Recruiting for Artistic Activism - The Center For Artistic Activism - Contact Form at the Bottom of the Page
Peaceful rallies don't all have to be a "stand up" rally. Let's find creative ways to impress upon people the gravity and urgency of our crumbling democracy and how it will harm each and every one of us. Please email electionsmatternow@gmail.com and join in what can be fun as well as be informative.
Copied from The Center For Artistic Activism
The Center For Artistic Activism Website Link
The Center For Artistic Activism Website Link
The Center For Artistic Activism Website Link
***Click on the WHY ARTISTIC ACTIVISM graphic to go to THE CENTER FOR ARTISTIC ACTIVISM WEBSITE***
"Sometimes we’re asked, “what’s this artistic activism thing all about?” and “what’s the difference between artistic activism and regular activism?” or “why would I use artistic activism in my campaign?” As an answer, we offer this primer."
Emotionally Moving
The Center For Artistic Activism Website Link
The Center For Artistic Activism Website Link
"Artistic Activism is a dynamic practice combining the creative power of the arts to move us emotionally with the strategic planning of activism necessary to bring about social change."
Friendly/Approachable
The Center For Artistic Activism Website Link
Historically Successful
"...This new terrain, neither overtly “arty” or “political” is more familiar and safer to an audience than a museum or a rally, and thus makes artistic activism more attractive, approachable, and friendly than traditional art or activist practices. Artistic activism – as an affective image, performance, or experience – is also well suited for an age of cell phone cameras and social networks. People don’t share policy papers, they share things that move them."
Historically Successful
Artistic Activism Reduces Barriers
Historically Successful
"...in the struggle for Civil Rights for African Americans in the US, for example, activists drew upon the stories and songs and participatory culture of the black churches, staged media-savvy stunts like Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus, played white racist reaction against peaceful protesters as a sympathetic passion play during the campaign to desegregate..."
Element of Surprise!
Artistic Activism Reduces Barriers
Artistic Activism Reduces Barriers
"...The ability of artistic activism to surprise us – to show up in unlikely places (e.g. not a gallery) or take on unfamiliar forms (e.g. not a protest march) provides an opportunity to disrupt people’s preconceived notions of art and protest, and their predetermined ideas about the messages we are trying to communicate. Artistic activism creates an opportunity to bypass seemingly fixed political ideas and moral ideals and remap cognitive patterns. Surprise is a moment when hearts can be touched and minds reached, and both changed..."
Artistic Activism Reduces Barriers
Artistic Activism Reduces Barriers
Artistic Activism Reduces Barriers
"...Because artistic activism crosses boundaries, it not only opens up multiple access points for creators and audiences, but also for mass media outlets who may cover events in both arts and politics sections, and for funders who can support projects with arts and culture grants as well as through social justice portfolios."
Recognize We Are All Creative
Recognize We Are All Creative
Recognize We Are All Creative
"... At one time protest marches and mass rallies were powerful innovations; today they are routine. Millions of people may have marched in the streets protesting the American War in Iraq, but public sentiment turned against the war when the mother of a dead soldier – Cindy Sheehan — staged a dramatic encampment outside the president’s vacation home. This was artistic activism."
"Play" IS Self-Care
Recognize We Are All Creative
Recognize We Are All Creative
"...Artistic activism is not as simple as privileging creativity over clipboards. Petitions still need to be signed and people need to canvass door–to-door, marches need to be planned and politicians lobbied. But making space for creativity makes the necessary drudgery more bearable, and keeps people in the organization longer. And through the practice of artistic activism it just may be possible that a more creative way of canvassing can be discovered."
Waking People Up Takes Time
Recognize We Are All Creative
Waking People Up Takes Time
"...And while marches, rallies and protests are important, they won’t have lasting impact unless the issues resonate with people..."
#9 ARTISTIC ACTIVISM IS PEACEFUL AND PERSUASIVE
"A final note. Artistic activism, as a cultural approach, is inherently non-violent. Although groups have used creative methods for violent ends (most infamously the Nazi Party) the tactic itself is peaceful. Artistic activism is aimed at hearts and minds, not bodies or buildings. The goal is not to force compliance, which art can never do, but to persuade by creating moving experiences that prompt people to question the world as it is, imagine a world as it could be, and join together to make that new world real..."
Photo Gallery
