This year’s Paléo Festival was the opportunity for Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) Suisse to shed light on a project called #ArtandFreedom. The purpose was to remind us that various art forms, such as music, caricatures and cartoons, in addition to being artistic content, play an important role in the defense of personal freedoms and individual rights.
By having a stand at the flagship musical event in Western Switzerland, RSF wanted to draw attention to the importance of Art and Freedom in a musical festival, but also to their role in today’s society. While one could think that these two should always go together, simply because artistic freedom should be seen as freedom of expression and information, it is important to remember that it is not the case everywhere in the world today.
GBNews met with Stéphane Koch, Internet Strategy Advisor and member of RSF Suisse’s Committee, to learn more about the project.
Live cartoons/caricatures from Paléo
As defenders of the values they hold and in order to create a dynamic of exchange at the Festival, RSF invited well-known caricaturists like Barrigue, Bénédicte, Pitch, and Debuhme from the satirical newspaper Vigousse, as well as Nidonite, to draw live from the stand and give their takes on the theme with satirical, musical and sometimes poetic drawings. Their creations were broadcasted live on RSF’s various social networks with the tag #ArtandFreedom so that everyone, physically or digitally, could connect and take part in the project. Also, people at the festival could take a quiz on “Music and Liberties” or pose for pictures in front of a green screen with the banner Music, Art, Medias and Liberties.
By creating a friendly, educational environment, the goal for RSF was to inform and educate people on issues such as censorship or the defense of freedom of expression and information. But mainly, it showed the interaction and complementarity between art and freedom.
A historical movement, a contemporary debate
Indeed, let’s not forget that just like drawings and caricatures, music has been, as long as one can remember, a tool for citizen mobilization and a way of condemning inequalities. Various art forms (poetical, satirical, humorous) have on numerous occasions contributed to public awareness of the many challenges and injustices of society.
Music, too, has at times been the subject of censorship. Lyrics and ideas have potential influence on the fight for freedom of opinions and speech. When traditional media or news are censored, music and other art forms have often been able to take over and fill the gap.
A growing community
While neither the topic neither the tag #ArtandFreedom are new, RSF’s project is meant to support and diffuse the message. On the website dedicated to #ArtandFreedom, readers have the opportunity to take part in the project by being a “ Music, Art, Media and Liberties” ambassador and help spread the word about the project and its artistic content, all available on social media. They can do so by submitting original artistic creations or by sharing and reposting content under the #ArtandFreedom tag to promote the event and its work. In the long term, the goal is to create a large community of creative people sharing their thoughts and ideas through various art forms, and to connect with #ArtandFreedom on social networks.
As for the future, based on the positive feedback at the Paléo Festival and online, RSF is hoping to collaborate again at next year’s festival. While the essence of the project should remain the same, RSF is thinking about organizing a live slam contest with original creations from the public. And if the movement continues to grow, the idea of a book assembling all the artistic creation inspired by the #ArtandFreedom tag could certainly become a reality. On top of showcasing the best creations, it would contribute to raising funds for next year’s edition.
Spread the word!
Sources:
#ArtandFreedom: https://www.artandfreedom.media
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RSF.CH/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rsfsuisse/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rsfch
Photo credit: naracollective via www.artandfreedom.media
