CITY OF ASYLUM/DETROIT CITY OF ASYLUM/DETROIT

City of Asylum’s mission is to build a more just community by protecting and celebrating creative freedom of expression. We provide safety to writers- and artists-at-risk, and anchor neighborhood economic development by transforming blighted properties into homes for our programs. We envision a neighborhood where global and local concerns intersect, and where multiple communities are empowered through mutual support.

Our History In 1993, a group of writers led by Salman Rushdie formed the International Parliament of Writers, and several European cities agreed to provide one to two years of support for writers in exile. These were called Cities of Asylum, and aimed to protect not only freedom of speech and publication, but also the physical safety of writers. Today, there are 75+ cities of asylum. Branches adapt the mission to their local contexts to engage and enrich the hosting community. In the US, cities of asylum lead grassroots efforts to renovate homes, sponsor community-based public art, build artist-designed green spaces, and publish magazines like The Believer, Witness, and Sampsonia Way.

http://CITYOFASYLUMDETROIT.ORG