IHRAM International Secretariat: Asia
Artistic expression, cultural rights, and human dignity
The International Human Rights Art Movement (IHRAM) connects artists and changemakers whose creative work advances human rights and social justice. Through regional collaboration, creative programming, and public engagement, its International Secretariat brings attention to human rights defenders and the challenges they face.
Led by Dr. Shumaila Hemani, the International Secretariat, Asia is building a community of artists across the region and its diasporas whose work engages with censorship, state repression, displacement, discrimination, and cultural rights. We welcome writers, musicians, dancers, visual artists, theatre practitioners, and other creative voices working across diverse languages and traditions.
Our developing artist interview and oral history initiative places artists’ work and lived experiences at the centre. These features explore the systemic barriers artists encounter, how they respond through their creative practice, and what enables them to continue. Through these conversations and future collaborations, we aim to preserve artistic testimony, strengthen connections across borders, and deepen public understanding of artistic freedom.
Our work is guided by IHRAM’s values of beauty, sincerity, vulnerability, engagement, and celebrating diversity.
The International Human Rights Art Movement (IHRAM) brings artists and human rights together through festivals, publications, and creative programs. Since 2017, more than 2,000 artists from over 115 countries have shared their work through IHRAM, bringing their stories and struggles for justice to international audiences.
Through its New York City festival, IHRAM Press, books, awards, fellowships, and international partnerships, the movement creates opportunities for artistic expression, recognition, and connection across borders. Its work also includes helping safeguard artists facing threats for their creative expression, affirming that every artist deserves the opportunity to create, share their story, and be heard.
Call for Expressions of Interest
Artist Interviews: Artistic Freedom, Censorship, and Human Rights in Asia
The International Human Rights Art Movement (IHRAM), International Secretariat, Asia, invites expressions of interest from artists across Asia and its diasporas for an interview series exploring artistic expression, cultural rights, and human dignity.
We welcome writers, poets, musicians, dancers, theatre practitioners, filmmakers, visual artists, and other creative practitioners whose work engages with human rights or whose artistic practice has been affected by censorship, state repression, displacement, discrimination, or other systemic barriers.
These interviews will feature artists’ creative work alongside their lived experiences: what they create, the challenges they encounter, and how they continue to express themselves. Our aim is to bring these experiences to wider audiences and build connections among artists across borders.
How to participate
Please download the interview questionnaire below and email your completed responses to Dr. Shumaila Hemani, Director, IHRAM International Secretariat, Asia, using the contact details on this page.
In your email, include a brief introduction with:
Your name, artistic discipline, and country or region of connection.
A short description of your work and its relevance to this initiative.
Links to your work, website, or portfolio, where available.
A formal cover letter is not required. If you are unsure whether your work fits the initiative, you are welcome to contact us before completing the questionnaire.
Please share only information you feel comfortable making public. If you require anonymity or have concerns about identification, contact us before submitting sensitive material.
Submission requirements
Please submit your completed questionnaire together with:
A brief biography of approximately 50 words.
A high-resolution portrait photograph, with the photographer’s name and any required credit.
Links to your social media profiles, portfolio, website, or examples of your artistic work.
The completed publication consent section below.
Email: shumaila@humanrightsartmovement.org
Subject line: Asia Artist Interview — [Your Name] — [Artistic Discipline]
Review and publication
All submissions will undergo editorial review. Submission does not guarantee acceptance or publication. Selected artists will receive further information about the editorial process and publication schedule.
The next submission deadline is December 15, 2026, for interviews to be considered for the publication cycle beginning in Spring 2027.
Download the interview questionnaire that best matches your artistic practice or discipline alongside the consent form
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should my responses be, and do I need to answer every question?
Please aim for approximately 5–8 sentences per response, where relevant. You may leave a question unanswered if it does not apply to your artistic practice or involves information you do not wish to share publicly.
How will my interview be published?
Selected interviews will be published as written artist features on the IHRAM website, bringing your creative work and experiences to an international audience. Responses are generally published in the artist’s own words, with editorial review for clarity, relevance, and presentation.
When will my interview be published?
The web team’s current schedule is fully booked through April 17, so publication will begin after that date. Individual publication dates will depend on editorial acceptance and scheduling. Submitting an interview does not reserve a publication date.
Will every interview be accepted?
No. All submissions undergo editorial review, and some may be declined. We encourage thoughtful, specific responses that connect your artistic practice and lived experiences to the initiative’s themes.
Will artists be compensated?
We are seeking funding and partnerships to provide artist honoraria. Compensation is not currently guaranteed. Any available honorarium and its terms will be confirmed with participating artists in advance.
What should my responses focus on?
Your interview should introduce your creative practice, highlight particular works or projects, and explore the barriers you have encountered. Concrete examples help readers understand how censorship, discrimination, displacement, or other human rights concerns have affected your work and how you have responded through art.
How do I submit my interview?
Download the questionnaire from this page, enter your responses directly beneath each question, and email the completed document to Dr. Shumaila Hemani using the contact details provided. Include a brief introduction and links to your work, where available. A formal cover letter is not required.
Can I participate if English is not my first language?
Please contact us to discuss your language and translation needs before completing the questionnaire. Translation support will depend on available resources.
What if sharing my experiences could put me at risk?
Please contact us before sending sensitive information. Avoid including details that could endanger you or others. Any request for anonymity or restrictions on identifying information should be discussed before submission.
Will I be able to review my interview before publication?
Before publication, we will ask you to review the prepared interview for factual accuracy, substantive editorial changes, and any identifying or sensitive details that could affect your safety or another person’s privacy. Please raise any concerns about names, locations, photographs, or personal experiences as early as possible.
Can I use the published interview in my portfolio or grant applications?
Yes. Once published, you can share the link as a feature about your artistic practice and include it in your portfolio, professional biography, or supporting materials for grant applications.