Exploring the connections between arts and human rights meeting report

The agency organised a high-level expert meeting in Vienna on 29-30 May 2017, bringing together participants from different EU Member States and horizons, including: human rights and fine arts academics; museum staff; curators; representatives of civil society organisations focusing on artistic freedom; and artists from the fields of photography, visual arts, comics, choreography, literature and music.

Together they explored the links between artistic practice and human rights in the context of the EU and the activities of its independent centre for fundamental rights expertise, FRA. Representatives from EU institutions and the United Nations (UN) also participated at the meeting. The discussions took place in the Chatham House format, so individual comments by participants are not attributed.

This report distils the meeting’s discussions and concludes with recommendations to strengthen links between arts and human rights for FRA and other actors.