named programs · 1 · from sources
What they call their work
Safe Haven Incubator for Musicians: NYC (SHIM:NYC)
Residency and mentorship program offering legal aid, resettlement assistance, professional development, and financial support to at-risk international musicians. A collaboration between Tamizdat, Artistic Freedom Initiative, and Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Artist Visa and Mobility Support 2 activities
- Conducts research on systemic issues in U.S. artist visa processes and publishes data-driven legal analysesCollects and analyzes data from thousands of U.S. visa cases affecting international performing artists to produce annual legal reports, including The White Paper on Artist Mobility, which identifies over 50 systemic problems in the U.S. artist visa process and recommends regulatory reforms. Research also informs responses to policies like the Muslim Travel Ban and "extreme vetting" procedures.
- Provides pro bono legal and petition services for U.S. employment visas for international performing artistsActs as the U.S. petitioner for more than 3,000 performing artists annually and provides pro bono legal assistance to foreign artists navigating U.S. visa processes, including resolving issues with I-129 petitions and consular complications. The organization supports artists from targeted countries and those facing travel restrictions, such as Middle Eastern performers and actors from banned nations.
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Immigrant Rights Advocacy & Policy Reform 1 activity
- Advocates for policy reform and accountability in U.S. immigration systems affecting artistsSystematically reports visa processing problems to federal oversight bodies including the USCIS Ombudsman, Department of State Visa Office, and AILA liaisons; files impact litigation in federal court to challenge unjust visa denials; submits public comments opposing harmful policies like Form DS-5535; and advocates against long processing times and travel bans. Also advocated for IRS Central Withholding Agreement reforms, resulting in agency commitments to change.
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Immigrant Rights Education & Legal Preparedness 1 activity
- Delivers educational programming on U.S. artist mobility and immigration complianceHosts monthly “Office Hours” webinars with legal experts to provide visa updates and answer questions, delivers dozens of annual conference sessions and webinars globally, and produces educational content on topics including Adjustment of Status, naturalization, border entry risks, and compliance for live venues. Co-produced a webinar with APAP and NIVA on preparing for immigration enforcement.
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Cultural Exchange and Mutual Understanding Programs 1 activity
- Facilitates international cultural exchange through event participation and artist representationEncourages and facilitates the performance and dissemination of innovative foreign music and art in the U.S. by organizing artist showcases at major international festivals such as WOMEX, Popkomm, South By Southwest, and the College Music Journal Marathon, and by participating directly in conferences to promote cultural exchange and mobility advocacy.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Operates residency and support programs for at-risk international musiciansRuns the SHIM:NYC program, a creative and professional residency offering legal aid, resettlement assistance, financial support, and mentorship to internationally persecuted or at-risk musicians. Has hosted multiple artists including Mai Khoi, Haig Papazian, Lama El Homaïssi, Firas Zreik, and Mehrnam Rastegari as residents.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$145K
Contributions & grants$82K57%
Program service revenue$61K42%
Investment income$50%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$111K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$59K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$59K
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +21.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 3
- MATTHEW COVEY — EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- PATRICK ODONNELL — DIRECTOR
- RIGDZIN COLLINS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 81
Who they work with
- AILA Partner — Law firm collaborating with Tamizdat to track, analyze, and report systemic weaknesses in the U.S. visa system.
- APAP Partner — Matthew Covey has presented and chaired sessions on artist mobility at this organization's conference.
- APAP Partner — Presented educational sessions and provided training on U.S. artist mobility and cultural exchange.
- Alliance of Artist Communities Partner — Matthew Covey has presented and chaired sessions on artist mobility at this organization's conference.
- American Immigration Lawyers Association Partner — Receives systematic reporting of visa processing problems from Tamizdat through its CIS and DOS liaison channels.
- American Immigration Lawyers Association Partner — Receives systematic reporting of visa processing problems from Tamizdat.
- Amsterdam Dance Event Partner — Matthew Covey has presented and chaired sessions on artist mobility at this event.
- Artistic Freedom Initiative Partner — Co-founding partner in the SHIM:NYC program.
- Arts Midwest Partner — Matthew Covey has presented and chaired sessions on artist mobility at this organization's conference.
- Association for Performing Arts Presenters Partner — Collaborated with Tamizdat to produce a webinar on immigration enforcement preparedness for live venues.
- CMJ Partner — Matthew Covey has presented and chaired sessions on artist mobility at this event.
- CMJ Partner — Presented educational sessions on U.S. artist mobility and cultural exchange.
- CWA Management Partner — Cooperated with Tamizdat to draft an alternative rule for the IRS Central Withholding Agreement program.
- Canadian Federation of Musicians Partner — Provided educational programming on U.S. artist mobility for members.
- Change The Beat Partner — Collaborates on hosting educational sessions about U.S. visas and immigration for electronic music artists, with a focus on women and underrepresented voices.
- Columbia University Partner — Provided educational sessions on U.S. artist mobility and cultural exchange for constituents.
- CoveyLaw Partner — Cooperates with Tamizdat to provide visa assistance and legal advocacy for international performing artists.
- CoveyLaw Partner — Independent but affiliated law firm that collaborates with Tamizdat on visa research, education, and advocacy.
- CoveyLaw Partner — Partners with Tamizdat to host monthly Office Hours webinars on visa issues for international artists.
- Creative NZ Partner — Provided educational sessions on U.S. artist mobility and cultural exchange for constituents.
- Department of State Government — Engaged in dialogue with Tamizdat regarding artist visa process improvements.
- Department of State Government — Subject of advocacy and policy dialogue regarding U.S. artist visa processes.
- DutchCulture Partner — Provided educational sessions on international artist mobility and cultural exchange.
- Edinburgh Fringe Partner — Matthew Covey has presented and chaired sessions on artist mobility at this festival.
- Eurosonic Partner — Matthew Covey has presented and chaired sessions on artist mobility at this event.
- FimPro Partner — Matthew Covey has presented and chaired sessions on artist mobility at this event.
- First Music Contact Partner — Organizer of Ireland Music Week, where Tamizdat participates as a delegate on international artist mobility.
- Fisher Center at Bard Partner — Collaborates with Tamizdat to support international artists, particularly those making US debut appearances.
- Focus Wales Partner — Matthew Covey has presented and chaired sessions on artist mobility at this event.
- Folk Alliance Partner — Matthew Covey has presented and chaired sessions on artist mobility at this organization's conference.
+ 51 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Evidence-Based Policy Advocacy for Cultural Mobilitymethodology: evidence-based_advocacyBy using data-driven legal analysis, research, and annual White Papers, we identify systemic barriers in U.S. visa processes and advocate for policy reform because empirical evidence strengthens credibility with policymakers and drives scalable change in artist mobility systems.
- Legal Safety-Net and Advocacy for Artist Mobilitymethodology: legal_safety_netBy providing pro bono legal support and acting as a U.S. petitioner for international artists, we increase access to U.S. visas and cultural exchange because many artists and arts organizations lack legal capacity; this intervention reduces systemic exclusion and enables participation in cultural life.
- Specialized Residency Programs for Displaced Musiciansmethodology: musician-specific_residency_modelBy designing musician-specific residency programs, we address professional and network-based needs of displaced artists because traditional at-risk artist programs fail to support performing artists’ unique requirements, limiting their mobility and sustainability.
- Strategic Litigation to Enforce Accountabilitymethodology: impact_litigationBy pursuing impact litigation in federal court, we enforce accountability in immigration decision-making affecting artists because legal precedents can compel systemic compliance and deter arbitrary denials of visa petitions.
- Targeted Support for Marginalized Artist Identitiesmethodology: identity-affirming_legal_supportBy designing immigration guidance specifically for transgender, gender-nonconforming, and intersex artists, we reduce risks of discrimination and privacy violations in visa processes because standardized systems fail to protect vulnerable identities, and tailored legal approaches increase safety and inclusion.