Tamizdat

touring artists info session: USA - Visa for Artists
2025-09-16 15:00 - 16:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Harzer Straße 119, 12435 Berlin, Harzer Straße 119, Berlin, Berlin, 12435
Sign up to attend the session here
The US remains a touring destination for many international artists, despite many artists’ going concerns about the expense and risks associated with the US artist visa process. Attorney Will Spitz of CoveyLaw and Tamizdat will give a reality-check for artists considering going to the US to tour or showcase: what is going on in the US, what are the risks, what are the costs, and is it still worth touring there?

Tamizdat at Music Week Ireland: Touring the US & Visa Applications
2025-10-03 12:30 - 13:30 (Europe/Dublin) | Music Week Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
Please join Tamizdat at Music Week Ireland on Friday October 3rd at 12.30 in Dublin. For more information, please navigate to the conference website and programme.
Before you leave for the U.S., you’ll need to get your visas in order. We chat to venue bookers, agents and more as they share their tips and insights about your first trip to the United States.
Speakers – Matt Covey (Covey Law), Kyle Wilkerson (Sid The Cat), Mahmood Shaikh (Concerted Efforts), Sam Sumpter (Bands Do BK)
Moderator – Lisa Hresko (A2IM)

Tamizdat at MONDO: Visas, Borders & Burners - What Artists Need to Know About Travel to the US
2025-10-14 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Arlo Williamsburg Hotel, 96 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn, NY, 11249, United States
Join Will Spitz (Attorney, CoveyLaw/Tamizdat) and Jess McAvoy (Performance Artist & Songwriter) next week as they discuss the complexities of US artist visas.
Visas, Borders & Burners: What Artists Need to Know About Travel to the US
Mirror Bar at Arlo Williamsburg Hotel
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 12:00 PM
From rising costs to changing immigration rules and enforcement, this panel will provide practical strategies for international artists to navigate the process as smoothly and affordably as possible — and avoid common pitfalls along the way.
Find more info and register here.

Tamizdat & CoveyLaw Office Hours
2025-10-15 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Online
CoveyLaw and Tamizdat are teaming up to provide a monthly webinar providing updates and chances to ask questions about current US visa issues.
Kicking off this series is “US Artist Visas: Delays, Denials, and Disruption – Is it getting harder to get a visa to tour in the US?” on October 15, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. EDT.
During this session, Tamizdat director Matthew Covey and CoveyLaw associate Abyan Gurase who will dig into the issues that are troubling international touring artists these days, as well as take questions from attendees.
Click here to register.

Tamizdat & CoveyLaw at Amsterdam Dance Event
2025-10-22 - 2025-10-25
CoveyLaw & Tamizdat representatives Will Spitz, Harlan Levine, and Kimya Zahedi will be in attendance at Amsterdam Dance event from October 22 – 25th.

Tamizdat at WOMEX: Advocacy Networking Session
2025-10-24 11:15 - 12:45 (Europe/Helsinki)
Following its popular debut at WOMEX 24, this session returns. As we navigate shifting political landscapes, restricted mobility for cultural workers, climate emergencies, growing demands for inclusivity, and shrinking arts funding, advocacy remains crucial to uphold and advance our global community’s values and mission. Join fellow delegates in a dynamic, collaborative space focused on solutions. This session will feature five interactive thematic group discussions on accessibility and inclusivity, sustainability, mobility, funding, and the protection of artists at risk. Participants will be encouraged to share experiences, exchange good practices, and collaborate on developing practical advocacy strategies – including fostering stronger connections between people with disabilities and those working to advance accessibility and inclusivity across the industry. By linking ideas with actions, this format aims to spark alliances and generate concrete plans for addressing the challenges – and seizing the opportunities – facing artists and cultural professionals around the world.
Coordinated by
Matthew Covey (USA), Tamizdat / CoveyLaw; Marie Fol (France/Belgium), MFB; Sanni Kahilainen (Finland/France), International Music Council; Mauricio Lizarazo Prada (Colombia/Germany), Pachamama Culture / Music C•A•R•E•S; Sanni Virta (Finland), Kantele Association, Finnish Folk Music Institute.
Join us on 24 Oct 2025 from 11:15 – 12:45 at WOMEX in Tampere, Conference Room 2 of Tampere Hall. Click here for more info!

Tamizdat at WOMEX Tampere: All Americas Networking Session
2025-10-25 15:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | Tampere Hall, Yliopistonkatu 55, FI-33100, Tampere, Finland
Tamizdat’s Matthew Covey is co-coordinating the networking session All Americas Networking Session: Collaboration across the continents with Mercedes Caxaj (Guatemala/Canada), Sunfest and Oliver Knust (Chile), Chilemusica at this year’s WOMEX in Tampere, Finland.
In this session, the focus is on deepening connections across the Americas’ varied landscapes. Facilitated by Mercedes Caxaj, Matthew Covey, and Oliver Knust, this networking event invites participants from all corners of the continents, including Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Indigenous Nations and Communities, Mexico, South America, and the U.S. Attendees will have the opportunity to share insights, needs, and solutions, and celebrate the rich diversity that defines the regions, while exploring innovative avenues for collaboration and growth.
This session takes place in Conference Room 2 at Tempere Hall, in the center of Tampere, just 500 metres from the bus station and railway station at Yliopistonkatu 55, FI-33100.

Tamizdat at WOMEX: All Americas Networking Session
2025-10-25 15:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Helsinki)
In this session, the focus is on deepening connections across the Americas’ varied landscapes. Facilitated by Mercedes Caxaj, Matthew Covey, and Oliver Knust, this networking event invites participants from all corners of the continents, including Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Indigenous Nations and Communities, Mexico, South America, and the U.S. Attendees will have the opportunity to share insights, needs, and solutions, and celebrate the rich diversity that defines the regions, while exploring innovative avenues for collaboration and growth.
Coordinated by
Mercedes Caxaj (Guatemala/Canada), Sunfest; Matthew Covey (USA), Tamizdat / CoveyLaw;
Oliver Knust (Chile), Chilemusica
Join us on 25 Oct 2025, from 15:00 – 16:00 in Tampere in Conference Room 2 at WOMEX. Click here for more info!

Tamizdat at CEC ArtsLink Assembly
2025-11-06 - 2025-11-07 | La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York City
Tamizdat is proud to participate in this year’s CEC ArtsLink Assembly: Defending Each Other at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, NYC from November 6-7th. Matthew Covey and Rachel Switlick will be participating in peer-to-peer workshops among Arts Support Organizations in the working group Sharing and building collective strategies, and among Artist Resettlement Organizations. Rachel Switlick, SHIM:NYC artist liaison for Tamizdat and an independent self defense instructor, will also present the session “Defending Oneself” on November 7th.
We look forward to seeing you there.

Tamizdat and CoveyLaw Office Hours: Current EB-1 Info and Trends
2025-12-10 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
We are happy to announce the third edition of Tamizdat and CoveyLaw’s Office Hours series: Current EB-1 Info and Trends.
Register now!
This month we’ll be discussing current hot topics and trends around the EB-1 green card for artists/creatives/entertainers and those supporting these industries. Leading this session will be Partner Amanda Gupta and Associate JR Strauss from CoveyLaw’s General Immigration Team.
Join us on December 10th at 11am ET for timely insights covering:

How do you qualify for the green card of extraordinary ability?
If you’re on an O-1 now, when is a good time to start the EB-1 process?
Is it harder to get an EB-1 approved now, under this new administration?
What are some things to take into consideration before making the decision to go for it?

You can find an archive of past sessions here.

A Fairer Music Ecosystem: A Conversation
2026-01-09 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | New York Hilton Midtown, 1335 Avenue of the Americas at 54th St., New York, NY, 10019, United States
Join us on January 9 at the Wavelengths Conference in New York City for our panel A Fairer Music Ecosystem: A Conversation.
This panel will take place from 1:00 – 2:15 pm on January 9th at the Hilton Hotel Midtown, New York City (Concourse A, Downstairs).
Panelists include:
Matt Covey, Executive director of Tamizdat and Managing Partner of CoveyLaw (Moderator)
Paula Abreu, Director of Presented Programming, William Lockwood Jr. Chair, McCarter Theatre Center (Panelist)
Shawn Choi, Director of Marketing, Kupferberg Center for the Arts, Director, SORI Artists (Panelist)
Juan Souki, Executive Director, Mid Atlantic Arts (Panelist)
Ron Ozer, Chapter VP, NIVA, Talent Booker, Elkton Music Hall and Executive Director, Arden Concert Gild (Panelist)
Bia Ferreira, Singer, Composer, and Artivist (Panelist)

Live|Arts|Lab at Under the Radar
2026-01-12 | Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
The second edition of L|A|L (“L|A|L.2”) is produced in cooperation with Under The Radar Festival, HowlRound Theater Commons, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and the German Commission of UNESCO. It will be held at the Kenneth C. Griffin Sidewalk Studio, David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center.
Like each L|A|L, the second edition will focus on one field of the performing arts—the global theater ecosystem. And like each L|A|L, the second edition will contemplate fairness through the frame of one of the principals outline in the “Fair Culture Charter,” in this case Principle #2: “access to diverse cultural expressions and resources,” which draws heavily on the UNESCO’s 2005 “Convention on Diversity of Cultural Expressions.”
L|A|L.2 will bring together 32 thought leaders from across the global cultural ecosystem—from five continents and fifteen countries—to design initiatives that promote the capacities of the theater sectors in disadvantaged communities, nurture culture and arts education, encourage international theater enterprises to follow fair practices, and foster respectful cross-cultural engagement.
Fellows L|A|L.2
Joshua Alabi (Nigeria)
Alia Alzougbi (UK)
Debora Balardini (Brazil / France / USA)
Marc Bamuthi Joseph (USA)
Jamie Bennett (USA / Canada)
Bill Bragin (USA / UAE)
Sami Daoud (Egypt / UK)
Martine Dennewald (Luxembourg / Canada)
Rita Ezenwa-Okoro (Nigeria)
Susan Feldman (USA)
Héctor Flores Komatsu (Mexico / USA)
Boo Froebel (USA)
Lynn Fu (China / USA)
Jamie Gahlon (USA)
Fizza Hasan (Pakistan)
Rika Iino (USA)
Mara Isaacs (USA)
Thomas O. Kriegsmann (USA)
Barbara Lanciers (USA)
Laura Mackenzie Stuart (Scotland)
Jonathan McCrory (USA)
Arian Moayed (Iran / USA)
Dr. Keith Nurse (Trinidad and Tobago)
Jeffrey Omura (USA)
Zeyba Rahman (USA)
Tanya Selvaratnam (USA)
Sachiko Soro (Fiji Islands)
Caitlin Strokosch (USA)
Shanta Thake (USA)
Cynthia J. Tong (USA)
Adrienne Wong (Canada)

January Office Hours: Who is banned? How new travel restrictions and bans impact US visa eligibility
2026-01-21 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
The Trump administration has issued and proposed a hailstorm of rules that aim to limit travel to the US for people from certain countries or with certain circumstances. At this timely webinar and Q&A, CoveyLaw attorneys Kimya Zahedi and Claire Benoit will provide an overview of how these rules impact—or might impact—people planning to come to the US. Tamizdat attorney and legal fellow Liz Moller will also provide an update regarding advocacy efforts to push back against how these rules impact the cultural sector.
Register for the webinar here.
Submit your questions for the panelists in advance here.

February Office Hours: Becoming a US Citizen: “Should I stay or should I go” in 2026?
2026-02-11 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Join CoveyLaw & Tamizdat’s February 11, 2026 monthly Office Hours webinar at 11am EST for a practical breakdown of the US naturalization process: from pros and cons, filing periods and eligibility requirements to new policies and common pitfalls that can delay or derail a case.
We’ll also cover common issues that can arise during the process, the new 2025 civics test, and what happens after a determination is made on your application.
Perfect for anyone considering citizenship or navigating a complex case. Register now.
Submit your questions ahead of time using this form.
Speakers:
Amanda Gupta, Partner, CoveyLaw
Kimberly Xavier, Attorney, CoveyLaw
Davina Wells, Legal Manager, CoveyLaw

Tamizdat Observer at UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity
2026-02-17 - 2026-02-20 | UNESCO Headquarters, 7 Place Fontenoy, Paris, Île-de-France, 75007, France
Tamizdat was selected as an official “observer Civil Society Observer Organization to UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, and will attend the 19th Session of the Committee of the Convention this February 17-19 in Paris.

Catching Lightning in a Bottle: Effective Strategies for O and P Visa Evidence Collection
2026-03-18 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Join CoveyLaw & Tamizdat’s March 18, 2026 monthly Office Hours webinar at 11am EST for an overview of best practices for collecting evidence that USCIS reviews when adjudicating O and P petitions.
The requirements for O and P visas can be difficult to navigate, and frequent policy changes to how USCIS reviews evidence have only made the process more confusing for applicants and their employers. Moderated by Matthew Covey, attorneys Will Spitz, JR Strauss will help attendees navigate the maze, covering the types of evidence USCIS typically wants to see in O and P petitions, how to organize documentation that is responsive to the regulations, and strategies for generating new evidence to support future filings. They will also discuss common pitfalls and what to avoid when gathering evidence.
Suitable for anyone considering or currently working on an O or P petition and their employers.
Participants:

Matthew Covey, Partner
Will Spitz, Partner
JR Strauss, Attorney

Register here.
Submit questions ahead of time for our Q&A Segment here.

Tamizdat at the 2026 Cultural Mobility Forum
2026-04-29 - 2026-04-30 | Skopje, Skopje, North Macedonia
Tamizdat is proud to be a participant present for this year’s assembly of the Cultural Mobility Forum, organized by On the Move, in partnership with Kooperativa – Regional Platform for Culture, in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, from 29–30 April. The forum this year focuses on the vital theme of Cultural Mobility Justice and will take place at multiple locations in the city.
The Forum serves as a critical platform for addressing the systemic barriers that hinder the free movement of artists and cultural workers. Discussions will center on navigating visa obstacles, dismantling institutional gatekeeping, and addressing the economic and political disparities that impact international cultural exchange.
We look forward to joining our colleagues and partners in Skopje to contribute to these essential conversations and to further our commitment to a more equitable landscape for global artistic mobility.

Rethinking Touring — Why are we still touring under difficult conditions?
2026-05-07 14:30 - 16:00 (Europe/Berlin) | Online
Tamizdat is glad to join NRW landesbüro tanz in their series of digital events: internationales tanzmeeting for a discussion on touring on May 7th, 2026.
Talk & Connect #2: Rethinking Touring — Why are we still touring under difficult conditions?
7 May
14:30 – 16:00
Online
International Sign Language
Duration: 90min
Register
Meeting Structure:
Short input
Panel Discussion
Breakout Sessions with guests and Tanzmeeting team
Guests: Chiara Bersani, Margherita Petti (Perform Europe) and Matthew Covey (Tamizdat)
International touring remains a crucial part of the dance ecosystem, enabling artists and companies to share their work with diverse audiences, build international networks, and gain visibility beyond their local contexts. Yet touring is becoming increasingly complex. Rising travel and production costs, environmental concerns, growing administrative hurdles, and reduced funding are challenging existing models of artistic mobility. At the same time, expectations around sustainability and care have intensified — creating tension between the desire for international exchange and the realities of responsible practice.
This session brings together artists and cultural professionals to critically reflect on these contradictions. Do we still need international touring? If so, under what conditions? The conversation will examine whether international visibility remains essential for artistic development and marketing, or whether it perpetuates exploitative structures. Alongside choreographer Chiara Bersani, Margherita Petti (Perform Europe) and Matthew Covey (Tamizdat) we will explore possible paths toward a more accessible and resilient future for international artistic exchange – from new touring models and stronger regional collaborations to fundamental shifts in how we value and support artistic mobility.
In the Breakout Session you can choose, which topic and guest you would like to join.
Artistic Crew / Team:
Moderation: Prasanna Oommen
Guests: Chiara Bersani (artist), Margherita Petti (Perform Europe/IETM) Matthew Covey (Tamizdat)

Tamizdat at The Great Escape: "Artist Visas Update: Touring in the US"
2026-05-14 14:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | WaterBear – The College of Music, Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom
Touring in the US has never been easy, but the shifting sands of US immigration policy make the US market harder, more expensive, and riskier than ever before. At this timely session, arts immigration attorney Will Spitz will provide a broad overview or the process, as well as updates of current delays, travel bands, with a specific focus of issues facing artists from the Global South and trans and non-binary artists. The will be essential for artists, managers, and agent who are looking to build audiences in the US.
Join Will Spitz, esq. of Tamizdat / CoveyLaw at WaterBear – The College of Music (Brighton) as part of The Great Escape 2026 for this informational session.

Office Hours: Getting the Green Card: “Should I stay or should I go” in 2026?
2026-06-10 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Join Tamizdat & CoveyLaw’s June 10, 2026 monthly Office Hours webinar at 11am EDT for a practical breakdown of the process for securing a green card from within the U.S. (called “Adjustment of Status”) including pros and cons, filing periods and eligibility requirements.
We’ll also cover the brand new USCIS policy memo released this past Friday, May 22nd, which has been extensively covered by the media and is creating a lot of confusion, uncertainty and fear.
Perfect for anyone considering seeking lawful permanent status to those currently navigating it.
Register for the session

Tamizdat at HIAS Hamburg: Imaginal Worldmaking
2026-06-17 - 2026-06-20 | Hamburg, Germany
Tamizdat’s Executive Director, Matthew Covey, will join an international cohort of researchers, artists, and practitioners at the Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS) for “Imaginal Worldmaking” this June in Germany. This dynamic studio explores collective imagination as a tool to counter shrinking cultural spaces and global crises. For full details, visit the official HIAS Event Page.
