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freeDimensional (fD) has devised a collaborative approach that builds partnerships between arts residencies and human rights organizations worldwide to provide a wide variety of Distress Services to those in need including Creative Safe Haven. The Creative Safe Haven (CSH) initiative brings about a ground-breaking idea: using surplus bedrooms of artist residency programs for oppressed activists in need of a safe place to live when fleeing danger. CSH not only decreases the possible costs of finding safe haven but it distributes them among multiple actors making it more manageable to reach the goal of placing an individual. The process of providing CSH includes outreach, collaboration and coordination among many networks and organizations. Each contributes a necessary and critical link as well as distributes responsibilities to create a safe haven. The process of CSH enables culture workers in distress to find temporary safe haven (typically ranging from 2 weeks to 3 months) in an art space.

Over 50 human rights organizations work with fD. In addition to nominating candidates for CSH, these organizations assist in identifying other resources and distress funding. Thanks to this process, the activists not only receive a safe place to stay but are supported in continuing their artistic work and engage with the surrounding community. fD’s concept of Creative Safe Haven is rooted in the idea that community art spaces are local civil society spaces and therefore effective access points for social action and change. Since launching its Distress Services, including the Creative Safe Haven model in 2005, fD’s support network has been drawn upon in 60 cases over the past four years to help activist artists, journalists, musicians, writers, theatre directors, and community organizers from more than 30 countries in a wide variety of ways.

Participating art spaces are located around the world in large cities and in small communities with outreach and connections to many more contacts and sites through their partners. As of today, the freeDimensional network has over 300 affiliated art spaces in 60 countries. fD has regional hubs in São Paulo, Cairo, New York City, Berlin, and at a multi-site residency in India (Pune/Pondicherry). These art spaces can perform urgent interventions such as hosting an individual in distress, but also by working in a networked fashion, they assume a unique level of influence in civil society from which the general public and decision-makers seek advice and input on pressing issues.