Resources

A Safety Guide for Artists explores topics such as defining and understanding risk, preparing for threats, fortifying digital safety, documenting persecution, finding assistance, and recovering from trauma.

When an artist first faces risk, there are not a lot of roadmaps: the experience can be incredibly isolating and disorienting. A Safety Guide for Artists by Artists At Risk Connection (ARC) explores topics such as defining and understanding risk, preparing for threats, fortifying digital safety, documenting persecution, finding assistance, and recovering from trauma.

Tips and strategies were drawn from testimony of artists who have faced persecution, including Cuban performance artist Tania Bruguera, Lebanese singer Hamed Sinno, American visual artist Dread Scott, and Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu, as well as the research and expertise of ARC’s vast network of partners.

Report for a strengthening of safety and security resources for visual storytellers and journalists.

Initiated and supported by IRIS and the Rory Peck Trust, the Safer Storytellers publication is a summary of the research conducted by Peter Noorlander et al. into the safety and security challenges faced continuously by visual storytellers and journalists all over the globe. Through a series of 120 interviews with artists, filmmakers, journalists, funders, activists, academics and others, along with desk research, we have sought to identify how storytellers can be better resourced to continue to confront and speak truth to power. The study is global in its overview, with a spotlight on Central and South America where in-depth research and interviews were conducted. More information can be found on the Safer Storytellers website as well.

Handbook for documentary filmmakers and their crews to help navigate the perils and complications of their work.

Safe + Secure has been launched by Doc Society as a result of increased awareness about the risks to which documentary filmmakers expose themselves - and their crews, subjects and sources - in order to bring important stories to the world. This is a resource-rich handbook and issue-checklists containing the best resources we could find on safety and security issues facing documentary filmmakers and where to go to get more information and / or training.

Useful overview of other funding resources available to artists, journalists, particular minoritized groups, and so on.

Front Line Defenders (FLD) have compiled a highly useful list of funding options for artists, journalists, women, sexual minorities, and other groups potentially at risk throughout the world. Find the list right here.

Front Line Defenders (FLD) is an international human rights organisation founded in Dublin in 2001, with the specific aim of protecting human rights defenders at risk (HRDs). FLD works to improve the security and protection of human rights defenders and organisations around the world at risk for their peaceful and legitimate human rights work. As identified by human rights defenders themselves, FLD responds to protection and security needs by providing support through grants, capacity building, visibility, networking, and advocacy, at the international, regional and local levels.

Support system for LGBTQI+ persons at risk across the world

Rainbow Railroad is a global not-for-profit organization that helps at-risk LGBTQI+ people get to safety worldwide. More about their support systems and resources, including their ongoing activities for LGBTQI+ individuals in Afghanistan and their predominant activities in relocating at-risk individuals out of harm's way, can be found on their website right here.

Based in the United States and Canada, Rainbow Railroad is an organization that helps LGBTQI+ people facing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. In a time when there are more displaced people than ever, LGBTQI+ people are uniquely vulnerable due to systemic, state-enabled homophobia and transphobia. These factors either displace them in their own country or prevent them from escaping harm.