Attorney Sanjay Sethi Discusses Artistic Freedom Initiative's Work, Oppression of the Arts and Cultural Sectors Globally & the Need for Pluralistic Discourse

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Cover image by Nosrat Tarighi of Sanjay Sethi at an AFI event entitled Revolutions and Movements

To learn more, please visit the sites for Artistic Freedom Initiative and Sethi & Mazaheri, LLC.

Show Notes:

2:00 overview of Sethi’s background and work as Founding Partner of Sethi & Mazaheri, LLC and Co-Executive Director of Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI)
3:45 genesis and mission of AFI
5:00 AFI’s services
8:00 AFI’s residency program
9:00 AFI’s Artists for Social Change
9:45 challenges to helping artists
13:00 AFI’s creation of a sponsorship model
13:30 AFI’s program in Germany
15:00 determination of artists in imminent danger
16:20 assistance for female artists
18:20 university placements for female artists
18:40 the New School’s fellowships for Afghan artists at risk
19:00 Germany’s program for artists at risk
21:00 Journals of Exile at the Berliner Ensemble
22:10 programs through AFI’s Artists For Social Change
23:45 Brazilian Singer Songwriter Bia Ferreira
25:20 AFI’s Afghan Artists Protection Project & Iranian Artists Support Project
27:00 challenges of single intent visas like student visas and O-1 visas
28:30 denial of entry based on immigration intent for Afghan versus Iranian artists 
30:00 applications from Myanmar, Egypt, Nicaragua, India and particular Kashmir
31:00 impact of prior and upcoming elections 
31:30 Poland shifted back to center left with loss of Law and Justice (PiS) party
31:50 Slovakia’s election of Fico w/ agenda similar to Hungary’s Orbán
32:00 Slovenia’s election of liberal Robert Golob
32:10 Brazil’s election of leftist former president, defeating Pres. Jair Bolsonaro
32:15 Indian PM Narendra Modi’s Hindu Nationalist Party projected to win 
32:30 elections in Italy and the Netherlands
32:45 new and different threats to cultural sectors globally
33:00 AfI’s Artistic Freedom Monitor - initial reports on Poland and Hungary
36:00 regimes replaced museum/cultural institute heads w/ right wing politicians
36:00 Curation of shows under those regimes would conform to nationalist ideals
37:25  defunding anti-regime institutions or anti-Catholic in Poland 
37:50 intimidation of non-conforming artists
38:10 Poland’s use of blasphemy law to criminally charge non-conforming artists
38:00 chilling effect of such subversive mechanisms 
39:15 AFI’s position that arts decisions should be merits-based and non-ideological   
39:30 response to Artistic Freedom Monitor’s reports
40:00 erroneous belief that arts are inconsequential in public & political dialogue 
41:35 elevation of AFI’s advocacy efforts to an international forum 
44:00 collaboration to lobby for artistic and creative freedom
45:00 impact of artificial intelligence 
47:50 legacy of his work
49:50 his notion of justice 

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Music by Toulme.

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© Stephanie Drawdy [2025]