Syria Has Shown Us the Way Again
At a crucial historical moment, we rejoice with all Syrians in their liberation from a tyrannical regime and its oppressive rule of violence and terror. Today’s liberation has been forged through the efforts, voices, dreams, lives, and struggles of Syrians who, in their frustration, challenged the certainties propagated by the regime of tyranny. This is, in itself, a monumental and arduous task. In a world currently entangled in the triad of tyranny, extremism, and occupation, this work becomes even heavier and more significant. Today, we feel one step closer to a new dawn, facing a historic opportunity to rebuild Syria on the foundations of freedom, justice, equality, diversity, and respect for human dignity.
We are aware of the colonial threats - the Israeli ones in specific - that will take advantage of this moment and seek to expand its occupation. This is why the next phase requires an active civic space capable of overcoming past divisions and conflicts, enabling us to build a democratic state that respects diversity, guarantees rights and freedoms for all its citizens without discrimination, and celebrates its diaspora as a cornerstone for shaping its future. We are convinced that art, culture, and cultural heritage will be central to these efforts, ensuring that the dreams of the postponed revolution can finally be realized.
We acknowledge that the future demands extensive efforts, with cultural and artistic initiatives serving as fundamental starting points. It is therefore essential to create a comprehensive framework that includes all segments of Syrian society and envisions a future that connects with the broader Arab region and the world. For this reason, we call for the protection of all components of Syrian culture.
Since 2011, Syrian arts and culture have played a pivotal role in modes of resistance, expression, and the exploration of identity. Many Syrian artists created their work by building on the voices that had rejected repression for decades - and, in many cases, they were those very voices themselves. Inside Syria, independent arts became one of the last bastions of civilian life, resisting continuous attempts at suppression by various ruling powers and controlling forces. Outside Syria, those working in arts and culture persisted in highlighting the sacrifices of Syrians and confronting repeated efforts to isolate Syria, the global and regional abandonment of its people, and the reduction of all that is Syrian to a seemingly unsolvable crisis. They also worked with displaced and refugee communities to help them preserve their identity. In both contexts, the arts have played an urgent role in documentation, criticism, and social change, with the cultural movement making significant sacrifices and progressive strides. Syrian artists and cultural practitioners - as citizens, activists, and individuals - lived, worked, and resisted alongside other Syrians. Many were detained, disappeared, or gave their lives for the sake of change.
We call on all individuals, groups, and cultural and civil institutions to engage with the unfolding events and to begin working collaboratively, coordinating efforts, and integrating the arts into Syria's present and future. The arts must play a key role in strengthening social cohesion, upholding justice, fostering shared spaces for understanding and dialogue, reducing divisions, and supporting cultural pluralism rooted in the values of citizenship. We also call for the protection of Syria’s cultural heritage in all its forms, making it a tool for resilience and a means of preserving the collective memory of all segments of society. Urgent action is needed to safeguard heritage structures and cultural spaces, both public and private, from exploitation, looting, and destruction. Furthermore, we urge the rebuilding of bridges between cultural practitioners within Syria and its diaspora, as well as with their counterparts in the Arab region and globally. We call for strengthening the independent Syrian cultural sector, both at home and abroad, to drive meaningful change and amplify the role of the arts as a space for documenting suffering and sacrifices, while also envisioning and crafting an inspiring future.
This is a moment of pride and joy - a moment to begin the long-postponed mourning for all the sacrifices and losses. It is a moment to critically engage with the public sphere in all its facets and complexities. It is a moment to hope for the return of the forcibly disappeared and the release of detainees. It is a moment to envision Syria as a space for justice and diversity, and to extend hope for the liberation of Palestine from occupation, as well as for Lebanon, Sudan, and all countries of the Arab region to achieve justice, safety, and peace. It is also a moment to express gratitude to all those who stood by Syrians in their civil struggle and believed in their rightful narrative. Lastly, it is a moment to thank the artists in Syria and the diaspora for coming together across all fields of civil work, for rejecting "forever," and for making "hope" their revolutionary craft.
To reach the public online statement please check the signatures on our social media platforms: Instagram - Facebook