The respondents in Mimetas 2022 survey are strong in proclaiming that their work contributes to the protection of artists and storytellers, and there is a very strong understanding of the relevance of human rights for the arts communities in the countries where our partners are active. Freedom of expression has very high relevance to their initiatives, and is really not taken for granted, as these statements from the survey shows:
a) Throughout the past years, our organization has sought to develop our response to the challenges facing the freedom of expression and artistic practices by supporting artists in Syria and the Arab Levant through legal services, knowledge resources and financial and in-kind support, while guaranteeing the safety and privacy of beneficiaries. We have also supported artists wishing to create artworks on this topic (Freedom of Expression). We believe that there is a need to create new forms of response that go beyond addressing restrictions on the freedom of expression by local authorities. Therefore, we are designing a program for the digital realm to support frameworks that challenge censorship, transcend local boundaries and reinforce the presence of artists tackling issues related to the freedom of expression.
b) Freedom of expression is one of the primary motivations of our work, but so is artist safety and security; we believe these two tenants are entirely complementary, and we need to address both equally.
c) As a multidisciplinary organization dealing with art and artists of all background, we completely understand the challenges and the dangers of our practitioners - our responsibility as an organization is to give them space and work with them to find a way to express themselves by offering them support and multiple platforms.
d) The backbone of our organization is support of independent environments that are pioneering in their clear and uncompromising voice in covering political and social topics in the region, which disturbs and disrupts the narrative of governments, corporates and at times the wider societies. The freedom of expression is at the forefront of our concerns, both as we practice it and as we strive to make it available for ourselves, journalists and content producers.
e) By creative programs to incubate and develop artistic and creative projects (films, publications, etc.), we allow and explore the potential for art and media at social engagement. Supporting independent artists and creators is essential to promoting freedom of creativity and expression; allowing storytellers from the region to express themselves freely and explore their visions and imagination.
f) Our organization emerged as an artistic putsch in reaction to censorship and the limited and controlled space given to arts and culture under the totalitarian regime of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. Thus, it puts freedom of expression, in all its forms, at the very heart of its values and vision and creates a safe space for artists and cultural practitioners to talk about, present, and illustrate various topics related to individual freedoms. However, we are always mindful of the context where we work, we push the boundaries but also keep the safety of the people involved a priority.
At the same time there is much less attention to efforts that may involve political risks, like direct involvement in artist protection or political advocacy for artistic rights. Freedom of expression has a low score in a statement about it as prime motivation for initiatives. On questions relating to the purposes of activities, those about rights and protection have lower attachment than those related to professional development of the sector. From statements on network connections, respondents have really low score on linkages with authorities and international policy forums, while links to local communities and groups inside the sector have a very strong attention. This understanding is strengthened in the chapter discussing narrative change.
