Queer ‘artivism’ takes center stage at SEAQAJS 2026

The following is a press release from the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus.

MANILA, Philippines — The Southeast Asia Queer Arts and Justice Summit (SEAQAJS) will convene more than 70 LGBTQ+ artists, activists, cultural workers, and community organizers from across Southeast Asia on Thursday, February 26 to Saturday, February 28, in Quezon City.

Organized by the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC), the summit marks a critical moment in advancing queer “artivism” – the intersection of art and activism – as a strategic force in regional advocacy and engagement with ASEAN. 

The summit centers queer artivism and how the creative power of culture and the arts can help advance human rights across Southeast Asia.

This is not merely a symbolic or parallel effort, but as a strategic component of human rights advocacy in a region marked by shrinking civic space, censorship, climate injustice, and persistent legal inequality.

Drawing on long traditions of artistic resistance and political imagination, the summit recognizes art as a tool that does more than reflect society, it actively shapes public narratives, challenges oppression, and amplifies marginalized voices.

The SEAQAJS is a civil society-led space to tackle concerns that are excluded within the official ASEAN agenda.

The summit takes place as the Philippines currently holds the chairpersonship of ASEAN in 2026, and coincides with the National Arts Month, reinforcing the role of art and culture in moving hearts and minds to advance justice and equality, ultimately influencing societal and policy change across borders.

Building on the momentum of the Southeast Asia Queer Cultural Festival (SEAQCF) which took place in previous years, this year’s summit seeks to translate cultural expression into deeper political dialogue, shared learning, and practical influence. 

“Art has long been a critical site of resistance, care, and survival for queer communities in Southeast Asia,” said ASEAN SOGIE Caucus executive director Ryan Silverio.

“Through SEAQAJS, we are advancing artivism as a strategic force, one that can meaningfully engage ASEAN-level processes, strengthen movements, and connect human rights advocacy to lived experience, climate justice, and collective care.”

Over three days, SEAQAJS will host focused dialogues, workshops, participatory sessions, and peer learning exchanges.

Key thematic areas include queer futures and public narratives in ASEAN, creative economies and fair work, climate justice and indigenous knowledge, healing and transitional justice, safety and care under repression, censorship and representation, and community storytelling as narrative change.

A central focus of the summit is the use of intersectionality as both a lens and an advocacy approach, linking queer struggles with broader regional challenges such as environmental harm, care work, and economic precarity.

SEAQAJS aims to co-design cross-border advocacy approaches that are grounded in ASEAN realities and capable of influencing policy conversations beyond formal mechanisms 

Alongside the conference, the SEAQAJS’ parallel exhibit, the Southeast Asia Queer Arts Space, will feature visual art, films, and zines drawn from existing collections and regional partners.

In addition to the artworks, guests will have the opportunity to manifest how they envision the future of a queer-inclusive ASEAN on canvas through a Queer Community Quilt.

Through solidarity, and hands-on collaborative approaches, SEAQAJS hopes to seed lasting regional networks that expand civic space, shift narratives, and strengthen protections for LGBTQ+ communities across Southeast Asia.

Through collective learning, creative exchange, and cross-border collaboration, SEAQCJS seeks to seed lasting regional networks that expand civic space, shift public narratives, and strengthen the push for protection of human rights for all in Southeast Asia. — Rappler.com