Address: Viktoriastraße 10-18, 12105 Berlin, Germany | Venue Information | Event Map

Captions are available for this session. 

Drawing on the resourcefulness at the heart of our community, this panel discussion and Q&A will explore how to counter tactics of censorship and restriction. The global degradation of artistic freedom is an issue that affects all of us in the cultural sector, regardless of our roles or organisations, and it impacts society at large. Populist politicians are using the arts as a testing ground to weaken democratic structures by creating a climate of fear and fragmentation. 

Three cultural workers from Poland, Germany and Uganda will share their perspectives on the status of freedom of expression within the arts. Jakub Depczyński is a curator and cultural worker who co-organised the anti-fascist year in Poland 2019-20. Mey Seifan is a Syrian artist based in Germany focusing on trauma in her performative practice and was involved in actions in response to Berlin’s anti-discrimination clause. Gerald Odil is a queer arts producer and part of the Kampala-based artists collective Anti-Mass and will be speaking about how Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act has affected his work and forced him to leave Uganda. 

Speakers: 

• Jakub Depczyński, Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, Poland
• Mey Seifan, Artist, Syria / Germany
• Gerald Odil, Anti-Mass, Uganda