FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2026
Human Rights and Legal Organizations Warn of Threats to Artistic Freedom in the U.S. in Newly Released Monitor
NEW YORK — January 28, 2026 — Amid mounting concern over government actions restricting creative expression and weakening the independence of cultural institutions, the Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI) today launched the Artistic Freedom Monitor (AFM), a first-of-its-kind research and advocacy initiative documenting threats to artistic freedom across the United States. The project is being undertaken in partnership with Democracy Forward, Human Rights First, and the Pro Bono Programs at Stanford Law School and UC Berkeley School of Law.
AFM is designed to increase transparency and accountability across the arts and cultural sector. It consists of three core components:
- Systematic tracking of federal and state measures affecting artistic freedom
- Spotlight reporting informed by direct accounts from artists and cultural institutions on the real-world impacts of restrictive policies
- Strategic action including litigation and model legislation, to protect artistic freedom and institutional independence
The initiative was created in response to a growing body of reporting over the past year on the suppression of freedom of expression across the United States. These developments align with trends AFI has documented in Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, where attacks on artistic freedom preceded or accompanied broader threats to democratic institutions. As U.S. Government efforts intensify to restrict free expression, reshape public memory, and weaken the independence of arts and cultural institutions, AFI and its partners are committed to monitoring, reporting on, and responding to these developments.
“When culture becomes a tool of political ideology, democracy loses its capacity for self-critique, empathy, and imagination,” said Sanjay Sethi, AFI Co-Executive Director. “The Artistic Freedom Monitor exists to make these pressures visible and verifiable by documenting how government actions are reshaping cultural institutions and access to the arts in the United States.”
“Art and expression are fundamental to the human experience. It is precisely because of the potential that art and expression have to unify people and strengthen community bonds that autocratic leaders and movements have long tamped down on free speech and expression, censored creativity, and sought to control art and artists. Threats to art and the freedom to create and share one’s creations with the world are threats to freedom and democracy,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “But information is power. And the first step we must take to counter this censorship is to understand how and where it is happening. The Artistic Freedom Monitor will give people the information they need to hold their leaders accountable in defense of their freedoms. We are honored to partner with AFI in supporting artistic and cultural expression and providing people the information needed to defend their rights.”
“Unfettered artistic expression is integral to who we are as Americans, U.S. First Amendment protections, and U.S. international human rights commitments,” said Uzra Zeya, President and CEO of Human Rights First. “With our grounding in the rule of law and innovation, Human Rights First is proud to support AFI in shining a light on federal and state-level transgressions on artistic and cultural expression and partner on strategic action to counter anti-democratic overreach.”
As the first phase of a three-part initiative, AFM today unveils their interactive platform tracking the laws and policies that impact artistic freedom and the downstream actions they enable, including funding cuts, administrative controls over programming, and interference in cultural governance. By making this data public, AFM seeks to inform the public and defend the civic role of art and culture in a free and democratic society.
AFM’s initial tracking has revealed four worrisome trends in the U.S. that restrict artistic freedom:
- Censorship and content-based restrictions, including the removal of works and limits on what can be created, presented, or accessed;
- Politicized funding, including cuts, freezes, and ideological conditions on public grants;
- Governance interference in arts management, including efforts to influence leadership and curatorial decisions; and
- Immigration and mobility restrictions that limit foreign artists’ participation in U.S.-based cultural programming.
AFI Co-Founder and former U.S. Diplomat, Divya Khosla noted, “We founded AFI a decade ago to provide pro-bono legal and resettlement assistance for artists facing persecution globally, at a time when the U.S. championed human rights and freedom of expression. The fact that we must now fight for artistic freedom in our own country, as cultural and institutional safeguards are dismantled, is an alarming turning point. The early indicators we are seeing—alongside recent U.S. withdrawals from key multilateral bodies—undermine our core democratic principles and weaken our ability to shape global norms.”
While AFM is building toward comprehensive incident-level tracking, its initial phase focuses on government measures, and AFI’s reporting indicates these policies have already driven cancellations, removals of books and artworks, and heightened self-censorship within cultural institutions. Key data collected by the Monitor includes:
- 58+ laws and policies passed or implemented in 2025 that limit artistic freedom
- $250+ million in funding cuts at national arts institutions
- 29+ arts programs, exhibitions, or performances canceled
- 11 laws and policies enabling book bans, with 6,780+ unique titles banned nationwide
- 560+ arts and culture grants cancelled
The Artistic Freedom Monitor is updated on a rolling basis as new information becomes available. Members of the public are invited to submit verified information and corrections to strengthen the accuracy and completeness of the dataset.
The Artistic Freedom Monitor is available at: artisticfreedominitiative.org/artistic-freedom-monitor
About Artistic Freedom Initiative
The Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting artistic freedom and advancing the rights of artists and cultural workers worldwide. https://artisticfreedominitiative.org/
About Democracy Forward
Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org
About Human Rights First
Established in 1978, Human Rights First’s mission is to ensure that the United States is a global leader on human rights. The organization works in the United States and abroad to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law. For more information, please visit https://humanrightsfirst.org/
Media Contact:
Johanna Bankston
Senior Officer, Global Policy & Advocacy
Artistic Freedom Initiative
johanna@artisticfreedominitiative.org
Staff and featured artists available by request for interviews / quotes
- In Switzerland, Sanjay Sethi, Co-Executive Director of AFI, Email: sethi@artisticfreedominitiative.org
- In USA, Johanna Bankston, Project researcher and Senior officer of Global Policy & Advocacy at AFI, Email: johanna@artisticfreedominitiative.org
- In USA, Skylar Davidson, Project researcher and Officer of Global Policy & Advocacy at AFI, Email: skylar@artisticfreedominitiative.org