14 May, 3:00 PM CEST

At a moment when war, repression, and over a month of internet blackout make it increasingly difficult to understand what is happening inside Iran - even for those living through it - we turn to artists and cultural workers from Iran whose practices continue despite fear, fragmentation, and uncertainty. While the wish for democracy is stronger than ever, the conditions on the ground are shifting, unstable, and often impossible to grasp from the outside.

This session invites speakers from Iran and the Iranian diaspora to share how they navigate these realities, how artistic and professional practices respond or resist, and which stories or nuances remain absent from international conversations.

What realities are cultural workers currently navigating? How do artistic practices endure under fear, censorship, or rupture? What forms of solidarity, care, or community-building feel meaningful now? What perspectives remain unheard or misrepresented beyond Iran’s borders.

Speakers: 

Sepehr Sharifzadeh (Iran/France) - Curator/Strategic Consultant · Creative Producer · East‑West Divan · PADA Co‑Founder · IETM Advisory

Helia Shadifar (Iran/Canada) - Interdisciplinary artist

Arezoo Kazanbeik (Iran/Belgium) - Architect, heritage specialist, and cultural producer