Laying the Foundation

Art as Activism

"Artists have a special role to play in the global struggle for peace. At their best, artists speak not only to people; they speak for them. Art is a weapon against ignorance and hatred and an agent of public awareness."
Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the UN

EnviroArts

This organisation has used photography, carving, painting and other art forms to show the importance of caring for the environment. The spiritual connection between humans and nature is powerfully captured. http://arts.envirolink.org/index.html

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Make an impact while making people laugh! Political cartoons have long been used to draw giggles - and reflection. Check out www.cartoonwork.com for some examples of how you can use humour to make a point.

Guerilla Girls

The Guerrilla Girls (www.guerrillagirls.com) use posters and flyers to get their message across about discrimination based on sex or race. They use humour directed at major cultural symbols like the Academy Awards or the Republican Party to expose prejudice against women or people of colour.

The World Wall

This mural is painted on movable panels made up of paintings from around the world. It is transported to different countries to promote world peace. As a universal language, art speaks to people in every country about peace and harmony and inspires everyone to make a difference. Check out http://www.judybaca.com/art/worldwall/worldwall.html for more information.

Sewin' Up a Cure…

Who says sewing is just for old ladies with nothing else to do? Projects like the AIDS Memorial Quilt in San Francisco, which has more than 44 000 3-by-6-foot panels, can be full of meaning and can generate some serious media attention. www.aidsquilt.org.

A Monumental Difference

The International Cheemah Monument Project uses monuments representing cultural diversity to make people think about the world, the environment and their social responsibility. These statues were installed in cities around the world to communicate with the populations about world unity. Visit www.cheemahproject.org to see how statues and sculptures are making a difference.