Harstad becomes ICORN city of refuge!

Press release from Harstad

Yesterday 02.07.14 the City of Harstad signed the membership agreement with ICORN and opens up for a speedy resolution to establish Harstad as the first city of refuge for musicians. 

This comes as a result of ICORN’s general assembly in May deciding to broaden the scope of the ICORN network to also include persecuted artists within other art forms, as the visual arts and music. 

The City of Harstad declared itself a Safe Music Haven in February 2013, and the membership agreement with ICORN today finally opens for the welcoming of a persecuted music artist. Yesterday’s agreement replaces the previous agreement between the City of Harstad and SafeMUSE. 

- Our hope is that we can welcome the first guest musician as soon as possible. We are eager to go ahead, because out there is a man and his family waiting to get to a safe haven in Harstad. We will facilitate for him to work and live together with his family without threats and persecution. This will also mean a lot for the cultural life in Harstad, says Marianne Bremnes, Mayor of Harstad (Harstad kommune).