Freemuse (freemuse.org) is an independent international non-governmental organisation advocating for freedom of artistic expression and cultural diversity. Freemuse has United Nations Special Consultative Status to the Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC) and Consultative Status with UNESCO.
Freemuse operates within an international human rights and legal framework which upholds the principles of accountability, participation, equality, non-discrimination and cultural diversity. We document violations of artistic freedom and leverage evidence-based advocacy at international, regional and national levels for better protection of all people, including those at risk. We promote safe and enabling environments for artistic creativity and recognise the value that art and culture bring to society. Freemuse is known for its annual flagship report, The State of Artistic Freedom, widely referenced by governments, UN officials, academia and key actors in the fields of culture and art. Working with artists, art and cultural organisations, activists and partners in the global south and north, we campaign for and support individual artists with a focus on artists targeted for their gender, race or sexual orientation. We initiate, grow and support locally owned networks of artists and cultural workers so their voices can be heard and their capacity to monitor and defend artistic freedom is strengthened.
The vision of Freemuse is a world in which everyone is able to express themselves, including as artists, and is able to freely create, perform, record, distribute, facilitate and enjoy art at all times without any impediments or fear of discrimination or persecution.
Freemuse aims to improve legal and policy framework and practices of artistic freedom and cultural expression of state and non-state actors, by engaging with artists, activists, and others in using human rights-based research, advocacy and campaign to influence key policy and decision-makers.
Below, the core beliefs of Freemuse, that inspire and guide staff, executive committee and volunteers.
Together we promote and preserve a work culture based on self-expression and creativity, solidarity, trust and empathy acknowledging and respecting diversity.
Following the 1st World Conference on Music and Censorship held in Copenhagen, Freemuse was set up in 1998 by a group of founding members, including Marie Korpe, Ole Reitov, Krister Malm, Klaus Slavensky and Gerald Seligman.
In the beginning, Freemuse focused on music and censorship, but broadened its scope in 2011 to focus on the freedom of artistic expression and creativity across all art forms.
Freemuse has been the recipient of several awards and prizes for its work defending musicians and artistic freedom for over 15 years, here's a look at some:
Prix Ars Electronica – Award of Distinction 2014
The jury of the Digital Communities of Prix Ars Electronica 2014 selected Freemuse for its Award of Distinction at the 2014 Prix Ars Electronica, the world’s oldest and most renowned prize in media art. A total of 2,703 entries from 77 countries were submitted for prize consideration to the 2014 Prix Ars Electronica.
“The fact that musicians are being targeted throughout the world, arrested, harassed and repressed, makes it even more relevant to promote a community that empowers them and advocates free speech in the current scenario of increasing surveillance and censorship.” – Prix Ars Electronica, June 2014
Danish Music Award – Special Achievement 2012
“Freemuse receives this evening’s prize for its focus on musicians’ rights to express themselves freely and critically.” – Maria Carelse, World Music Denmark, November 2012
Fairplay Foundation – Liberty for Arts Award 2012
“With this prize we express our deepest gratefulness to Mrs Marie Korpe for her philanthropic dedication to the threatened musicians and composers all over the world.” – Fairplay Foundation, March 2012
“I have had some time to look into the work of Freemuse, and I must say I am very impressed. So much that I have become a supporting member, something which I would encourage you all to consider.” – Swedish ambassador Per Thöresson in his speech when handing the award to Marie Korpe
Fairplay Foundation is an NGO dedicated to cultural diversity, arts and artists all over the world.
SKAP – Special Prize 2011
“Music and culture are essential pillars of society. In many respects, it is also the conscience of society. The right to express your voice and opinion is vital and therefore the work of Freemuse is crucial.” – Alfons Karabuda, SKAP chairman, May 2011
SKAP, the Swedish Society of Popular Music Composers, celebrated its 85th anniversary on Monday 16 May 2011 and in addition to presenting annual grants gave a special prize to Freemuse for its work advocating freedom of expression for musicians and composers and fighting music censorship.
Freedom to Create Prize 2009
“Freemuse is waging a vital war in support of musicians on the world’s frontlines who are using their freedom to create, to oppose injustice and oppression. It is through the tremendous dedication of organizations like Freemuse that the sacrifices of artists, such as those made by 2009 Freedom to Create Prize winner Lapiro de Mbanga, are being made public on a global scale.” – Freedom to Create Vice President Bernard Stringer, November 2009
The Freedom to Create Prize celebrates the courage and creativity of artists around the world who use their talents to build the foundations of open societies, promote social justice and inspire human spirit. More than 1,000 artists from more than 100 countries were nominated in 2009.
Zentsura At! Prize 2009
“Freemuse is awarded for its work against censorship, and for their representatives Marie Korpe and Ole Reitov, who with the World Forum on Music and Censorship have fought for the freedom of speech of musicians and authors all over the world. We send our most sincere support and recognition to them.” – José Angel Serrano, Zentsura At! IV Festival Against Censorship
In its fourth edition, the Zentsura At! festival in Spain, in November 2009, launched a new prize to give public recognition to all those who suffer censorship in their everyday struggle, and to the people and organisations who work to eradicate censorship and champion freedom of speech by presenting them with a sculpture made by famous Basque sculptor Eskerri.
International Music Council (IMC) – Inaugural Musical Rights Award 2009
“This unique programme [Freemuse] advocates freedom of expression for creators and performers of music. It documents and often publicises incidents of censorship and oppression, some of which may see musicians gaoled or even killed. It acts in a variety of ways to support musicians who experience limitations in their freedom to express themselves, in some cases by lobbying offending governments directly. It collaborates with other organisations working to implement the principles outlined in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, and with researchers and journalists to focus on issues of music censorship. Hence, the programme goes to the roots of the five musical rights defined by IMC.” – IMC Award motivation
In October 2009, IMC awarded Freemuse for its “courageous global programme advocating freedom of musical expression for creators and performers of music”. The award was presented during the 3rd IMC World Forum on Music, which took place in Tunisia. In his speech, IMC president Dr. Richard Letts praised the “unique programme” of Freemuse and said that “defence of the right to freedom of expression in music is the first of the five musical rights at the base of IMC activities.”
Founded in 1949 by UNESCO, IMC is a global network of expert organisations and individuals working in the field of music, mandated to promote musical diversity and support cultural rights for all.
Womex Award 2003
“This year the Womex Award goes not to just one artist, but to all those suffering from censorship, an ill against which the award winner Freemuse has been fighting valiantly for the past few years from their base in Copenhagen.” – Womex Award motivation
Music as a basic human right was in focus at the Wome trade fair – The WOrld Music EXpo – in Sevilla, Spain on 22–26 October 2003.
Webby Award – Best Music Web Site (nominated) – 2002
Read more here
How we advocate
Freemuse defends the right to artistic freedom worldwide. We advocate and take action to free artists, change repressive laws, and fight violations of artistic freedom.
We use our thorough research and documentation of violations of artistic freedom to influence governments and decision-makers to change laws and practices that limit artistic expression. We work with international bodies – including the UN Human Rights Council, special procedures and special rapporteurs, UNESCO and EU institutions – to secure the right to artistic expression, as guaranteed by international human rights conventions, is respected, and to ensure that violations are monitored and violators are held accountable.
We take action on behalf of individual artists and audiences whose rights to artistic freedom have been violated. We campaign for the release of imprisoned artists in collaboration with other artists, local groups and lawyers, and our international network of human rights and cultural organisations standing up for artistic freedom. We also work behind the scenes in cases where public attention jeopardises putting the artist further at risk.
When the situation forces an artist to leave their country, we work with art residencies and so-called safe havens to help secure the artist can continue their artistic work in a safe environment.
In a limited number of cases, Freemuse can provide direct financial assistance to musicians whose needs cannot be addressed by advocacy and other non-financial efforts alone.
Want to help us defend artistic freedom? Here are a few things to get started:
How we document
Freemuse focuses on artistic freedom issues in music, visual arts (including commissioned street art), films (both fictional and documentary), theatre (including performance art), literature (excluding academic and other nonfiction books) and dance. We pay particular attention to satire expressed though different forms, such as cartoons, stand up comedies and different video forms of satiric commentaries. When an artist is active in multiple artforms or if an authorities’ decision affects more than one artform, we tag these cases as multiple artforms. Our team monitors and documents violations of artistic freedom across the world and developments at local, national and international levels on cultural policies and laws, as well as changes to the social and cultural context around artistic freedom. Freemuse applies regional approach towards research with each regional researcher focusing on monitoring the state of artistic freedom in the region they are based in.
We source our information from respected and established media groups worldwide and whatever verified information we can collect from trusted sources, including partners, civil society organisations, journalists, researchers and artists, all over the world. We use these various groups and sources of information to verify incidents, laws, and media organisations to ensure that responsible documentation is provided.
Freemuse considers a case confirmed only if we are reasonably certain that artists are targeted in reprisal for their artistic work or for their appearances in public spaces advocating for different causes. We conduct our own independent research based on various sources to determine the motive. When authorities make up false accusations, such as economic fraud or drug possession in an attempt to silence an artist, the case is included in our documentation. Artists killed in a car accident or prosecuted for an actual crime unrelated to their artistic work are not included. When the motive of persecution is unclear, Freemuse considers the case unconfirmed and continues to investigate.
While Freemuse makes the bulk of cases public on its websites, not all cases are documented online for a variety of reasons, including if publicly documenting the case would endanger an artist’s life or the lives of their family members, would compromise an investigation or legal case, or would further cause harm to the artist if they are already being threatened or attacked.
Freemuse does not cover press freedom issues or non-fictional works and thus does not focus on journalists, bloggers, and writers who work for news ventures, magazines or blogs, as well as writers who produce non-fiction works. The violations of artistic expression of these groups of writers have been monitored by several of our sister organisations, such as PEN International, Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect Journalists and the umbrella organisation IFEX.
How we categorise
Freemuse categorises each piece of news in the world of artistic freedom in a variety of ways to help understand and monitor the state of artistic freedom worldwide.
We cover artists who have been abducted, attacked, detained, imprisoned, killed, prosecuted, sentenced or threatened. These violations also cover when audiences, venues or events have been attacked.
Violations also take into account what happened to the artwork or venue, as well as when they have been censored (including items being seized, banned, excluded, taken down, or when performances have been cancelled), interrupted, destroyed or when an attempt was made to censor an artist, work or venue. The damage and destruction of artworks put on display in public spaces have also been monitored. We also document cases of self-censorship, but this data in is not included in our annual statistics.
If the reason behind the violation can be determined, then we use some frequently occurring topics that routinely apply to artistic freedom stories. Freemuse pays particular attention on cases in which women, LGBTI and artists coming from different ethnic and racial groups face discrimination or when artworks treating these forms of discrimination are subject to censorship. The topics also include legislation issues, including when laws and policies change, visa issues when artists have their mobility restricted, when a market, corporation or business employs censorship, or when art is affected by conflict. Politics is a large topic within artistic freedom and includes when art is used in elections or support of people and parties, as well as when political pressure is exerted by political groups, whether national or international. It further encompasses censorship and legal prosecution cases in which artists face consequences for expressions deemed defamatory against public figures or insulting of state symbols. Religion and its connection to morality is another widespread topic used to suppress artistic freedom, as is indecency, which is sometimes connected to religion, but is also to cultural norms, obscenity and sexuality issues. Freemuse also monitors various violations of artistic freedom in digital space, including art censorship by social media platforms, cases of removal and editing of films on online streaming platforms, as well as legal prosecution of artists for their expressions in digital space.
We also track who is violating artistic freedom, including when any government body perpetrates the violation (including police, military, officials, ministries, censorship boards, public schools and political parties), when non-state groups are responsible (including gangs, rebel groups, civil society organisations, churches or religious groups), and when the artistic community, via curators, unions or syndicates, are responsible for such acts. We also document violations committed by private entities such as online film streaming platforms, private schools, media, etc. When the violator is unknown, we make that distinction as well.
Postal address:
Freemuse
Jagtvej 223, 3rd floor
2100 København Ø
Denmark
Telephone: (+45) 53 87 10 27
For media inquiries please contact kaja.ciosek [at] freemuse.org
Freemuse is always looking for reliable, talented and established freelancers to help with its monitoring of artistic freedom news, including violations, latest news or developments in the sector.
For more information or to submit your CV, along with links to your published work in the field, please email us at jobs [at] freemuse.org
Only strong candidates will receive replies.