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Progressive Writers’ Association Pakistan celebrates Platinum Jubilee: PAN solidarity message
Sunday, March 4 & Monday, March 5, 2012
In the name of progressive artists, cultural workers and media practitioners around the globe who are part of the People’s Art Network (PAN) and Commission 14 of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) we send you warm internationalist and anti-imperialist greetings on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration of the Progressive Writers’ Association Pakistan.
We wish you full success as you meet for the next two days under the theme: 75 years of the Progressive Writers’ Movement and the Present Era’s Demands.
We admire the spirit that led to the formation of the Progressive Writers’ Association in 1936 when your manifesto stated that the new literature must deal with “the basic problem of hunger and poverty, social backwardness and political subjection” and that “all that drags us down to passivity, inaction and unreason we reject a reactionary” while “all that arouses in us a critical spirit, which examines institutions and customs in the light of reason, which helps to act, to organize ourselves, to transform, we accept as progressive.”
The Progressive Writers Association members have shown amazing resilience and capacity to struggle since your founding in the face of the partition of the sub-continent, rising religious fanaticism, restrictions on freedom of expression including the banning of the PWA and the increasing direct intervention today in Pakistan by the imperialist powers led by the United States. Many writers and poets associated with the Progressive Writers Association, like revolutionary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, were imprisoned and presecuted by imperialist-backed military dictatorships. But here you are 75 years later, still a shining beacon of hope to other progressive artists, cultural workers and writers around the world.
The People’s Art Network arose out of an International Conference of Progressive Culture (ICPC) held in Manila, Philippines in July 2011. At that time 100 artists, cultural workers and media practitioners Australia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, Palestine, Taiwan, the Netherlands, Germany, Mexico, the Philippines, as well as a member of the Progressive Writers Association from Pakistan, Maqsood Khaliq, met under the theme People’s Art: Shaping the Society of the Future.
At that time we declared our unity and commitment to the peoples’ struggles for social, economic and political justice in the world.
We agreed that the artist’s place is in the struggle and that without a “cultural revolution” in the field of ideology and ideas, there will be no truly successful social and political revolution.We also agreed that over the next two years we aim to set up regional networks building towards a Global Movement of Progressive Artists, Cultural Workers and Media Practitioners, which would hold its first assembly in 2015.
The International Conference of Progressive Culture was an initiative of artists and cultural workers active within the International League of Peoples’ Struggle, an international formation of more than 350 grass roots organizations from 40 countries promoting, supporting and developing the anti-imperialist struggles of the peoples of the world.
We wish you continued successes and advances for your important Association in the years and decades to come.
Long live the Progressive Writers’ Association Pakistan !
Long live International Solidarity !
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Statement of People’s Art Network and International Conference on Progressive Culture on 1st anniversary of detention of artist and political activist Ericson Acosta
February 13, 2012 — Bound by our commitment to people’s rights forged in the International Conference on Progressive Culture (ICPC) held in Manila in July 2011, we join our fellow artists, writers and cultural workers in the Philippines and beyond in their clamour to release Filipino artist Ericson Acosta from unjust detention.
Ericson Acosta was arrested by the Philippine military in Samar province one year ago on February 13, 2011. Ericson is known to his peers at the University of the Philippines as a poet, thespian, singer and journalist. He was an active member of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines during its re-establishment in the last decade. He was seized during a visit to Bay-ang in San Jorge, Samar, a highly-militarized village, as a volunteer researcher on human rights and the environment for a local peasant group. Such arrests have become commonplace under the US-inspired Oplan Bayanihan counterinsurgency plan that targets civilians working with the poor and underprivileged.
We admire Acosta’s unwavering commitment to the cause of justice and freedom as an artist and cultural worker. It is this sense of responsibility to people and society that has led him to work in the grassroots and create art with the people.
Even in detention, Ericson Acosta continues to craft poetry and songs highlighting the plight of political prisoners in the country. Online, his prison diary JAILHOUSE BLOG and the PRISON SESSIONS recording of his songs from behind bars have generated interest from listeners and readers around the globe. His work as an artist and activist is recognized by various cultural and human rights groups in the USA, Canada, Asia and Europe.
We urge Philippine authorities to free Ericson Acosta immediately as we reaffirm our pledge to create people’s art and work to shape the society of the future.
The People’s Art Network, which was established following the ICPC, believes that, like Ericson Acosta, artists must go to the grassroots and bring art to our communities, to the people, to our people. Artists must resist curtailment of our freedom of expression, fight for the peoples’ rights and welfare, remember our history and ancestors and continue their struggles for freedom and walk along with our peoples to end injustice in our world.
Oppose attacks on artists and cultural workers, particularly those facing repression, imprisonment and worse due to the link between their art and their involvement in the people’s struggle.
FREE THE ARTIST!
FREE ERICSON ACOSTA!
FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN THE PHILIPPINES!
visit http://freeacosta.blogspot.com/ and sign the online petition for Ericson Acosta’s immediate release.
People’s Art Network meeting in Montréal, Québec
Special invitation to progressive artists, cultural workers and media practitioners:
You are invited to a meeting of the People’s Art Network (PAN) in Montréal, Québec, on Sunday, February 26, 2012 from 3pm – 6pm at the Immigrant Workers Centre, 4755 Van Horne, Suite 110 (Metro Plamondon).
We will hear from artists and writers who attended the International Conference of Progressive Culture (ICPC) in Manila, Philippines in July 2011. At that time 100 artists, cultural workers and media practitioners from Quebec and Canada as well as Australia, Brazil, the United States, Pakistan, Palestine, Taiwan, the Netherlands, Germany, Mexico and the Philippines, met under the theme People’s Art: Shaping the Society of the Future.
We declared our unity and commitment to the peoples’ struggles for social, economic and political justice in the world.
We committed to go back to our communities to echo the ICPC and to widen our circle of progressive and anti-imperialist artists and to strengthen our unity. We agreed that the artist’s place is in the struggle and that without a “cultural revolution” in the field of ideology and ideas, there will be no truly successful social and political revolution.
All are welcome to attend! We will be joined by artists from Toronto.
Over the next two years we aim to set up regional networks building towards a Global Movement of Progressive Artists, Cultural Workers and Media Practitioners, which would hold its first assembly in 2015.
When: Sunday, February 26, 2012; 3pm – 6pm
Where: Immigrant Workers Centre, 4755 Van Horne, Suite 110, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3W 1H8
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People’s Art Conference Declaration of Unity
We, artists and writers from Australia, Brazil, United States, Canada, Pakistan, Palestine, Taiwan, the Netherlands, Germany, Mexico and the Philippines, have successfully concluded the International Conference on Progressive Culture with the theme People’s Art: Shaping the Society of the Future. As progressive and anti-imperialist cultural workers, we declare our unity and commitment to the peoples’ struggles for social, economic and political justice in the world.
We create people’s art and work to shape the society of the future. We shall go to the grassroots and bring art to our communities, to the people, to our people. We shall resist curtailment of our freedom of expression. We shall fight for the peoples’ rights and welfare. We shall remember our history and ancestors and continue their struggles for freedom. We shall walk along with our peoples to end injustice in our world.
We learned that we may invoke and avail of just and fair principles and standards that are enunciated in the UNESCO Convention against imperialism, but what is really needed is a powerful mass movement of the artists and writers and the people for the revolutionary transformation of society.
We affirm that alternative media, contrary to bourgeois media must, carry out hope to the masses and must lead the people against inequities, oppression and exploitation. We recognize that new technologies could be a powerful resource for progressive work, and that we should use them to create works that serve the interest of the oppressed.
We agree that the artist’s place is in the struggle, as embodied in the call of the filmmakers at the International Film Festival to film the struggle and serve the people and the call of the writers to build international coordination in their progressive media work and writing.
We wield the might of our pens and paintbrushes, our turn tables and mics, and our very souls, to advance the struggles of the people. We are one with the people rising up against imperialism.
A progressive movement without culture is like a body without a beating heart. Culture is at the very centre of our being, and this conference has succeeded in bringing progressive artists, cultural workers and media practitioners together to discuss our role and place in the growing struggles for social, economic and political justice and true freedom. It is part of an effort to bring artists back from the periphery to the centre stage of the toiling peoples’ struggles.
After all, we believe that without a “cultural revolution,” a revolution in the field of ideology and ideas, there will be no truly successful social and political revolution.
We have heard participants speak of how happy they were to see culture and politics united at this conference and how inspired they were by the spirit, energy and creative capacity of the cultural workers from the youth involved in progressive and anti-imperialist cultural work around the globe.
Of course there was not time to discuss and share everything we had on our minds and in our hearts. But that is the reason why we need to carry the spirit and content of this conference, People’s Art: International Conference on Progressive Culture (ICPC), back to our countries and our communities.
To this end the People’s Art conference decides to lay the basis for a global movement of progressive artists, cultural workers and media practitioners. We are setting up a People’s Art: Shaping the Society of the Future Coordinating Committee with representatives from the global regions represented here.
The members of the coordinating committee, along with all the some 100 participants and organizers at the People’s Art conference have agreed to organize activities within the next 3 months among local and regional artists back in their home countries and communities to echo and build upon our first ever ICPC.
They have also decided to set up over the next two years regional networks of progressive and anti-imperialist artists, cultural workers, and media practitioners. The conference has also decided that in four years-time, after having carried out their organizing and work in the different regions, we will meet again to form a Global Movement of Progressive Artists, Cultural Workers and Media Practitioners.
Progressive cultural workers of the world unite!
United, the progressive cultural workers will never be defeated!
Film the struggle, serve the people!
Write the struggle, serve the people!
Shape the struggle, serve the people!
Broadcast the struggle, serve the people!
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NEWS | International Conference to form global movement of artists and writers
The first-ever International Conference on Progressive Culture (ICPC) concluded with a Declaration of Unity to form a movement of progressive artists, writers and cultural workers from all over the world.
More than 80 participants of the Conference with their paintbrushes, pens, guitars and other art instruments and equipment marched in the University of the Philippines in Diliman to mark the end of the three-day Conference which talked about artists’ rights and welfare, grassroots culture and people’s art.
In the Declaration of Unity, the participants coming from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Pakistan, Palestine, Taiwan, the Netherlands, Germany, Mexicoand the Philippines renewed their commitment to advancing the rights and welfare of the people in the midst of a deep economic crisis of the world capitalist system.
“We were driven by a desire to bring progressive artists, cultural workers and media practitioners together to discuss our role and place in the ongoing struggle for social, economic and political justice and true freedom…we believe that the artist’s place is in the struggle,”saidMalcolm Guy of the International Organizing Committee of the ICPC and General Secretary of the International League of Peoples’ Struggles (ILPS).
On the last day, New York Times reporter Caloi Conde, German publisher Mustafa Kilinc and Filipino-American youth leader Eric Tandoc gave the input on the role of media and new technologies.AnikSioui of the indigenous women drumming group Odaya, Mexican singer-composer Rosa Martha Zarate Macias and Negros-based cultural worker AlejandroDeoma led the discussion on people’s art and cultural work at the grassroots.
After several speeches, workshop discussions and group reports, the participants agreed to coordinate international actions and unite more artists and writers into progressive cultural work.
Most of the Conference participants will attend the forthcoming assembly of the International League of Peoples’ Struggles where they will draw up a general resolution and a plan of action, including organizing the next conference on progressive culture.#
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Artists’ rights, welfare, and struggles tackled in landmark cultural conference
NEWS RELEASE | July 05, 2011
Visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, writers, media practitioners and cultural workers
from around the globe today convened in the Philippines for the first-ever International Conference on Progressive Culture (ICPC), a unique gathering of progressive artists committed to social change. Entitled “People’s Art: Shaping the Society of the Future,” the ICPC is being held at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP-CMC) in Quezon City from July 4 to 6.
In his keynote address, Philippine National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera emphasized the counter-hegemonic role of artists in society and in peoples’ struggles for democracy and genuine change. “We look forward to the exchange of experiences in the struggle and learning from one another, the better to fortify ourselves and our respective peoples against the inroads of imperialism,” said Lumbera.
Meanwhile, in his keynote address Malcolm Guy, ?head of the ICPC International Organizing Committee?, said “As initiators of this conference, we were driven by a desire to bring progressive artists, cultural workers and media practitioners together to discuss our role and place in the ongoing struggle for social, economic and political justice and true freedom… After all, we believe that the artists place is in the struggle, and we believe that without a ‘cultural revolution,’ a revolution in the field of ideology and ideas, there will be no truly successful social and political revolution.” Guy is an award-winning director and co-founder of Productions Multi-Monde in Canada.
Guy also hopes that the ICPC will “lay the basis for a global movement of progressive artists, cultural workers and media practitioners.”
The ICPC’s opening program was also marked by performances of artists from Palestine, U.S., Canada, and the Philippines.
A workshop on “Artists Rights, Welfare, and Struggles” fostered enriching discussions among progressive artists. Speakers included Philippine scriptwriter Bonifacio Ilagan, Pakistani writer Kahliq Maqsood, and Cece Carpio of Trust Your Struggle artists collective in the U.S.
Prof. Jose Maria Sison, chairperson of the International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS) also shared, via video conference, his views on the United Nations Millenium Development Goals and the Convention of the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression and Culture.
The ICPC will culminate in a parade where artists will wield their tools and showcase their talents to depict the richness and diversity of protest culture around the globe.
The ICPC is organized by the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, US-based Habi Arts, the New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines and members of the ILPS Commission 14, in cooperation with the UP-CMC.
It is one of the simultaneous events marking the International Festival of People’s Rights and Struggles, a two-day gathering of peoples from Asia and the Pacific, Africa, North America, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East to collectively address threats to their rights and welfare.
References: Malcolm Guy
ICPC International Organizing Committee
Christian M. Yamzon, +63 917.757.4304 ICPC Media Officer
Artists from both sides of the Pacific and beyond to hold landmark cultural conference in Manila
NEWS RELEASE
July 1, 2011
Standing for global solidarity and social change
Quezon City—From July 4 to 6, 2011, progressive artists and media practitioners from all around the globe will be convening at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Mass Communication Media Center for the International Conference on Progressive Culture (ICPC).
Entitled “People’s Art: Shaping the Society of the Future,” the three-day conference convenes more than 80 progressive artists all over the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas and Europe representing a wide range of disciplines: visual arts, music, literature, dance and film.
This breakthrough event gathers a mix of young and veteran progressive cultural workers, including Philippine National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera, Mexican musician and social activist Rosa Martha Zarate Macias, California-based heavy metal band Flattbush, the indigenous women’s drumming group Odaya from Canada, Kurdish journalist Mustafa Klinc and Filipino-American musician and Mandayan tribe advocate Taospuso.
The first of its kind, the ICPC is an initiative of artists and media practitioners who are all engaged in movements for democracy and change in their respective countries and seeking more dialogue and unity on the role of art, culture, and media in pursuing social change.
It is organized by the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP), US-based Habi Arts, the New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP) and members of the International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS) Commission 14, in cooperation with the UP College of Mass Communication.
The ICPC will be hosting workshops on various concerns, including artists rights and welfare; the impact of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, or MDGs, on culture; new technologies for people’s struggles; and grassroots cultures of resistance.
Highlights include a jamming of participants dubbed as Kafe Kultura on the evening of july 4, a keynote address from Lumbera during the opening festivities on the morning of July 5, and an Artists and Writers Parade on July 6.
The International Conference is being held back-to-back with an International Film Festival dubbed as AgitProp and the Placard: Signs of Times Exhibit organized by visual artists.
The ICPC is one of the simultaneous events marking the International Festival of People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRIS), a two-day gathering of people’s from Asia and the Pacific, Africa, North America, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East to collectively address threats to the people’s rights and welfare.
Reference:
Malcolm Guy, ICPC International Organizing Committee
General Secretary, International League of Peoples’ Struggles
09473033056
Kate Yamzon, Media Liaison (09071881853)
NEWS RELEASE
July 1, 2011
Standing for global solidarity and social change
Artists from both sides of the Pacific and beyond to hold landmark cultural conference in Manila
Quezon City—From July 4 to 6, 2011, progressive artists and media practitioners from all around the globe will be convening at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Mass Communication Media Center for the International Conference on Progressive Culture (ICPC).
Entitled “People’s Art: Shaping the Society of the Future,” the three-day conference convenes more than 80 progressive artists all over the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas and Europe representing a wide range of disciplines: visual arts, music, literature, dance and film.
This breakthrough event gathers a mix of young and veteran progressive cultural workers, including Philippine National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera, Mexican musician and social activist Rosa Martha Zarate Macias, California-based heavy metal band Flattbush, the indigenous women’s drumming group Odaya from Canada, Kurdish journalist Mustafa Klinc and Filipino-American musician and Mandayan tribe advocate Taospuso.
The first of its kind, the ICPC is an initiative of artists and media practitioners who are all engaged in movements for democracy and change in their respective countries and seeking more dialogue and unity on the role of art, culture, and media in pursuing social change.
It is organized by the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP), US-based Habi Arts, the New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP) and members of the International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS) Commission 14, in cooperation with the UP College of Mass Communication.
The ICPC will be hosting workshops on various concerns, including artists rights and welfare; the impact of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, or MDGs, on culture; new technologies for people’s struggles; and grassroots cultures of resistance.
Highlights include a jamming of participants dubbed as Kafe Kultura on the evening of july 4, a keynote address from Lumbera during the opening festivities on the morning of July 5, and an Artists and Writers Parade on July 6.
The International Conference is being held back-to-back with an International Film Festival dubbed as AgitProp and the Placard: Signs of Times Exhibit organized by visual artists.
The ICPC is one of the simultaneous events marking the International Festival of People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRIS), a two-day gathering of people’s from Asia and the Pacific, Africa, North America, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East to collectively address threats to the people’s rights and welfare.
Reference:
Malcolm Guy, ICPC International Organizing Committee
General Secretary, International League of Peoples’ Struggles
09473033056
Kate Yamzon, Media Liaison (09071881853)
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Upcoming! The PEOPLE’S ART EVENTS CALENDAR
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR PROGRESSIVE CULTURE
July 4-6, 2011
Media Center, College of Mass Communications, UP Diliman
A three-day conference convening more than 80 progressive artists all over the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas and Europe representing a wide range of disciplines: visual arts, music, literature, dance and film.
This breakthrough event gathers a mix of young and veteran progressive cultural workers, including Philippine National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera, award-winning film maker Malcolm Guy, Mexican singer-composer Rosa Martha, California-based heavy metal band Flattbush, the indigenous women’s drumming group Odaya from Canada and Filipino-American musician and Mandayan tribe advocate Taospuso.
July 4, 7:00 pm – Kafe Kultura: Jamming Session of Participants at the Patio of the University Hotel
July 5, 1:00-2:30 pm – Opening Ceremonies & Keynote Speeches
A performance art and dance depicting the struggle of the people against US hegemony in culture will open the Conference festivities.
July 6, 3:30 pm – Closing Ceremonies: Symbolic March & Declaration of Unity
Participants of the ICPC with their pens, paint brushes, guitars and other art instruments will march from the Media Center to Vargas Museum. At the end of the march, the participants will read the Conference Declaration of Unity while they raise their instruments as a sign of their pledge to the cause of the oppressed peoples all over the world.
References: Malcolm Guy, International Organizing Committee (#09473033056)
Kate Yamson, Public Information Officer (#09177574304)
AGITPROP International Film Festival on Peoples’ Struggles
July 2-4, 2011
UP Media Center, College of Mass Communications and UP Film Institute
Award-winning films about activism and social justice movements in many parts of the world are slated to headline the first AGITPROP Film Festival. AGITPROP will feature a total of 30 films comprised of full length documentaries and short features from both local and foreign filmmakers. The Festival highlights include the documentary Cultures of Resistance by Brazilian filmmaker Iara Lee, Mirage of El Dorado, an award winning documentary by Canadian director Martin Frigon, produced by the Productions Multi-Monde, The Yes Men Fix the World by Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno and DUKOT (Disappeared) directed by Joel Lamangan and written by Bonifacio Ilagan.
The AGITPROP is organized by the Sothern Tagalog Exposure in cooperation with May Day Productions, Tudla Productions and Kodao Productions and Concerned Artists of the Philippines.
July 2, 1:00 pm, Opening Ceremonies, Media Center, UP College of Mass Communications
Cutting of Ribbons at the Media Center Lobby by festival organizers and international film makers.
Dean Roland Tolentino (UP College of Mass Communications)
Joel Lamangan (Philippines)
Malcolm Guy (Canada)
Mustafa Klinc (Germany)
July 2, 5:30 pm Gala Night – International film makers Meet the Press
July 4, 5:00 pm, Closing Ceremonies at UP Film Institute
A Forum on Film as a Tool for Change (Open to the media)
Dean Roland Tolentino, Malcolm Guy (Canada), TransAsia Sisters Association (Taiwan) and Bonifacio Ilagan
Reference: RJ Mabilin, Festival Director (#09162312459)
PLACARD: Signs of Times Exhibit
July 6-July 23, 2011
Vargas Museum, University of the Philippines Diliman
Placard: Signs of the Times collects more than a hundred placards produced by visual artists and people’s organizations: signs and slogans historically used to convey messages and calls for social change. The show examines placards as a form of material culture and as a mobile conveyor of protest.
Placard: Signs of the Times is presented by The University of the Philippines (UP) Vargas Museum, in collaboration with the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) and the Ugatlahi Artists Collective. The Exhibit runs from July 6 up to July 23, 2011.
July 6, 4:00pm Exhibit Opening at Vargas Museum
A Performance art and a few words from the organizers will open the art show. Participants of the International Conference on Progressive Culture will join the Exhibit Opening after ICPC Symbolic March.
Reference: Crisanto de Leon, Project Coordinator (09173900547)
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