Join us for our MONDIACULT 2025 side event Sept 24, 3pm CET, ONLINE! Afghan Olympic breakdancer Manizha Talash, was disqualified for wearing a “Free Afghan Women” slogan during competition. Her case raises pressing questions about how far sport organisations may go in restricting expression.

What does TIME have to do with art and activism? “The time you have to move politics in art is the time it takes the governments or your enemy to understand what you have done, because they cannot respond if they don't know what is going on" - Tania Bruguera The Art* of Defending Artists 3.0

👩🏽‍💻Who is the author of an AI generated artwork? Can you copyright artwork you’ve created using help from AI? The answer may surprise you. Atreya Mathur from the Center for Art Law led our cohort in a fascinating discussion about the limits of AI for artists

Emma Shapiro @exshaps.bsky.social tests artwork from the Don't Delete Art @dontdeleteart.bsky.social Gallery of Art Censored Online against an AI content moderation tool, and finds the AI consistently flags the female-presenting body for "sexual intent", versus male-presenting bodies!

How do we move forward and protect artists' rights now that it seems like AI is here to stay? Atreya Mathur from the Center for Art Law spoke about the limitations, opportunities, and questions facing artists in this new age of AI and creativity.

Activism isn't just posters, protests, and manifestos -- when we bring art in as a tool, we can deepen the conversation and even gain advantages over our opposition. We were honored to have Tania Bruguera give direct advice to our cohort during The Art* of Defending Artists 3.0

UPDATE: AGL successful in relocating members of the Afghan Nay-Negar Visual Art Center to France after fleeing Afghanistan and Pakistan! This female-led initiative has remained steadfast in their desire to use art to speak out for women’s rights in Afghanistan and against Taliban policies.

We extend unwavering support to award-winning Sri Lankan writer Shakthika Sathkumara, who's petition for his right to freedom of expression comes before the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on June 27th. We urge the Court to diligently examine the petition in accordance with Article 19 of the ICCPR.

We did it! Our unique capacity building programme The Art* of Defending Artists 3.0 comes to a close after an exciting 6 weeks, 12 sessions and 31 brilliant participants from across art, culture, civil society and law.

We are witnessing how financial power is used not just to support culture, but shape it - to silence dissent, erase histories, and reward ideological alignment. Funding is no longer neutral; it is political. Our latest Art* Blog piece by @exshaps.bsky.social avantgardelawyers.org/blog/shut-up...

Pakistan is Afghans to leave, pushing them back into Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where creative expression is banned and brutally punished. For women artists, the risk is especially high. Under Taliban rule, painting, singing, even letting your voice be heard in public can be treated as a crime.

CASEWORK UPDATE: Afghan actor and filmmaker Navid Saadati has been relocated safely to Canada! Find out more about Navid's journey, artwork, and AGL's casework here: avantgardelawyers.org/portfolio/na...

We rely on the generosity of a wide range of pro bono partners. We are deeply grateful for their brilliant contribution and commitment to AGL’s mission to safeguard the rights of artists. Thank you Deniz Okumuşoğlu for your key support in our work to relocate Iranian musician Mehrzatt Safari.

The destruction and damage to Sudanese cultural sites, museums and galleries has recently become devastatingly clear as the Sudanese military retook control of the capital from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Mehrzatt Safari, a fearless Iranian musician, composer and activist blending traditional sounds with bold political messages. AGL is proud to assist Mehrzatt in securing a safe haven where he can continue his creative work free from persecution. Read more: avantgardelawyers.org/portfolio/mehrzatt/

Messages like this remind us why this work matters, and what an honor it is to be part of it 💙 We are grateful to our team for their dedication and for the powerful support from our Global Network of lawyers. Thank you Mehrzatt for the lovely message 💙

One week to go! Join us for an online webinar to launch our new toolkit Am I Facing a SLAPP? With speakers Amy Jacobsen, Greenpeace, Tracy, SLAPP Target and Mark Stephens, Howard Kennedy. Tues 27 May, 12pm (BST): www.indexoncensorship.org/events/am-i-...

AGL's Comms Officer @exshaps.bsky.social took the stage at UNESCO's panel "Artistic Freedom and Creativity: Navigating AI In A Volatile World" to explore how digital technologies are impacting artistic freedom, reshaping the creative professions, and presenting new risks and opportunities.

A Texas school district erased a lesson on Virginia after noticing an exposed breast in the depiction of the goddess Virtue on the Virginia state flag. The Virginia flag features Virtue triumphing over Tyranny, with the motto “Sic Semper Tyrannis,” or “Thus Always to Tyrants,” inscribed below.

It is a true privilege to welcome Alexandra Xanthaki, United Nations Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights, to our Art* of Defending Artists 3.0 capacity building programme for “The mandate of the UNSR in the field of cultural rights: minorities and indigenous peoples”

Deadline extended to Friday April 25! Register here: avantgardelawyers.org/the-art-of-d...

How does AI impact creative practices? This is the topic that Dr. Natasha Mangal, US attorney and Legal and Policy Advisor at CISAC, will explore as part of our new Art* module during The Art* of Defending Artists 3.0. Register by 4/23: avantgardelawyers.org/the-art-of-d...

Renowned Indian comedian Kunal Kamra faces defamation charges from the Deputy Chief Minister for a parody song performed at The Habitat studio venue,which was vandalized after the performance. @kunalkamra.bsky.social

Using the system empowers the system.

We welcome Emma Shapiro (Editor-At-Large for @dontdeleteart.bsky.social & AGL Comms Officer) to discuss online art censorship and the internet regulations that affect free expression, as part of our new Art* module. Register before 4/23! avantgardelawyers.org/the-art-of-d... @exshaps.bsky.social

We are proud to welcome Daria to lead the session on “Case-Law on Article 10, Freedom of Expression, European Convention on Human Rights” during Module 1: European Court of Human Rights. Registration ends April 23rd - Explore the full programme here & register avantgardelawyers.org/the-art-of-

Renowned Cuban artist and activist Tania Bruguera joins the Art* of Defending Artists 3.0. Registration ends April 23rd - Explore the full programme and register here avantgardelawyers.org/the-art-of-d... #artisticfreedom #culturalrights #agl #capacitybuilding

Atreya Mathur, Director of Legal Research at the Center for Art Law, joins The Art* of Defending Artists to examine the legal and ethical concerns surrounding AI-generated artworks – register by April 23! avantgardelawyers.org/the-art-of-d...

Curious about The Art* of Defending Artists 3.0? Here’s what our 2022 programme participants have to say about their experience. Join us! avantgardelawyers.org/the-art-of-d... Registration ends April 23rd #agl #capacitybuilding

One of the things our past programme participants most appreciated was the opportunity to meet and network with cultural rights defenders across different fields, from law, civil society and culture and the arts. Registration ends April 23rd - avantgardelawyers.org/the-art-of-d...

So proud to be presenting as part of this incredible lineup of artists, activists, and legal professionals for The Art* of Defending Artists, Module 3: Art* Register by April 23 to secure your spot for this groundbreaking programme: avantgardelawyers.org/the-art-of-d...

Stand-up comedian Artemy Ostanin has been detained and beaten by authorities in Belarus and handed over to Russia to face trial over a joke he told for the YouTube channel "60-Second Stand-Up"

We are proud to announce our new Art* module for The Art* of Defending Artists 3.0 which will engage the expertise of socially engaged artists who have faced censorship and legal challenges firsthand. Register now!: avantgardelawyers.org/the-art-of-d...

The United Nations system is highly underutilised to defend artists. Learn how to use it during The Art* of Defending Artists 3.0 - Register by 23 April! avantgardelawyers.org/the-art-of-d...

The Art* of Defending Artists: European Court of Human Rights module will teach how to engage ECHR mechanisms to respond to the growing risk to artistic expression in Europe. Register by 23 April! avantgardelawyers.org/news/agl-at-...

Registration is open for The Art* of Defending Artists 3.0, between 28 April - 4 June 2025! Here’s what our 2023 programme participants have to say about their experience. #agl #capacitybuilding

Announcing “The Art* of Defending Artists 3.0”, a unique programme designed to teach you how to navigate legal frameworks to defend artists.

Calling the artwork “blasphemous,” a Greek politician vandalized 4 framed pieces by artist Christoforos Katsodiotis at the National Alexandros Soutsos Museum in Athens.

"These attacks emphasize the challenges faced by artists in regions where creative expression is restricted or politicized." - AGL Director Andra Matei #agl #humanrightsviolation

Florida mayor threatened a cinema’s lease and $40K in grants over showing No Other Land, calling it propaganda. Threats were withdrawn after backlash,but concerns of chilled free expression remain.

Money should never prevent an artist from accessing legal support. At Avant-Garde Lawyers, we are committed to ensuring justice for vulnerable artists. We promote pro bono culture, making legal processes more transparent and accessible to support artists and their work. #agl #LawyersForArtists

“Artists should enjoy greater levels of protections for their contribution to public debate, essential in a free and open society.” Andra Matei, AGL Founder #ArtistsRights #LawyersForArtists #artisticfreedom #agl

Artists in Europe! Do you know about this??

The UK’s recent demand of Apple to break E2EE for iCloud storage was/is dangerous for everyone, everywhere, including artists. It's critical that artists are aware of threats to their digital rights, so thank you @theartnewspaper.bsky.social for the opportunity. More arts journals should care.

Artists should be able to imagine and create freely, without fear of censorship, persecution, or intimidation. We are Avant-Garde Lawyers, a global network of pro-bono lawyers & art experts providing specialised legal support to artists in situations of increased vulnerability.