Action Over Despair: Reflections on 2019 and the Path Forward

“Stepping up in a moment of crisis is a long-standing concept for ICORN; starting from the resident artists and writers, moving to the cities and their coordinators, to the Secretariat in Stavanger and finally our tremendous partners and generous funders. It is undeniable the immense difference all of these actors make by choosing action over indifference or despair.”

Chris Gribble, ICORN Chair of Board

The report provides an overview of the organisation’s advance towards its 2018-2022 Strategic Plan goals. ICORN has made significant progress sustaining its application and matching process, prioritized mental health and resilience as part of its holistic support of resident artists and writers, and facilitated countless networking and capacity-building opportunities for its member cities and partners. The report is a testament to the impact committed cities can have despite the shrinking spaces for freedom of expression and rising levels of intolerance and xenophobia. 

As a global network of at present 72 member cities, numerous partners, and more than 240  persecuted artists and writers hosted to this day, ICORN is brimming with stories told and waiting to be shared. Action Over Despair highlights several of these stories, including from Ali Dorani, Iranian cartoonist and activist; Basim Mardan, PEN International MENA Researcher; Milagros Socorro, Venezuelan writer; Amira Al-Sharif, Yemeni photo-journalist; and Raffaella Salierno, former General Secretary of PEN Català and ICORN coordinator. 

Read the full report here or see link for download below.

For more information on how to join ICORN’s network, please click here. For the most recent updates on ICORN’s work head to the News section on ICORN’s website and follow on Twitter (@ICORN_ORG).