Creating platforms for artists, responding to crisis and displacement and how to advocate for your community.

In this episode of IETM Global Pod, moderator Julia Reist is joined by Global Connectors William Ruiz Morales (USA/Cuba) and Viktor Ruban (Ukraine) for a powerful conversation about artistic advocacy, cultural survival, diaspora, and building platforms for artists working under political pressure, war, migration, and displacement. Together, they explore how artists create networks of solidarity, sustain cultural identities across borders, and imagine alternative futures through the performing arts.GuestsJulia Reist (Belgium)Moderator and international arts professional working with the Flanders Arts Institute in Brussels, supporting sustainable international artistic collaboration across borders.William Ruiz Morales (USA/Cuba)Cuban dramaturg, artist, and program architect based in Los Angeles. William’s work focuses on networks, alternative governance models, diaspora communities, and creating independent artistic spaces beyond institutional control.Viktor Ruban (Ukraine)Ukrainian choreographer, performer, curator, and activist based in Kyiv. Viktor works at the intersection of artistic practice, institution building, cultural advocacy, and contemporary dance development in Ukraine.Episode HighlightsThe role of artists in responding to war, migration, and authoritarian systemsBuilding independent artistic platforms outside state-controlled structuresDiaspora as both displacement and cultural continuityHow political polarization shapes artistic freedomContemporary Ukrainian cultural resistance and decolonizationRebuilding artistic infrastructure during conflictThe importance of networks, solidarity, and collective governanceWhy artists are “experts in imagination”Key Discussion PointsCreating Space Beyond PolarizationWilliam reflects on growing up and working within Cuba’s highly polarized political landscape, where artistic voices are often forced into ideological extremes. He discusses the challenge of building independent artistic spaces that resist both state control and political co-option.Art as Cultural ResistanceViktor speaks about Ukraine’s ongoing struggle against cultural erasure and Russian colonial narratives, highlighting how contemporary artistic practice has become deeply connected to questions of identity, heritage, and resistance.Platforms as Community InfrastructureBoth guests explore the importance of platforms—not simply as venues or organisations, but as living ecosystems where artists can exchange knowledge, support one another, and collectively imagine new futures.Diaspora & BelongingThe conversation examines what it means to continue creating from exile or displacement, and how artists maintain connections to their communities while rebuilding lives abroad.Supporting Artists Beyond MobilityThe guests question dominant international cultural models focused solely on mobility and relocation, advocating instead for long-term support structures that strengthen artistic ecosystems within regions experiencing crisis.Memorable Quotes“Art is about creating possibilities and saying things differently.” — William Ruiz Morales“A platform is a space where different realities can meet.” — Viktor Ruban“You are an expert in imagination.” — quoted by Viktor RubanAbout IETM Global ConnectThe IETM Global Pod is part of the IETM Global Connect programme, bringing together performing arts professionals from across continents to exchange perspectives on urgent global issues shaping artistic practice today.More information:IETM Global Connect — item.orgCreditsProduced by:Margherita Petti, Lottie Atkin, Giselle Musabimana & Ilaria De MarchRecorded, edited & produced by:Ben Phoenix / NEXI MediaCo-funded by:IETM Associate Members & the European Union