Raising the voice of artists for a welcoming Europe
We stand in solidarity with refugee artists, and dedicate our art to further the social inclusion of newcomers and other vulnerable people in our diverse societies.
Refugee is an experience, not an identity.
The label ‘refugee’ does injustice to who we are. art27 offers the arts as a route to honor the diversity and complexity of people’s identities.
Access to culture is a fundamental human right
art27 is a platform for artists & arts organizations that stands for the fundamental right of all human beings to experience and engage with culture, to develop their creativity and to express both the unique identity of each individual and the shared humanity of all.
It’s not a refugee crisis, it’s a war crisis.
While natural catastrophes, climate change and poverty also cause people to flee, the current refugee situation has largely been caused by wars. art27 opposes war and stands in solidarity with those forced to flee from wars.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 27: Everyone has the right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
About us
Who we are
art27 is a platform for artists, arts educators and arts organizations working with refugees and asylum seekers in Europe.
The founding organizations include:
What we stand for
The arts has a vital role to play in creating more inclusive, culturally diverse societies.
Everyone has a right to experience the arts, develop their creativity, express their unique identity and engage in our shared humanity.
We stand in solidarity with refugees and call on all artists and arts organizations to join us in promoting social inclusion and protecting vulnerable people through the arts.
What we do
connect & network
art27 organizes gatherings of socially engaged artists and arts organizations in Europe, to share expertise and forge collaborations.
share & promote
art27 collects and openly shares resources and knowledge with all who wish to use art to contribute to a welcoming, inclusive Europe.
advocate & influence
art27 seeks to impact the public narrative on war, refugees and migration. We aim to counter fear and xenophobia and promote social inclusion through participatory arts projects, arts education, community arts initiatives, exhibits, installations and performances.
News/ Events / Projects
Manifesto
Throughout history, artists have contributed their vision, talent and expertise to creating diverse, inclusive attitudes in European societies. Today, alarmed by the increasing influence of fear and xenophobia in Europe, we launch art27 as a platform to raise voices through the arts for social inclusion, for protection of the vulnerable and for honouring our culturally diverse societies.
We are a network of artists of all backgrounds, arts educators and arts organizations in Europe, who share these beliefs:
The interdependence of all humans and our shared destiny on the planet require us to protect each other and the earth.
The function of art is to illuminate our individual and collective experiences of life.
The diversity of Europe’s artistic and cultural heritage owes its richness to the movement of peoples into and across Europe through many centuries.
The freedoms, mutual respect, and collaborative processes central to artistic endeavours require artists and the artistic community to seek and ensure these attributes for all.
The human right to culture, as protected by Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is only accessible when all fundamental human rights are honoured. These include the right to equality (Article 1), the right to life, liberty and personal security (Article 3), the right to free movement (Article 13) and the right to asylum and protection from persecution (Article 14).
We call on all artists – including aspiring and non-professional artists – and their organizations, associations, and schools to join us in solidarity with refugees and other vulnerable people, and to support tolerance, openness, inclusion, and the fundamental rights of every person as expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
We stand in solidarity with refugee artists and dedicate our efforts – on the stage, in the gallery, in arts education, in the classroom, and in our wider communities- to further the social inclusion of newcomers and other vulnerable people in our diverse societies.
Join us!
Sign the manifesto.
Together we can create a more inclusive Europe.
Endorse art27 and add your name today!