Creative Resilience: Self-Censorship and Artistic Expression in Tunisia’s Challenging Landscape
Organised as part of the Artists at Risk European Network of Safe Havens (AR-ENSH)

September 17th, 2023
14:00 to 17:30
Cinéma Théâtre le RIO
Facebook event page

On 17 September 2023, the Artists at Risk European Networks of Safe Havens (AR-ENSH) is presenting a conference in Tunis, Tunisia titled, ‘Creative Resilience: Self-Censorship and Artistic Expression in Tunisia’s Challenging Landscape’. The event takes place from 14:00 to 17:30 at Cinéma Théâtre le RIO and is open to the public.

The programme begins with a presentation on the AR-ENSH network and its members Artists at Risk (AR), ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe (ZKM), Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), No Callarem and ArtVeda. Presentations will also be made by Artists at Risk (AR) residents as well local affiliate partners Mohit Space, Mawjoudin and Rio Theatre.

The conference concludes with the panel, ‘On Self-Censorship’ moderated by Shayma Labidi and featuring panellists Khookha McQueer, Weema, Kamel Helali, Habib Belhedi and Moncef Zahrouni.

View documentation of the event here.

Conference Programme:

14:00 to 14:30 – Performance by House of Alaia
14:30 to 15:30 – Presentation of AR-ENSH partners
- Artists at Risk (AR)
  Perpetuum Mobile ry (PM), which runs Artists at Risk (AR), is a non-profit organisation active at the intersection of human rights and the arts (501c-3 equivalency). Since 2013, PM has developed AR to become a mondial network of artistic institutions, non-profits, municipalities, state institutions and international organisations to assist, relocate and fund artists who are at risk of persecution or oppression, or are fleeing war or terror.
- ZKM Karlsruhe
  The ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe was founded in 1989 in Karlsruhe, Germany with the mission of bringing the classical arts into the digital age. Sometimes called the “electronic/ digital Bauhaus” it organises special exhibitions and thematic events, conducts research and produces works on the effects of media, digitization, and globalisation, and offers public as well as individualised communications and educational programs.
- Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB)
  The Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) is a multidisciplinary cultural centre that deals with the key challenges of contemporary society through different languages and formats, with an extensive programme that includes major thematic exhibitions, series of conferences and literary meetups, film screenings and festivals.
- ArtVeda
  ArtVeda is a non-profit NGO, which works for the promotion of cultural life in Tunisia and for a dialogue beyond borders. Since 2016, Artveda has been involved in artistic production, the organisation of creative workshops for marginalised groups and in hosting residencies for artists at risk.‎
- No Callarem
  The No Callarem project aims to form a defensive shield against political, legal and public attacks on freedom of expression. It is a platform for denouncing censorship and to support political criticism through art, journalism or free expression on social networks.
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15:30 to 16:00 – Presentations by resident artists in Tunis