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Table of Contents National Campaign for Freedom of Expression Chapter 2: Preparing for... Appendix I: What To Do If it Happens to You Appendix III: Sample Documents
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PREPARING FOR In the controversies that engulfed the arts community in the 1980s and 1990s, artists, arts organizations, and arts supporters expended great energies and resources reacting to crises. In this defensive posture, the arts community had little time and few resources for proactive advocacy. Actively advocating for artistic freedom, even in the absence of a specific challenge, nurtures a strong and supportive arts community that honors and appreciates free expression. By being proactive, you can create a climate of greater tolerance and understanding in which challenges are less likely to occur. By organizing your arts community and fostering informed dialogue on the issues in the general community, you can help ensure that when challenges do occur, the issues are discussed in an intelligent manner. And a proactive approach allows for challenges to be responded to with greater efficiency and effectiveness. Indeed, the value of advance planning cannot be overstated. Mobilize Your Local Arts Community in the Absence of a Challenge Actively promoting freedom of artistic expression need not
be a solitary endeavor. All facets of your local arts community should
share artistic freedom as a common goal. By organizing and mobilizing
your community, an arts supporter can more effectively advocate a variety
of issues of common interest and become a powerful and influential presence
in the greater community, even in the absence of a specific challenge. Local arts communities can empower themselves by forming local arts advocacy and free expression groups. Organizations of this type can actively promote artistic freedom and free speech in general by holding symposia and panel discussions and sponsoring performances or exhibits that present artistic freedom issues in an intelligent and persuasive manner. These groups can also act as a unified voice of the arts community by speaking out on issues of public concern. By forming local anti-censorship organizations, communities also can help prevent challenges and respond effectively when artists or organizations are challenged. Free expression organizations can educate and mobilize the community, supply knowledgeable and favorable media contacts, and provide moral support to individuals being challenged. Such organizations can plan educational events in advance of the opening of a potentially controversial exhibit or performance to raise community awareness about the principles of artistic freedom. A free expression group can also monitor local, state, and national legislation that threatens First Amendment rights. Local free expression groups can also act as a liaison between your local community and national advocacy organizations such as NCFE. NCFE regularly corresponds with several local groups that keep us up to date on incidents in and near their communities. And NCFE looks to local organizations to assist in addressing challenges that may have an impact on their areas. Look within and beyond the arts community when forming these networks. Consider the range of individuals and organizations that have an interest in freedom of expression: librarians, booksellers, audience members, performing arts sponsors, journalists, galleries, video store owners, record merchandisers, university faculty, labor unions, members of the clergy, and so on. Determine whether any local public officials or members of the press support your position. Investigate whether any existing local organizations are involved in freedom of expression. Don’t ever assume that anyone is an ally or an enemy. You may be surprised who your strongest supporters are. Some national religious organizations, such as the Interfaith Alliance, Baptist Joint Convention, National Council on Churches, and B’nai Brith, follow free speech issues and may have a local office. See Appendix __ for the names and contact information for these organizations. NCFE and some of the other national organizations listed in Appendix __ can assist you in forming a local free expression group. Adopt a Statement of Artistic Freedom Principles Members of a local arts community may also find it useful to adopt a Statement of Artistic Freedom Principles. A statement of this type is an informal understanding among artists, presenters, and audience and community members that acknowledges the importance of freedom of artistic expression and respect for the ability to decide for oneself what art one will or will not experience. The statement can serve as an agreement that presenters or audience members will not assert censorial pressures on an artist because of the content of artwork, even if the work becomes subject to controversy or is personally offensive. Support for such a statement by a cross-section of the community is a powerful tool to present to local officials who must make decisions regarding the use of public spaces for exhibitions and performances. The statement can also delineate a procedure explaining how a presenter will respond to complaints against presented art. Such procedures can be of varying detail but should ensure that the artist is kept apprised of the complaints and involved in the decision regarding whether to modify the presentation. Many communities find it useful to require complaints to be submitted in writing and to set up formal procedures for hearing all sides of a challenge. Sample Statements of Artistic Freedom Principles are included Appendix IV. Cultivate Good Relationships With the Media and Elected Officials You will have an advantage and be more credible when your art is challenged if you have a pre-existing relationship with the media and with your local elected officials. Invite them to forums or to board meetings for discussions. Provide opportunities for them to speak and ask questions. And after favorable treatment, thank-you notes and cards are always appreciated and remembered. Know Your Opposition Educate yourself and your community about individuals and groups—local and national—most likely to challenge artistic freedom. Become familiar with the major players, their motivations, and their tactics. The more you can involve your opposition in discussions regarding artistic freedom before an incident, the more likely the debate surrounding the incident will be conducted in a civil and intelligent manner. Preparing for a Specific Potential Challenge By anticipating challenges and preparing materials and programs in advance of likely controversial presentations, you can transform a potentially contentious situation into a beneficial one. Challenges can often be avoided if those who might be offended by the artwork understand the artist’s concept and reasons for creating the work. Prepare educational materials to accompany the presentation, and host discussions or lectures regarding the controversial issues. Offer the artist a chance to explain the work and address potential complaints. Allow a forum for comments to be made. Many challenges arise when the critic of the work has no other opportunity to speak out about the piece. Prepare the greater community for the presentation by discussing the content with them prior to opening, and solicit from them what materials they desire to properly understand the presentation. By working together like this, you can establish long-term relationships based on mutual trust that may head off challenges in the future.
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Gallery
Works with Greater Community in Advance of Klan Exhibit