Organizer Information
SH|FT is a Swedish association that has organized the annual Safe Havens Meeting since 2013, establishing it as one of the leading global gatherings focused on artistic freedom, cultural rights, and protection of artists at risk. Over the years, Safe Havens has brought together artists, activists, NGOs, lawyers, policymakers, and intergovernmental organizations working within the Arts Rights Justice sector.
For the 2026 edition, SH|FT is collaborating with Living Arts International — including Mekong Cultural Hub and Cambodian Living Arts — alongside ArtsEquator and local host CICADA. Together, these organizations aim to create stronger connections between Southeast Asian cultural practitioners and international artistic freedom networks. The 2026 gathering seeks to broaden global conversations around artistic freedom by centering Asian perspectives, local realities, and community-driven artistic practices.
The meeting will take place in Siem Reap and is expected to become an important platform for exchange between artists, researchers, cultural workers, and civil society actors interested in art and social action across Asia and beyond.
Title & Description
Call for Proposals: Host a Workshop at Safe Havens Meeting 2026 — “SEA Differently: An Asian Lens on Artistic Freedom”
Safe Havens Meeting 2026 is inviting artists, collectives, researchers, cultural practitioners, and cultural rights defenders from Asia to propose interactive workshops for its upcoming international gathering in Cambodia. The 2026 edition focuses on the theme “SEA Differently: An Asian Lens on Artistic Freedom”, highlighting Southeast Asian perspectives on cultural freedom, artistic practice, social participation, and creative expression.
Selected participants will host a 90-minute workshop, seminar, or participatory session during the Safe Havens Meeting from December 2–4, 2026. The organizers are particularly interested in hands-on, discussion-based, and experiential formats that encourage active participation and meaningful engagement among attendees.
The program seeks proposals that rethink artistic freedom beyond conventional narratives of censorship and political persecution. Instead, the initiative encourages broader conversations about the social, economic, cultural, and institutional conditions that shape artists’ ability to create, collaborate, travel, organize, and participate in public cultural life.
A total of six workshop proposals will be selected, with at least three reserved for practitioners from Southeast Asia. Workshops should accommodate approximately 30 participants and must align with the broader Safe Havens 2026 theme.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Performance Art
- Social Practice
- Community Arts
- Cultural Research
- Artistic Activism
- Interdisciplinary Practice
- Creative Education
- Participatory Workshops
- Literature & Writing
- Media Arts
- Film & Moving Image
- Cultural Policy
- Human Rights & Arts Advocacy
- Public Engagement Projects
Eligibility
- Artists and cultural practitioners
- Researchers and academics
- Cultural rights defenders
- Socially engaged art practitioners
- Arts managers and organizers
- Collectives and cultural organizations
Applicants must:
- Be citizens of Southeast Asia, South Asia, or East Asia
- Be actively working in art and social action
- Be available to attend the full Safe Havens Meeting in Cambodia from December 1–5, 2026
- Participate in three mandatory online orientation and networking sessions during October and November 2026
For collective applications, at least one facilitator must hold citizenship from an eligible Asian region. A second facilitator may be from another country, though travel support is only available for travel within Asia.
This is an international regional call focused on Asian practitioners.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Full travel support within Asia
- Accommodation in Siem Reap
- Logistics support during the event
- A $300 USD unrestricted micro-grant per workshop
- Networking opportunities with international artists, NGOs, and cultural organizations
- Visibility within the global artistic freedom community
- Access to all Safe Havens Meeting programs and activities
- Opportunities for long-term regional and international collaboration
The program will support a maximum of two facilitators per selected workshop.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Workshop proposal using the official proposal template
- Information about facilitators or organization
- Workshop concept and methodology
- Description of participant engagement and interactivity
- Technical or material requirements
- Relevant background information and experience
Workshops must:
- Relate to the theme “SEA Differently: An Asian Lens on Artistic Freedom”
- Be interactive and participatory
- Accommodate approximately 30 participants
- Fit within a 90-minute format
How to Apply?
Applicants must submit their proposal template via email to: safehavens@mekongculturalhub.org
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 1 June 2026
- Shortlisted Interviews: June 15–16, 2026
- Final Results Announcement: 17 June 2026
- Orientation Session: 19 October 2026
- Online Networking Session 1: 2 November 2026
- Online Networking Session 2: 16 November 2026
- Safe Havens Meeting & Workshop Delivery: December 1–5, 2026
Location
Cambodia
Additional Details
The primary working language of the event is English. Workshops may be conducted in other languages if organizers arrange interpretation within their provided budget.
The organizers emphasize low-tech, highly interactive workshop formats rather than equipment-heavy presentations. Basic workshop infrastructure such as chairs, tables, and workshop spaces will be provided, while additional materials should be covered through the micro-grant.
The Safe Havens Meeting is recognized internationally as a major gathering dedicated to artistic freedom, cultural rights, and arts-based social engagement. The 2026 edition marks the first time the event will be hosted in Southeast Asia, creating an important opportunity for regional voices and practices to influence global cultural policy conversations.