Tamizdat

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.

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.
