What happens when freedom of expression is taken away? Many writers, journalists, artists and other cultural workers can’t work freely in their homelands because of threats, censorship or persecution. Through ICORN, International Cities of Refuge Network, they can be provided with a temporary safe haven, where they can continue their work without fear of reprisal. This international network gives cities and regions the opportunity to offer grants covering residency costs for a limited time. The touring exhibition Refuge – a response to persecution and oppression, is about the work being done to provide safe havens in the world and in Sweden, and addresses issues that are undeniably as relevant now as they were when the exhibition was first shown at Bohusläns museum in 2018.

When the exhibition first opened in 2018 Uddevalla had recently become a City of Refuge. Since then the exhibition has toured around Sweden and shone a spotlight on topics like freedom of expression, democracy and the work being done to provide sanctuary. Its return to Bohusläns museum gives us the chance to look again at the stories and experiences the exhibition is built on.

Six City of Refuge grant recipients – women and men from different countries with different occupations – have contributed their life stories and experiences. The writer and journalist Mustafa Can has written the exhibition texts and Anders Hansson has taken the photographs. The exhibition illustrates how programmes to provide a safe haven can be carried out in Sweden and the rest of the world via ICORN.

“It’s confusing to come from total oppression to a place where you can say, write and think what you want. When you’ve longed all your life for something you’ve never experienced and then to get it… It takes time for your body to get used to freedom. Time for your brain to trust that no one is persecuting you, no one is weighing your words with a scale of suspicion. Time for your heart to dare to believe that no one wants to hurt you, that behind the kind reception and the friendly words there’s no hidden ill will”, said a City of Refuge grant recipient, writer and poet, in an interview with Mustafa Can.

Increasing numbers of artists, writers and journalists apply for sanctuary through ICORN and the need for places of refuge is great. During 2025 ICORN received around 1000 requests for protection. Among the people seeking help from ICORN are also photographers, scriptwriters, musicians, actors, satirists, literature critics, translators and researchers. The majority of the applications come from Afghanistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Sudan, Myanmar and Palestine. During the same year 19 new Cities of Refuge joined the scheme.

Region Västra Götaland has been a Region of Refuge since 2014, with the means to support the region’s municipalities. Gothenburg became Sweden’s first City of Refuge in 1996 and Uddevalla became part of the international City of Refuge network in 2015. Since then Uddevalla has provided refuge to two grant holders, but does not currently host any.

The City of Refuge network continues to grow, and the hope is that the exhibition will encourage more municipalities to take the decision to become a City of Refuge in a worldwide network. It will also contribute to increased awareness of the work being done to provide safe havens, and about why freedom of expression is a right that should always be defended.

The exhibition is a collaboration between The Cultural Administration of Region Västra Götaland and Bohusläns museum. The project has been part financed by the Swedish Arts Council.