"Arts for the Future" Festival: Call for Submissions Now Open!
Inspiring Change Through Creativity
New York City, USA — The “Arts for the Future” Festival is thrilled to announce the opening of submissions for its artist-led, global hybrid festival. This innovative festival, taking place from September 13-29, 2024, coincides with the United Nations Summit of the Future, Climate Week NYC, and the UN General Assembly.
The festival, born from the United Nations Civil Society Conference's ImPACT Coalition on Arts and Culture that took place in Nairobi, Kenya in early May, seeks to re-envision and transform the role of arts and culture in sustainable development. By creating a more representative, fair, inclusive, and sustainable ecosystem, the festival aims to empower artists and creative practitioners to lead and be represented in policymaking spaces.
The Festival will take place during these significant gatherings:
20-21 September: UN Action Days
22-23 September: UN Summit of the Future
23-29 September: UN General Assembly
22-29 September: Climate Week NYC
Arts For The Future
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Arts For The Future 〰️
OPEN CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The Role of The Artist: United Nations Summit of the Future
Get Your ART Seen in Times Square! Imagine... having your artwork displayed in front of millions on the first day of the UN Summit of the Future!
The Arts for the Future Festival invites artists to submit artwork that depicts the vital role of artists in creating a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world.
Enter the call to be included in a virtual art gallery. The top 10 pieces that best represent the theme will be displayed on a digital billboard in Times Square on the first day of the UN Summit of the Future - September 22, 2024.
This is a remarkable opportunity:
To gain visibility and recognition for your work on a global platform
To contribute to an essential dialogue on the role of arts in sustainable development
To connect with a diverse and inclusive community fostering meaningful collaborations and exchange
Submit Your Artwork
How to Submit: Interested participants can submit their work at The HUG
Theme: Artwork should depict the role of the artist in creating a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world.
Who can apply: Artists, Filmmakers, and Creators from all backgrounds and disciplines are encouraged to apply. The festival is committed to promoting a truly global and inclusive artistic dialogue, ensuring diverse representation and participation, with a special emphasis on marginalized communities, including Indigenous artists, artists of color, LGBTQ+ artists, and artists with disabilities.
Medium: Digital artwork, photography, video submissions, and AI-generated art
Submission Deadline: September 12, 2024
Selection Process: A panel of distinguished curators, industry experts, and sustainability advocates will review all submissions. Selected works will be featured in the festival’s programming and may be highlighted in special events.
Festival Highlights
The festival will feature:
Virtual and in-Person Arts Events:
From film screenings to music/poetry showcases to creative workshops to global artist talks and more, the festival will host a variety of hybrid arts events aimed at amplifying the voices of diverse artists and cultural workers around climate justice and sustainability issues.
Arts and Culture Events Calendar:
The “Arts for the Future” Festival site will host an events calendar and become the go-to destination for arts and culture related events taking place from 13-29 September and includes those happening during the UN Summit of the Future, Climate Week NYC and the UN General Assembly.
The Artist March:
On September 18th, we are hosting a powerful march from Times Square to Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, showcasing the solidarity and impact of the global arts community and our allies.
Digital and AI Exhibition:
Starting August 15th, we will host an Open Call on HUG.xyz platform for artwork that supports the theme “The Role of the Artist…for the UN Summit of the Future.” Then, on September 22nd, the top 20 relevant art pieces will be displayed on a billboard in Times Square, highlighting the intersection of arts, digital technology and creativity.
Artist Delegation:
A delegation made up of global artists and cultural workers will attend various events during UNGA and Climate Week NYC, ensuring that artistic voices are front and center in these pivotal conversations.
Festival Leadership
Lisa Russell
Lisa is the Global Co-Chair of the Arts & Culture ImPACT Coalition, an Emmy-winning filmmaker, UN/NGO arts curator, and Founder/CEO of Create2030. This Asian American filmmaker has dedicated a 20-year career to creating impactful content at the intersection of arts, social justice, and sustainable development.
She emphasizes the festival's mission:
“The growing creative economy is an untapped resource in the policymaking space and now more than ever we need all hands on deck. Through the ‘Arts for the Future’ Festival, we aim to amplify the incredible power diverse artists and cultural workers bring - not only as entertainment but also as creative thinkers and problem solvers - to envision a just, equitable and sustainable future.”
Derrick Odidi
The Global Co-chair of the Arts & Culture Impact Coalition is an Arts and Cultural practitioner championing for representation and inclusivity:
“As we stand at the crossroads of creativity and sustainability, the ‘Arts for the Future’ Festival represents a powerful opportunity for artists worldwide - especially those representing the African continent - to engage directly with the global conversations shaping our future. This festival is not just an event—it’s a movement towards ensuring that the voices of diverse artists and cultural workers are not only heard but are instrumental in driving meaningful change.”
About the Arts for the Future Festival: The "Arts for the Future" Festival is dedicated to amplifying the voices of artists and cultural workers in global sustainability discussions. Taking place from September 13-29, 2024, this hybrid festival aligns with the UN Summit of the Future, Climate Week NYC, and the UN General Assembly, providing a platform for creative expression and impactful dialogue with and for artists and cultural workers.
For more information, please visit: www.artsforthefuturefest.com.
Contact Information: hello@artsforthefuturefest.com