3 February, 2026 | by Robert Dean
Global Arts Pact is an international consortium activated to contest ongoing
attacks on Arts and Humanities across the globe. This project is led by
Performance Scholars and Artists but also includes Heritage and Museum
Culture, Libraries, Arts Affiliates such as Journalists, and other Arts and
Humanities sites where global research, collaboration, education, and public
presentation are at risk.
The world faces an unprecedented challenge to human values and freedoms.
Violence and oppression are widespread. At this time we in the Arts and
Humanities must make ourselves visible and powerful to push for a massive
course correction to reverse actions which impact every aspect of our artistic and
professional lives.
We will build consolidated global opposition to attempts to determine or
censor our content, curtail research collaborations exhibitions, cancel
grants or international initiatives on ideological grounds, and install policies
that discourage or restrict qualified students from admissions, financial
support, or fields of study.
There are many examples across the globe. The well-publicized cuts to grants at
the National Endowments for the Humanities and Arts in the USA. But also less
visible problems with serious consequences : The Center for the Study and
Research of Greek Theater – Theater Museum consisting of a library, an archive
and a museum of rare collections has been closed since 2011. As announced
last year by the Ministry of Culture, the library and the archive are going to be
housed at a landmark building in central Athens (in need of renovation).
However, there is no organizational plan or timeline for the re-opening of these
collections at the new venue and no provision in the meanwhile for their use by
researchers and the general public.
To build a robust global network, we will need information and solidarity from a
broad coalition. The leadership of this consortium comes jointly from the
International Federation for Theatre Research and Performance Studies
international. Eighteen global organizations have already expressed interest in
joining us. For more information about plans for the future and to get involved,
contact [email protected].
