Author | Lightnews

Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · Sep 30

AGL is launching a pilot project to support artists who face immigration or administrative issues in France, or who wish to relocate there.
We'll offer:
-Pro bono case assessment and expert guidance
-Comprehensive support with visas and other administrative matters, at reduced fees

Get in touch!

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Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · Sep 10

Join us for our MONDIACULT 2025 side event Sept 24, 3pm CET, ONLINE!
Afghan Olympic breakdancer Manizha Talash, was disqualified for wearing a “Free Afghan Women” slogan during competition. Her case raises pressing questions about how far sport organisations may go in restricting expression.

Free Expression in Sport: The Case of Manizha Talash – Examining restrictions on speech in sport under international law, with a focus on Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter – Avant Garde Lawyers

avantgardelawyers.org

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Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · Aug 26

What does TIME have to do with art and activism? “The time you have to move politics in art is the time it takes the governments or your enemy to understand what you have done, because they cannot respond if they don't know what is going on" - Tania Bruguera
The Art* of Defending Artists 3.0

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Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · Aug 11

👩🏽‍💻Who is the author of an AI generated artwork? Can you copyright artwork you’ve created using help from AI? The answer may surprise you.
Atreya Mathur from the Center for Art Law led our cohort in a fascinating discussion about the limits of AI for artists

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Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · Jul 24

Emma Shapiro @exshaps.bsky.social tests artwork from the Don't Delete Art @dontdeleteart.bsky.social Gallery of Art Censored Online against an AI content moderation tool, and finds the AI consistently flags the female-presenting body for "sexual intent", versus male-presenting bodies!

Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · Jul 21

How do we move forward and protect artists' rights now that it seems like AI is here to stay? Atreya Mathur from the Center for Art Law spoke about the limitations, opportunities, and questions facing artists in this new age of AI and creativity.

Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · Jul 15

Activism isn't just posters, protests, and manifestos -- when we bring art in as a tool, we can deepen the conversation and even gain advantages over our opposition.
We were honored to have Tania Bruguera give direct advice to our cohort during The Art* of Defending Artists 3.0

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Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · Jun 24

UPDATE: AGL successful in relocating members of the Afghan Nay-Negar Visual Art Center to France after fleeing Afghanistan and Pakistan!
This female-led initiative has remained steadfast in their desire to use art to speak out for women’s rights in Afghanistan and against Taliban policies.

Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · Jun 19

We extend unwavering support to award-winning Sri Lankan writer Shakthika Sathkumara, who's petition for his right to freedom of expression comes before the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on June 27th.
We urge the Court to diligently examine the petition in accordance with Article 19 of the ICCPR.

Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · Jun 17

@exshaps.bsky.social @dontdeleteart.bsky.social

Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · Jun 17

We did it! Our unique capacity building programme The Art* of Defending Artists 3.0 comes to a close after an exciting 6 weeks, 12 sessions and 31 brilliant participants from across art, culture, civil society and law.

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Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · Jun 12

We are witnessing how financial power is used not just to support culture, but shape it - to silence dissent, erase histories, and reward ideological alignment. Funding is no longer neutral; it is political.
Our latest Art* Blog piece by @exshaps.bsky.social

avantgardelawyers.org/blog/shut-up...

Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · Jun 9

Pakistan is Afghans to leave, pushing them back into Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where creative expression is banned and brutally punished.
For women artists, the risk is especially high. Under Taliban rule, painting, singing, even letting your voice be heard in public can be treated as a crime.

Artists Sent Back to Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan – Avant Garde Lawyers

avantgardelawyers.org

Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · May 29

Navid thanks the organizations that helped him in his journey to safehaven, including:
Avant-Garde Lawyers
Artists at Risk Connection
@penamerica.bsky.social
@freedomhouse.bsky.social
@frontlinedefenders.bsky.social
@protectdefenderseu.bsky.social
Prisoners of Conscience
Aid for Artists in Exile

Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · May 29

CASEWORK UPDATE: Afghan actor and filmmaker Navid Saadati has been relocated safely to Canada!

Find out more about Navid's journey, artwork, and AGL's casework here: avantgardelawyers.org/portfolio/na...

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Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · May 26

We rely on the generosity of a wide range of pro bono partners. We are deeply grateful for their brilliant contribution and commitment to AGL’s mission to safeguard the rights of artists.
Thank you Deniz Okumuşoğlu for your key support in our work to relocate Iranian musician Mehrzatt Safari.

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Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · May 22

The destruction and damage to Sudanese cultural sites, museums and galleries has recently become devastatingly clear as the Sudanese military retook control of the capital from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

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Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · May 20

Mehrzatt Safari, a fearless Iranian musician, composer and activist blending traditional sounds with bold political messages.
AGL is proud to assist Mehrzatt in securing a safe haven where he can continue his creative work free from persecution.
Read more:
avantgardelawyers.org/portfolio/mehrzatt/

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Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · May 20

Messages like this remind us why this work matters, and what an honor it is to be part of it 💙
We are grateful to our team for their dedication and for the powerful support from our Global Network of lawyers.
Thank you Mehrzatt for the lovely message 💙

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Reposted by Avant-Garde Lawyers

Index on Censorship @indexoncensorship.org · May 20

One week to go! Join us for an online webinar to launch our new toolkit Am I Facing a SLAPP? With speakers Amy Jacobsen, Greenpeace, Tracy, SLAPP Target and Mark Stephens, Howard Kennedy. Tues 27 May, 12pm (BST):
www.indexoncensorship.org/events/am-i-...

Am I Facing a SLAPP?: Identifying the tools and tactics used by bullies to target free speech - Index on Censorship

Join Index on Censorship as we launch our new "Am I Facing a SLAPP" tool

www.indexoncensorship.org

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Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · May 14

AGL's Comms Officer @exshaps.bsky.social took the stage at UNESCO's panel "Artistic Freedom and Creativity: Navigating AI In A Volatile World" to explore how digital technologies are impacting artistic freedom, reshaping the creative professions, and presenting new risks and opportunities.

Emma Shapiro @exshaps.bsky.social · May 14

💙 so proud to represent @dontdeleteart.bsky.social at @unesco.org in Brussels last week 🙌 we had the honor of participating in “Artistic Freedom and Creativity: Navigating AI In A Volatile World”, part of UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day 2025 👀

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Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · May 13

AGL's Don't Go Breaking My Art series highlights recent events of art censorship and suppression around the world.

Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · May 13

A Texas school district erased a lesson on Virginia after noticing an exposed breast in the depiction of the goddess Virtue on the Virginia state flag.
The Virginia flag features Virtue triumphing over Tyranny, with the motto “Sic Semper Tyrannis,” or “Thus Always to Tyrants,” inscribed below.

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Avant-Garde Lawyers @avantgardelawyers.bsky.social · May 12

It is a true privilege to welcome Alexandra Xanthaki, United Nations Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights, to our Art* of Defending Artists 3.0 capacity building programme for “The mandate of the UNSR in the field of cultural rights: minorities and indigenous peoples”

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