What is Passion For Freedom?

Passion for Freedom was founded in 2008 by a small group of friends and over the past 10 years has grown into an international network of artists, journalists, filmmakers and activists striving to celebrate and protect freedom of expression.

This initiative is not merely a place where artists from repressed countries can showcase works they would be unable to exhibit in their home countries; it is a grass-root movement for a life worth living.

Through exhibitions, seminars and workshops, Passion for Freedom creates space for artists, writers and the public to explore subjects and themes often omitted from mainstream artistic discourse. We run educational programme enabling our artists to address topics of censorship and human right in schools, raising the awareness of these problems and consequences of giving up our basic freedoms with the next generations.

The true spectacle and focus has always been the yearly art festival, where artists facing censorship world-over send in submissions to the Passion for Freedom Art Competition. From Russia, to China, to Saudi Arabia we give a chance to dissidents, LGBT community and suppressed women to express freely and celebrate their creative liberty.

Creators like Mimsy, Ai Wei Wei, Atena Farghadani, Malala, Kubra Khademi, and countless others have been involved with the competition over the years, and their brilliance is, for lack of a better term; the main show.

By 2018, we showed more than 400 artworks from all over the world; represented 50 countries including China, Iran and Venezuela; were visited in person by 15,000 people and we are proud that we keep attracting new talents commenting on zeitgeist.

Since inception we have raised awareness and stimulated critical debate about human rights and individual freedoms.

We invite artists from all over the world to answer three pivotal questions: What is freedom? How do you preserve it? How do you celebrate it?

Who are the people behind Passion For Freedom?

Our team is made up of lively, driven volunteers, mainly women, who are dedicated to their shared values of free expression, and the power of art to inspire, awaken and shake the world.

This cause has been close to our hearts and became a vital part of our lives alongside our careers, relationships, and Monday morning’s Central Line.

Delivering this platform has been a fantastic journey. It took as through glorious moment of building close relationships with artists, freedom activists who share our values, as well as dangerous incidents of dealing with secret agents and being involved in a terrorists attract.

All of these experiences made us who we are today. We believe stronger than ever before that allowing artists the platform to create is the critical part of humanistic culture.

Why Passion For Freedom needs your support?

This year’s edition celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Art Competition.

It will be held in the direct neighbourhood of National Gallery at the heart of London. We want the exhibition to be hard to miss and inspire everyone to engage, as for many artists it is the only chance of having their voice heard by the worldwide audience.

The show is free of charge as we want to make it open and accessible for everyone who wants to participate in the debate.

That’s why we need individual support to cover the costs of running the festival. Every contribution enables the artist to exhibit their work. Our team is based solely on volunteers contribution, therefore our budget covers only the running costs like gallery higher and award gala reception; insurance and logistic fees.

Competition

The competition is open until the 31st of August. We encourage artists from all countries and art disciplines to submit their art work.

Art Exhibition

Exhibition will be open on the 1st- 13th of October 2018.

Make it happen. Donate to Passion For Freedom.

To find out more visit our website

To share our cause with friends go to Instagram/Twitter and use hashtag #celebratefreedom #pforfreedom