22/06/2026
The days in May and lovely people we'd love to remember!
Artist Training once again took part in the Academic Freedom Week. Originally launched by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in 2023 in solidarity with researchers at risk, this year's Academic Freedom Week brought together 16 institutions, more than 800 participants, and 12 events across five days. Through film screenings, panel discussions, exhibitions, and workshops, the program highlighted the importance of protecting academic freedom and supporting scholars and artists at risk.
Artist Training and Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf co-organized the film screening and discussion at Cinema Paris (Institut français Berlin), exploring the intersections of conflict, war, and academic and artistic freedom. The event created space for critical reflection on how artistic and academic communities respond to crises and defend freedom of expression.
We were also pleased to attend the panel discussion “Academic Freedom at Risk: European Universities between Resilience and Responsibility” with Prof. Dr. Julia von Blumenthal (President, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), Dr. Sevil Çakır (independent researcher), Prof. Dr. Markus Hilgert (President, Universität der Künste Berlin), and Pierre-Paul Zalio (President, Campus Condorcet),under the moderation by Jan-Martin Wiarda. The conversation addressed how higher education institutions can provide safe and supportive environments for at-risk scholars and artists, and how universities should uphold freedom, solidarity, and openness in increasingly challenging times.
Thank you to everyone who participated, contributed, and helped make these important conversations possible. Academic freedom is not a topic for just one week—it is an ongoing commitment.
Photos: .perutska
