Next Edition: February 14-16, 2025 – Zanzibar, Tanzania
We invite artists, policymakers, human rights organisations, regional bodies, and anyone passionate about artistic freedom to participate in this conference.
Registration is now closed. If you would still like to attend the summit, please reach out to us at panaf@selam.se.
The Pan-African Network for Artistic Freedom (PANAF) Summit is an annual event that brings together artists, cultural producers, policymakers, and human rights advocates to advance the cause of artistic freedom across the African continent and beyond. Through dialogue, collaboration, and advocacy, the Summit, now in its second edition, aims to foster a stronger network of stakeholders committed to protecting and promoting the rights of artists in diverse and complex cultural environments. This edition is organised by Selam in partnership with the Artist at Risk Connection (ARC) with the support of the Swedish Arts Council and the Swedish Institute.
Theme of the summit: “Art, Civic Engagement, and Movement Building”
On behalf of Selam,welcome to the 2nd edition of the PANAF Summit which this year focuses on collective strategies for countering censorship, building networks, and strengthening support for at-risk artists. We look forward to uniting with you in advancing artistic freedom across Africa and beyond.
Warm regards,
Teshome Wondimu
Selam founder and executive director
On behalf of Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the second edition of the PANAF Summit on Artistic Freedom. This year’s summit builds on the powerful momentum of our inaugural gathering, uniting artists, policymakers, and advocates from across Africa and beyond to champion artistic freedom as a fundamental human right.
ARC is deeply honored to co-organize this summit alongside Selam, whose visionary leadership has created this critical space for dialogue and action. At ARC, we work to defend and advance the right to artistic freedom, providing at-risk artists with the resources and support they need to thrive in the face of profound challenges. Africa is a continent of immense creative power, but one where artists too often grapple with censorship, systemic inequities, and socio-political barriers that stifle their voices and constrain their potential.
This Summit is more than a venue for conversation—it is a platform for action. Together, we will explore the nuanced realities of artistic freedom across the African continent. We aim to strengthen regional and global alliances, craft inclusive and forward-thinking policies, and deepen our collective resolve to protect and amplify the voices that not only reflect but shape the societies we inhabit.
Thank you for joining us in this critical work; your active engagement throughout the panels and workshops will help enrich the discussion and shape the outcomes of this gathering. Together, we can amplify the power of art and creativity as forces for progress and change.
Warm regards,
Julie Trebault
Director, Artists at Risk Connection
PANAF Summit Program Date: 14th – 16th Feb, 2025
Venue: Spice Tree Hotel, Stone Town, Zanzibar
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