Overview

2024 was another difficult year, marked by ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, which overshadowed other crises like those in Sudan and Myanmar. Artists around the world faced censorship, arrests, violence, and even death for speaking out. A record number of elections often led to protests met with repression, with artists frequently at the forefront. In democratic countries like Germany and the U.S., the war on Gaza triggered cancellations of events and exhibits, as well as threats of defunding.

Artists endured imprisonment under harsh conditions in states such as Iran, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Belarus, Nigeria and Russia. Women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and minorities were particularly targeted in conservative states. Satirists across the globe faced backlash from leaders intolerant of criticism. In parts of the Americas, widespread criminal violence posed further risks for artists.

Amid this climate, self-censorship increased, even in democratic contexts. Still, the resilience of artists persisted and many continued to create, often under great risk. There were also signs of hope: the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria brought renewed optimism; political change in Poland raised hopes of ending artistic repression; and new efforts to strengthen freedom of expression emerged in Brazil and Zimbabwe.

With contributions from experts from across the world, this report reviews the repression of artistic freedom in 2024. It offers regional focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, as well as country-specific chapters on China and Hong Kong, Russia, Egypt, the U.S., Pakistan, and others. The issues raised in the report illustrate the wider global trends of artistic repression.