AIDA Nederland

The ArtsNet Pilot Project May 2001

A project being tested by a consortium of international organisations working on behalf of artists and cultural workers is aimed towards setting up a network to promote the rights of the international arts community.

Background: All around the world today, artists and cultural workers are under attack. Actors, playwrights, musicians and performers are imprisoned, physically assaulted, banned and threatened in countries as far apart as Burma and Turkey. While attacks on the freedom of expression of the press are well documented, and international networks such as the International Freedom of Expression Exchange exist for sharing of information and joint campaigns, the response to the plight of visual and performing artists under attack is patchy and uncoordinated.

Thus nine international arts and cultural groups have gathered together to set up a network, using the models of IFEX, PEN and Amnesty International, to monitor attacks and set up joint campaigns. A pilot project, entitled ArtsNet, has been established to:
* Identify and monitor attacks upon the rights of arts and cultural workers
* Establish a blueprint for joint campaigns on their behalf
* Exchange ideas and expertise
* Hold a meeting in London in June/July 2001 to establish whether the ArtsNet project should become permanent and, if so, to develop governance document, working methodology, funding strategy, etc.

Present Status of the ArtsNet: the ArtsNet is at a pilot stage and is a test project aimed at:
* Defining the target group
* Deciding on the type of abuses that can be taken up
* Campaign methodology
* Parameters of membership of the network

It is at present a "closed" network accessible only to its members. Material circulated on it is not available to the public, thus enabling the group to test actions without fear of material that is fully founded being placed in the public domain.

Steering group: the ArtsNet steering committee is comprised of International PEN, ICAF and MEI. Its role is to move the project forward and to set up the meeting in London in mid-2001 to discuss the establishment of a permanent project.

Target group: the target groups are individuals and organisations working in the visual and performing arts worldwide. These include:
* Theatre: actors, playwrights, comedians, directors, stage technicians, etc
* Fine Artists
* Graphic Artists
* Film: directors, actors, documentary makers, technicians
* Musicians: musical performers, composers and technicians
* Cartoonists
* Academics in the field of the arts: art historians, musicologists, critics, etc.

Membership of ArtsNet: ArtsNet membership is voluntary and at present does not require paid membership. The members at this stage must have an international or regional focus (national organisations may be invited onto a permanent ArtsNet), and be concerned with the promotion of the rights of any or some of the target groups mentioned above. At present, invitations to the network are informal, with existing members recommending new participants, and their acceptance is by unanimous agreement. Recommendations are sent to the steering committee that circulates details for approval of the network.

General objectives: to raise international public awareness of the plight of visual and performing artists who are under attack for the practice of their professions.

Direct objectives: to set up a network of international and regional organisations working in the field of the visual and performing arts through which information on attacks against these professions can be monitored, and joint campaigns carried out.

Concrete activities: * using Internet and email communications, hold discussions between the existing participants aimed at defining the parameters of the prospective permanent ArtsNetwork;
* research cases that could be the focus of the network
* define campaign methodology
* identify new members for the network

Activities so far has been made possible by the voluntary contribution of time and expertise from the Programme Director of International PEN's Writers in Prison Committee as key person promoting the ArtsNet project. Also providing pro bono time and expertise of directors from Media Entertainment International and ICAF in their role as steering committee members. An intern based at the PEN office has assisted in research, collating and drafting material for the network.

Activities to date: although at a formative stage, ArtsNet members have already co-operated on a number of concrete actions:

* the formation of a caselist recording attacks upon the arts community of around 20 instances in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe.
* A joint campaign in October/November 2000 on behalf of the imprisoned Turkish playwright, Esber Yagmurdereli (subsequently freed in January)
* Establishing links between Europe-based arts organisations and cartoonists networks in Africa
* Identifying the problems facing Kurdish performers in Turkey as a key issue on which the ArtsNet can have a unique and special impact.
* Two new members join the network – the Cartoonists Relief Network, USA, campaigning for cartoonists rights worldwide and Freemuse, a Copenhagen-based organisation working internationally against censorship of music – bringing the number of participants to eleven.
* Freemuse and PEN are currently discussing cooperation in promoting in Britain and through the PEN network a Freemuse report on censorship of music in Afghanistan. The Artsnet Project will also be used to disseminate and campaign on this issue, even at this test stage.

Budget: The budget for the 6-month test project is small, based on significant pro bono contributions of expertise from key members of the network. The bulk of the budget relates to the meeting planned for June/July 2001. It is critical for the project that the participants meet face to face for 1 1/2 to 2 days to establish the network. UNESCO has agreed to fund this stage of the project, totalling $6,500.

The June/July meeting of ArtsNet members will decide whether the project will become permanent and will give the go ahead for fundraising for a permanent staff member, office space, computer equipment, web development, etc. The projected annual budget will be in the region of $60,000 (based on the budget of NEAR – Network of Educationalists, Academics and Researchers, to be launched in the UK later this year and with whom the ArtsNet is in close communication).