FIM

Freemuse

Freemuse is an inde­pen­dent inter­na­tio­nal orga­ni­sa­tion advo­ca­ting for and defen­ding free­dom of artis­tic expression.

Freemuse belie­ves that at the heart of vio­la­tions of artis­tic free­dom is the effort to silen­ce oppo­sing or less pre­fe­rred views and values by tho­se in power – poli­ti­cally, reli­giously or socie­tally – mostly due to fear of their trans­for­ma­ti­ve effect. With this assum­ption, we can address root cau­ses rather than just sym­ptoms – if we hold vio­la­tors accountable.

Its approach to artis­tic free­dom is human rights-​based as it pro­vi­des an inter­na­tio­nal legal fra­me­work and lays out the prin­ci­ples of accoun­ta­bi­lity, equa­lity and non-​discrimination, and participation.

To accom­plish such fun­da­men­tal chan­ge, Freemuse moni­tors and docu­ments vio­la­tions of artis­tic free­dom, expo­ses laws and poli­cies that enable and sus­tain the­se vio­la­tions and leve­ra­ges evidence-​based advo­cacy for sys­te­mic struc­tu­ral chan­ges at inter­na­tio­nal, regio­nal and natio­nal levels. Working with part­ners, artists and acti­vists in the glo­bal south and north, Freemuse cam­paigns for and sup­port indi­vi­dual artists, focu­sing on women artists and other vul­ne­ra­ble groups of artists. Freemuse faci­li­ta­tes and grows locally-​owned natio­nal coali­tions in their cam­paigns and capa­city buil­ding to moni­tor and defend artis­tic freedom.

SafeMUSE

SafeMUSE – Safe Music Havens Initiative is an inde­pen­dent non-​partisan and non-​profit mem­bership asso­cia­tion with the main pur­po­se of offe­ring per­se­cu­ted artists and artists at risk a safe pla­ce to stay and work with free­dom of artis­tic expres­sion. This inclu­des clo­se coope­ra­tion with hos­ting orga­ni­za­tions (cities, regio­nal autho­ri­ties, orga­ni­sa­tions and others), with local and regio­nal musi­cians and bands/​groups, and a net­work of part­ners and co-​workers for mutual lear­ning, exchan­ge and development.

SafeMUSE – Safe Music Havens Initiative, esta­blished in December 2013 by musi­cians’ and com­po­sers in Norway, work in clo­se coope­ra­tion with Freemuse – the World Forum on Music and Censorship and musi­cians’, com­po­sers’ and artists’ asso­cia­tions. SafeMUSE is based on and sup­ports the uni­ver­sal prin­ci­ples of human rights as they apply to the rights of artists.

SafeMUSE – Safe Music Havens Initiative is fun­ded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MFO (Norwegian Musicians’ Union), NOPA (Norwegian Society of Composers and Lyricists), the Norwegian Society of Composers and Nordic Culture Point.