With support from ArtPower Belarus, the large-scale participatory performance A Percussion Piece took place in Amsterdam on 19 September 2026. It was dedicated to solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners, human rights and freedom.
Around 1,200 people took part, wearing cardboard masks depicting real Belarusian political prisoners and creating a collective sound composition. Instead of conventional musical instruments, they used everyday objects such as pots, buckets, tins and other improvised percussion instruments. By creating sound together, participants symbolically gave voice to people deprived of their freedom, transforming individual stories into a collective artistic statement.
The project was initiated by antiwarcoalition.art, an international team of Belarusian and Ukrainian cultural practitioners working with human rights and cultural organisations across Europe. ArtPower Belarus support helped prepare and deliver the performance, drawing international attention to political repression in Belarus.
The programme also included a public discussion in Amsterdam on 5 September with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, philosopher Volha Shparaha and other invited participants. The discussion addressed freedom, human rights and the role of art in times of repression.
