Research and Reports
Evidence-based research and reports examining how laws, policies, and practices undermine artistic freedom


Evidence-based research and reports examining how laws, policies, and practices undermine artistic freedom

We are pleased to announce the release of AFI’s latest advocacy report, Early Warning: The Politicization of Slovak Arts and Culture, produced in partnership with Otvorená Kultúra! (OK!). Following the election of...

Poland’s populist government, led by the Law and Justice party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość; PiS), has actively reshaped Poland’s arts and cultural landscape in order to advance right-wing, nationalist narratives. In the...

In August 2021, the world watched in dismay as the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan following the departure of American security forces. Fearing the violent and repressive nature of the Taliban regime, hundreds...

We are pleased to announce the release of AFI’s newest advocacy report, Echoes of Freedom: Art as a voice of resistance in Nicaragua, created in partnership with Centro para la Apertura y el Desarrollo de America Latina...
ILA develops research and analysis to better understand the conditions under which artistic freedom is restricted and how those restrictions can be effectively challenged. Our report series examines the legal, political, and institutional dynamics that shape artistic expression, with the aim of identifying practical avenues for protection and reform.
In collaboration with AFI, ILA works to close persistent gaps in the documentation of violations of artistic freedom. Through in-depth, country-specific research, we analyze restrictions on creative expression, track emerging patterns across regions, and assess how national frameworks align with international human rights standards.
Our work brings together legal and policy analysis with the experiences of artists and cultural workers, offering a clearer account of how repression operates in practice while reinforcing the recognition of artistic freedom as a core human right.








As censorship rises and artists are targeted for speaking truth to power, protecting creative voices has never been more urgent. Since 2024, ILA has supported over 100 courageous artists who continue making art even when it places them at risk. Your contribution ensures artists can keep creating, sharing, and inspiring change—protecting both their voices and the right to artistic freedom worldwide.