Around the world, writers, journalists, visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, actors, and other creative people are censored, harassed, imprisoned, or killed for speaking their minds or exercising their imaginations. Since 2001, Ithaca City of Asylum has welcomed at-risk writers and artists into the Ithaca community, enabling them to continue their work and helping them and their families meet the challenges of a new environment. Learn more.
What we do makes a difference
For more than 20 years, Ithaca has stepped up to help writers and artists in peril. Our solidarity sends echoes well beyond our community.
News & Events
Afghan filmmaker opens eyes and touches hearts during Ithaca visit
Filmmaker Sahraa Karimi, the first female chair of the Afghan Film Organization who fled when the Taliban seized power in 2021, spent three days in Ithaca as a guest of Ithaca City of Asylum.
ICOA brings trailblazing Afghan filmmaker to Ithaca
Sahraa Karimi, the first and only Afghan woman with a PhD in film, will meet with students at Cornell, TC3, and Ithaca College and give two public screenings of her feature-length films.
Video now available for Ramírez-Molina conversation
“Truth, Lies, and Literature: Sergio Ramírez and Pedro X. Molina in Conversation” featured the Nicaraguan author and political figure in dialogue with the celebrated cartoonist and former ICOA artist-in-residence.
Ithaca City of Asylum 