Cities under pressure. Artists fighting back. Interrupt This Program returns February 5th

When a city experiences trauma — a natural disaster, long-term war, political unrest, or economic meltdown — how do artists respond?

After visiting Beirut, Kiev, Port-au-Prince, Medellín, and Athens in its International Emmy-nominated first season, Interrupt This Program returns this February with new episodes uncovering the underground art scenes in Moscow, Jerusalem, Lagos, Havana and Manila. 

Series co-creator Nabil Mehchi says season two puts "more emphasis on political art — art as protest" from cities in political turmoil, with women's rights being a recurring theme. "That is particularly true in Lagos, Nigeria where the abduction of 276 young girls by Boko Haram had a traumatizing effect on the arts community." 

In every episode, the conflict takes centre stage and all the artists are reacting directly to it, fighting against oppressive power structure, denouncing violations of basic human rights, women's rights, social inequalities, hate crimes and discriminatory hate laws.- Series co-creator Nabil Mehchi

Season two begins in Moscow with Masha Alekhina from Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot who Mahchi says "embodies the spirit of the series".

"Pussy Riot's performances/actions are the essence of art as protest, art as a display of courage," he says.

New episodes of Interrupt This Program start February 5th at 9PM (9:30NT). Want to watch season one? You can stream all of season one now.