Throughout history, artists have contributed
their vision, talent and expertise to creating
diverse, inclusive attitudes in our societies.
Alarmed by today’s increasing influence
of fear and xenophobia, European arts
organizations launched art27 to raise voices
through the arts for social inclusion, for
the protection of the vulnerable and for
honouring our culturally diverse societies.
Whilst we remain committed to tackling
inequality and social injustice within Europe,
the causes of forced migration: war, climate
change and extreme poverty are global, and
a global response is needed.

The function of art is to illuminate our
individual and collective experiences of
life. The diversity of artistic and cultural
heritage worldwide owes its richness to the
movement and meeting of peoples and
cultures over the 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.

Download Our Manifesto