gjøre motstand

Safe Residencies Administration News

Upcoming artistic residency in Oslo and a new Residence Coordinator

Post author By Akari
Post date February 3, 2022

Jon Lundell is the new Residency Coordinator at Safemuse. Photo: Nosizwe Baqwa

Upcoming artistic residency in Oslo and a new Residence Coordinator

February 3, 2022

Upcoming residency program in Oslo

The observations and reports by Freemuse and the wider, international network dedicated to defending artistic freedom of expression, all share a common concern: All over the world, artists are exposed to threats and persecution because they create art and in various ways are perceived as a challenge to existing power structures.

When Safemuse was established in 2013, its mission emanated from various Norwegian artists’ organisations’ wish to protect the artistic freedom of expression and the role of artists in society. The newly-launched residency program in Oslo is the last development in Safemuse’s international solidarity initiative, which aims to give artists safe spaces to create and develop their artistry, regardless of the country in which they reside.

“We continue to see a great need for permanent residences that can ensure continuity and predictability in our work, and contribute to safe opportunities for the artists” says Jan Lothe Eriksen, the director of Safemuse. Artists who experience harassment, persecution and threats are forced to work under very difficult conditions, and have a great need to get out of such situations, recharge their batteries, meet colleagues, expand their repertoire and develop new works and projects. By inviting endangered and persecuted artists to safe residences, we provide the opportunity for a breather. At the same time, Norwegian artists get the opportunity to collaborate with foreign colleagues with completely unique qualities and backgrounds, present these to the public and enrich the Norwegian cultural scene. The residency program in Oslo is organised in cooperation with Nordic Black Theatre and funded by the City of Oslo. The activities related to the program will also strengthen international cultural cooperation in Oslo, cooperation for artistic freedom of expression and increased understanding of art as a societal changer.

Meet our new project coordinator

“As artistic freedom is an important base for any well-functioning society, it should be allowed to be as diverse as we as humans are.”

-Jon Lundell, Residency Coordinator

Jon Lundell, is the newest addition to Safemuse’s team. Jon is a father of two children and has a background as a photographer, artist, art teacher and director of the wonderful art festival, collective and hub, Hvitsten Salong.

What does artistic freedom mean to you?

“As artistic freedom is an important base for any well-functioning society, it should be allowed to be as diverse as we as humans are. This, I think, should be at the core of the understanding of artistic freedom. At the same time, we must be vigilant when it is being used as means for oppressive discourse and reactionary practice. Safemuse is doing super important work for artists at risk and pushing the agenda of human rights and artistic freedom. I am very eager to be part of the organisation and look forward to contributing to this amazing work, as well as to broaden my perspectives and learn more about the challenges in the world of art.”

Safemuse is thrilled to have such a knowledgeable, experienced and motivated new team member onboard to help run the residency in Oslo and, hopefully, contribute to realising the ambitions to expand the Artistic Safe Haven residency program to other parts of Norway in the future.

Meet our newest staff member

Safemuse søker programmedarbeider

12 November, Album release of “Qaf” by Ghawgha @Nasjonal jazzscene, Oslo

“Qaf” – New album release from Ghawgha

“The Common Enemy” by Nikan Khosravi

Altyn Kapalova – A fearless advocate for feminist & queer art

21 September, “Dancing Into Fire” – Audiovisual performance @National Opera, Oslo

14 September, Concert by Pouya Pour-Amin at the Ultima festival @Trekanten, Oslo

OPEN CALL – Oslo and Hvitsten Art Haven 2025!

Når kunsten er å gjøre motstand