✨ AR/ER–ENCR First Meeting in Georgia ✨
📍 Tbilisi & Kakheti | 15–19 June 2026
Georgia became the setting for the inaugural gathering of the Artists at Risk (AR) / Ecologists at Risk (ER) – European Network for Creative Resilience (ENCR), bringing together partners, artists and cultural institutions from across Europe and beyond.
Over five days, the network met in Tbilisi and Kakheti, opening a shared space for exchange on artistic freedom, ecological urgency and cultural resilience in times of crisis:
🌿 Opening in Tbilisi
A welcome gathering at Hotel Ambassadori set the tone for collaboration and connection among partners of the AR/ER–ENCR network.
🏛️ Exploring the city & culture
Participants walked through Old Tbilisi, visited Atinati Cultural Centre and Baia Gallery, and engaged directly with the city’s vibrant artistic ecosystem.
🗣️ Public seminar on artistic freedom
Discussions focused on freedom of expression under pressure, Georgia’s role as a space of cultural resilience and strategies for protecting artists at risk, with voices from artists including AR-Alumni, curators and researchers.
🤝 Network exchange & resilience workshop
Partners from across Europe and beyond—from Barcelona and Helsinki to Kyiv, Karlsruhe, Curaçao, and Amsterdam—shared practices on resilience residencies and cultural protection.
🌄 Kakheti gathering & consortium meetings
The meeting continued in Kakheti with internal strategy sessions, site visits and exchanges with residents and partners, grounding the network in Georgia’s cultural and natural landscape.
Furthermore, Asya Yakovlieva, Ukrainian graphics, textiles, beads, sculpture, and installation artist became the first AR/ER-ENCR Resident at Ria Keburia Foundation!
Due to the devastating attacks on cultural institutions in Ukraine on 14–15 June, the Ukrainian Museum Association was unable to attend, and we stand in full solidarity with their work preserving cultural heritage under extreme conditions.
