CURRENT DRAFT
Artistic Expression Act
A resolution to promote funding and the development of education and the arts.
Category: Education and Creativity
Area of Effect: Artistic
Proposed by: The Anti-Social Socialists
Description: The World Assembly,
RECOGNISING the critical and influential role of artistic expression in shaping and empowering nations and their respective citizens, as a form of communication.
ASSERTS that free artistic expression contributes both to national culture and the promulgation of alternative thought.
AIMING to encourage and diversify the means in which citizens can constructively engage in the arts.
BELIEVING that advancing artistic expression through professional and social means is a worthwhile investment for member nations.
DECLARING that the ability to express oneself is a vital human right.
Hereby,
- DEFINES ‘artistic expression’ for the purposes of this Act as the following:
- A method of visible communication, including composing, coding, writing, drawing, painting, constructing, cinematography, videography and other like actions and their associated products; or
- Spoken communication pertaining to some issue, typically addressing a large group of people; or
- Online interaction subject to the same criterion as clause 1(b); or
- Performances including music, dance, song and like musical or bodily expression; or
- Actions undertaken with the express purpose of communicating an argument in a manner not communicated by the means listed above; or
- Online data or products which, regardless of the method of production, contribute to or constitute one or more of the above descriptions of artistic expression.
- Anything which is widely accepted as art in the member nation.
- HOWEVER, notwithstanding whether a particular action or communication satisfies clause 1, said action or communication is disqualified from being classed as ‘artistic expression’ if:
- The expression is illegal, violates an extant World Assembly resolution, or is directly utilised by the expresser with the purpose of contributing to criminal activity in the member nation; or
- The expression is directly utilised by the expresser with the purpose of contributing to criminal activity in other member nations; or
- The expression involves or causes damage to private or public property to which the expresser has no title; or
- The expression is trespassory to private property; or
- The expression infringes upon the exclusive rights of the original creator(s) of a piece of artistic expression, as conferred by national or international copyright law.
- EXPRESSLY STATES that, notwithstanding clause 2, forms of expression must not be disqualified from classification as ‘artistic expression’ simply for the subject matter it addresses.
- PROVIDES that, for the purposes of clause 2(a), a member nation must not declare an instance or type of artistic expression to be illegal on the following grounds:
- The intent of the artist is to provide a view, critique or opinion contrary to government policy or opinion; or
- The artistic expression is perceived, on reasonable or unreasonable grounds, to constitute a view, critique or opinion contrary to government policy or opinion; or
- The intent of the artist is to provide a view, critique or opinion which is provocative to the public, or any member of the public, unless said expression also constitutes hate speech; or
- The artistic expression is perceived, on reasonable or unreasonable grounds, to constitute a view, critique or opinion which is provocative to the public, or any member of the public, unless said expression also constitutes hate speech.
- CLARIFIES that:
- For the purposes of clauses 4(c) and 4(d), the term ‘provocative’ is taken to mean ‘causing anger’.
- For the purposes of clauses 4(c) and 4(d), the term ‘hate speech’ is taken to mean ‘a form of expression which is intended, or may reasonably be expected to, incite violence or prejudice towards a person or group on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity, religion, nationality, disability, race, or other attributes which are similarly significant to a person’s identity.
- DECLARES that member nations shall not suppress artistic expression as defined by this Act.
- ESTABLISHES the Arts Trust Association, which shall:
- Organise and manage an annual art show, with the purpose of celebrating artistic expression, showcasing both local and international works of artistic expression.
- Process and assess member nations’ hosting bids, to determine which member nation(s) will hold the art show each year.
- Collect voluntary donations, and organise fundraisers for the purposes of funding.
- Oversee the transport of entries to events related to the annual art show.
- Seek alternative, localised arrangements with member nations to celebrate artistic expression, in the event that the art show cannot be hosted in a particular year.
- Award a small number of bursaries and scholarships yearly to students in member nations’ secondary and tertiary education facilities who exhibit extraordinary artistic skill.
- Have its skilled members regularly open their workspaces to the educational bodies of member nations, to engage visiting students and teachers with workshops.
- ENCOURAGES member nations which are not hosting events that are explicitly managed by the Arts Trust Association to organise and participate in smaller, localised events.
- URGES member nations to openly discuss issues which are highlighted by any form of artistic expression, to promote good governance.