Fall of Freedom is as an urgent call to the arts community to unite against authoritarianism. It began with a single coordinated weekend and has grown into an ongoing national network of artists, venues, and audiences.
About the resource
On November 21–22, 2025, hundreds of galleries, museums, libraries, comedy clubs, theaters, schools, concert halls, and street corners in almost every state hosted exhibitions, performances, and public events. Participation was open to any artist, creator, or community. Organizers set loose guidelines, so venues chose their own forms, from museum displays of works about censorship to bookstore displays of banned books. The program framed these events both as a stand against repression and as a celebration of the experiences, cultures, and identities that shape the country.
The effort continued in 2026 with Fall of Freedom MayDay! and a national weekend of arts activations on October 2–4. It is led by a group of initiators that includes Dread Scott, Lynn Nottage, Cassils, Hari Kunzru, Miguel Luciano, Laura Raicovich, and Robert Longo. More than 80 supporters across art, film, theater, music, literature, and comedy are listed as Friends of Fall of Freedom, among them Laurie Anderson, Ava DuVernay, the Guerrilla Girls, Bill T. Jones, and Jacqueline Woodson.
From: Fall of Freedom, an artist-led national initiative
For: Artists, cultural workers, arts venues, and activists
Format: Exhibitions, performances, and public events; email updates and Instagram
Where to start
- Read the mission statement on the Fall of Freedom website.
- Sign up for updates or follow the project on Instagram to hear about future activations.
- Listen to UNDOXX: Artists Untangle Censorship, a podcast miniseries made for Fall of Freedom.
The project builds a counter-imaginary at a national scale through the connection across artists, venues, mediums, and geographies acting together against authoritarianism.