F.A.C.T. – First Amendment Culture Team

 
 

The First Amendment is the foundation of every rehearsal, reading, protest, panel, and performance we hold. And as artists, cultural workers, educators, and organizers, we have a role to play in keeping it alive.

The First Amendment Culture Team (F.A.C.T.), a NYC-based coalition mobilizing the arts and culture sector to protect and promote the very rights that make art and democracy possible. FACT was born in 2025 amid a rising tide of book bans, political intimidation, cultural defunding, and self-censorship. Our mission is to activate the arts and culture ecosystem so that together, we can educate, empower, and defend our First Amendment rights.

🎯 What You Can Do Right Now

We’ve created a simple First Amendment Acknowledgment you can read aloud or display at the start of any public event, gathering, or program - virtual or in-person. It’s a reminder that our freedom of expression is protected and worth defending.

You’ll also find a Digital Outreach Toolkit with shareable content, sample language, and ideas for using these materials in your workflows.

Coming Soon: We have a limited number of free 18” x 24” marquee posters designed to educate about the five freedoms enshrined by the First Amendment. If you’d like a printed poster for your New York City venue, please let us know by signing up here.

So far, we’ve seen cultural producers in NYC and Boston read First Amendment Acknowledgements at the start of live performances, include our poster in their printed programs, and display the poster on digital signs and marquee boards.

Not sure where to begin? Want ideas for how to integrate this into your programs, events, or institutional practice? We’re happy to brainstorm with you or connect you with other FACT members to support you.

📣 Stay Connected & Help Us Spread the Word

This isn’t a one-time campaign - it’s a movement. We invite you to:

  • Share this website with your network

  • Incorporate a First Amendment Acknowledgment at your next event.

  • Display the poster in your space.

  • Use our digital content to raise awareness online. You don’t need any special permissions, and we encourage you to make this content your own.

Sign up here to stay in the loop about future FACT events and resources.

Follow FACT on social media @FACT_USA.

Stay tuned for upcoming launch events. For now, we encourage you to share this call to action widely: your voice matters.