Southeast Asian Artistic Freedom RADAR
This project researches and documents violations against freedom of expression in the arts in the region. The pilot covers incidents occurring from 2010 to 2024, in six Southeast Asian countries, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, with plans to expand the scope in future.
The ArtsEquator Fellowship is a professional development programme for mid-career arts critics and journalists who are creating critical content about the arts in Southeast Asia.
Working with various publications and platforms in Southeast Asia, more than 50 articles and podcast & video episodes have been produced by our Fellows in the first 2 Fellowship editions.
News Updates:
- ArtsEquator will be in Taipei from 16-20 April 2025 as part of the ArtsEquator Fellowship’s Critics Network. As an extension of the Fellowship programme, 11 arts writers and critics from Southeast Asia will attend performances at the upcoming Taiwan International Festival of the Arts. ArtsEquator will also participate in the 2025 Observer Forum on 19th April which brings together arts critics from diverse national backgrounds to exchange perspectives and share experiences. The Forum is co-hosted by the Taiwan Contemporary Culture Experiment Station and the Cultural Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia. Participating Taiwanese organizations include IACT TW, AICA Taiwan, National Culture and Arts Foundation, Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture, Funscreen, and CREATORS Reviewing Observer Collective. The ArtsEquator Fellowship’s Critics Network is made possible with the support of Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia.
- Thanks to Eksentrika, 2023 Fellow Do:Na’s Fellowship article “From Bloodshed to Hope: Understanding Myanmar’s Love for Propaganda Films” reaches new readers. Read here.
- 2023 Fellow Jay Rosas reviews the best of 2024 Mindanao short films. “Short filmmaking in the Philippines remains under the ambit of alternative cinema.”
- Read articles by Fellows Do:Na and Jay Rosas that have been published again on Hanoi Grapevine.
What's On in Southeast Asia
See Singapore Through Fresh Eyes This June Holiday! Step into a visual celebration of SG60 at the 20th Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition (NAPE) 2025—a community arts exhibition that is completely FREE for all to attend! Running from 14-24 June 2025 at LASALLE College of the Arts, this exciting exhibition features over 170 captivating works […]
“I enjoyed the ways it connects to the systems and limitations we all have to contend with as people who live in Singapore. I liked watching the ‘behind the scenes’ aspect, the VJing was very fun and the live camera work too. The kitsch-ness worked well with a cyberpunk visual aesthetic!” — Shaw En, Audience […]
Started in 2016, ArtsEquator.com has worked with over 150 contributors from all over the world and produced over 1,700 articles, interviews, podcasts and videos. Covering the Southeast Asian arts, all the ArtsEquator original content can now be accessed here in SEA Dive.