Cities of Refuge 1
Publicity Only when an artist has arrived can the
ir name be made public, in agreement with the artist. In some cases, if news about an artist gets out before they have managed to leave the place where they are under threat, it can jeopardise the person’s chances of getting permission to travel. Do not assume that the media will put an artist’s safety ahead of an opportunity to publish a story. Do not publish anything about the artist in residence anywhere; on the City of Refuge website, social media, on a blog or anywhere else online or printed without having gone through the material in detail together with the artist and received their approval. Inform also people in the planned or established network about the risks posed by the internet. One inconsiderate comment online can have devastating consequences for an artist in residence or their family. If a person is considered to be in great need of protection, consider hiring a trusted person who knows the artist’s language and can regularly check whether publications or performances etc. generate increased (perhaps negative) activity on blogs and discussion forums. Protected identities There are several levels of protected identity in Sweden, from documents receiving a confidentiality mark to a person being given fictitious personal data—that is, a completely new identity. Not everyone can demand or be given a protected identity; there must be valid reasons for doing so. This chapter will discuss confidentiality marking, since it is the most common measure taken. If there is a need for a higher level of protection, it is recommended that the artist in residence and the coordinator contact the city’s security department and discuss the available options. About protected identities: www.skatteverket.se Confidentiality marking A confidentiality mark acts as a warning signal and makes it more difficult for others to access personal data in the population register. It means that the Swedish Tax Agency labels the personal data to indicate that no one is allowed to disclose the data without permission and security checks. 40/49