Culture and Art

The world knew all too little about the art and culture of Ukraine prior to Russia’s all-out invasion. The war has changed that—and demonstrated the power of art as a tool of resistance.

Orwa Nyrabia, artistic director of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, talks to Open Society about his experiences in Syria as a child and during the war, and its impact on his worldview and creative path

David Keefe brings veterans and migrants together to find common ground through the creative art of making paper from uniforms and clothing.

A year ago this August, Beirut was rocked by a deadly explosion, compounding political strife and the toll of COVID-19. How local culture and arts groups’ show of solidarity helped to nourish a devastated nation.

During a moment of reckoning with the legacies of racism, the African Foundation for Development is working to return objects to Africa that were looted during the eras of colonialism and imperialism.

Literal Action, a groundbreaking inclusive theater project in Kazakhstan, is trying to redefine how both audiences and performers understand theater—and unlock its radically inclusive potential.

With their latest production, an ambitious theater troupe is challenging homophobia, facing down death threats, and changing minds.