AFI is proud to co-host “Defending Each Other,” a two-day assembly for advancing collaboration, shaping policy, and ensuring that resettled artists and their peers in the U.S. can build their professional lives and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s cultural diversity. Working closely with our partners at CEC Artslink, we’ve created a program that centers discussion, ideation, and co-learning for artistic freedom.
Join us in New York City to meet members of our community in practice including peer organizations, thematic experts, and AFI artists and staff through the following events:
Thursday, November 6
Peer-to-peer workshops [by invitation]
Various NYC venues | All day
Day One convenes selected participants in sector-specific working groups to address pressing challenges in US artist support. Focus areas include Cultural Support, Resettlement, Funding, and Artist Communities.
Friday, November 7
In person and livestream talks [open to all]
La MaMa Ellen Stewart Theatre | 10 am to 6 pm
Day Two will present the collective insights and recommendations from Day One featuring a slate of speakers encompassing artists, cultural workers, and key mobility advocates.
The Assembly features
- Artists and community leaders sharing experiences and perspectives
- Presentation of new research on artists’ experiences, provision and policy in the EU and USA
- Sharing of sector-specific working groups proposals for building support, resilience, and solidarity
- Peer-to-peer networking, issue-led conversations discussions, building community
- A live concert by AFI artist, Mehrnam Rastegari, and Chogan
- A DJ set celebrating cultural resilience by Sabina Fattakh from Kazakhstan