Around the world, writers, journalists, visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, actors, and other creative people are censored, harassed, imprisoned, or killed for speaking their minds or exercising their imaginations. Since 2001, Ithaca City of Asylum has welcomed at-risk writers and artists into the Ithaca community, enabling them to continue their work and helping them and their families meet the challenges of a new environment. Learn more.
Come celebrate our 25th with us!
Twenty-five years ago, a group of local writers declared Ithaca a place where persecuted writers and artists could safely pursue their work. Since then, Ithaca City of Asylum has welcomed creative and courageous individuals from China, Iran, Swaziland, Georgia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nicaragua, and Russia for two-year residencies. Celebrate this anniversary year with IMAGINE!, a series of dialogues on the power of imagination as a public good. Each invites a former program participant and local residents to share their perspectives on making art, exercising rights, and imagining a better world for all.
News & Events
Ukrainian poet brings New Calypso to Ithaca
Olena Boryshpolets, a writer-in-residence with City of Asylum Pittsburgh, will perform a musical theater piece at the Kitchen Theatre Company on November 13 at 8 pm.
Raza Rumi and Austin Bunn explore the power of imagination
Journalist and memoirist Raza Rumi and writer and filmmaker Austin Bunn engaged in a lively conversation about their lives, their creative work, and “the power of imagination as a public good” in celebration of Ithaca City of Asylum’s 25th anniversary.
IMAGINE! Part 3 pairs free speech defenders
Dialogue features Sri Lankan journalist, writer, and human rights activist Sonali Samarasinghe with Heather E. Murray, former journalist and Associate Director of the Cornell Law School First Amendment Clinic.
