It may seem that art is powerless against weapons, yet history tells us otherwise. Autocrats and dictators fear artists and intellectuals - why else would they feel compelled to censor, imprison, and persecute them? It is the freedom of thought they seek to extinguish, the critical reflection they dread, and the plurality of voices they aim to silence. Art disrupts the singular narratives authoritarian leaders impose, making it a force of defiance.

During this Interview Marathon, the Forum on European Culture gathers writers, artists, thinkers, and activists for conversations on resistance, identity, and the power of culture in confronting oppression. Can Europe uphold its democratic ideals in times of crisis? What role do artists and intellectuals play in the fight against tyranny?