The Summit begins with an evening program on June 7th, featuring a keynote presentation by renowned artist Shirin Neshat exploring the pressing challenges facing artists in authoritarian regimes. Award-winning Kenyan musician Octopizzo (Henry Ohanga) will perform a set of his music which has been described as thoughtful, catchy, and smooth. Bookending the performance, two panel discussions - "Artists at the Forefront of Social Movements" and "Resiliency in Exile," - will feature artists Dread Scott, Rania Mamoun and Mai Khoi, among others. Following the last panel, guests are invited to a reception with the artists.
On June 8th, the Summit continues with three panels featuring cutting edge artists whose work challenges social and political norms, including "Here and Now: Censorship as a Political Tool in the United States," "Global Censorship: What It Looks Like, Who Does It, How to Combat It," and "Is Censorship Discriminatory?". Over the past few years, ARC and ATLT have observed a dramatic increase in artistic censorship, ranging from book bans and anti-drag legislation in the U.S. to unjust laws worldwide that threaten artists and seek to erase rich cultures. Discussions will underscore the vital role of artists and cultural professionals as human rights defenders, and signal the distinct challenges creatives face due to their artivism.