Transitional Justice with Artists

ongoing

Transitional Justice with Artists (TJA) is a European cooperation project that investigates how artists contribute to processes of justice and reparation in the wake of systemic violence. While transitional justice is typically associated with legal frameworks designed to address human rights violations under conflict or repression, these tools alone are not enough. Early advocates of this field, such as South African constitutional judge Albie Sachs, understood that true transformation also requires culture. During and after apartheid, Sachs emphasized the importance of the arts in imagining a new society. Across poetry, cinema, theatre, and music, the arts have long played a vital role in confronting traumatic histories, preserving memory, and fostering healing and repair. TJA brings this perspective to the heart of Europe. It supports and connects artistic initiatives already engaging with transitional justice, and amplifies their visibility and societal impact. Through a fellowship program, (artistic) research, residencies, public programs, two editions of an art newspaper, and a final symposium, the project showcases how artists contribute to reparations, influence policy, and create tools for justice. A collaboration between AFIELD (France), Framer Framed (Netherlands) , and Arts of the Working Class (Germany), the project draws from Europe’s intertwined histories—from colonialism to the evolution of human rights law—and aims to build long-term networks among artists, institutions, and communities at the forefront of social and environmental justice across Europe.