CAN ART CATALYZE CHANGE? – THE SOCIAL ART AWARD 2019

Be it Hong Kong, Chile, Lebanon, Iraq, Brazil there are burning conflicts in the world right now, where people stand up peacefully united for their rights, their freedom, their present and their future. Looking back in history, 30 years ago in 1989, it’s been the unity of East Germans that made the impossible come true. We are the people - peaceful revolutions through the power of the many!They made the wall come down to reunite to one country. Power to the people, power to unity and solidarity, power to peaceful revolutions.

What does art have to say in these times of transformation? How do social artists empower, cherish, support peaceful solidarity? Does art have the power to catalyse change, peaceful revolutions and positive futures? Where does art take place? What forms of art are created? Where do we stand on together, get inspired and empowered, and appreciate the freedom of art and the spirit of humanity? Can art give us hope to believe in ourselves? How can art contribute and empower peaceful revolutions through the people? We look for the most impactful contributions.

In the same time as people stand up peacefully, there are powerful people who try to fight these movements of change by manipulating the public opinion through their influence on media and their military power. Too many times peaceful protesters are confronted by violence used against them. Thus, our award aims on contributing to a non-manipulated visibility for non-violent change makers. To push this even further, we search for a global symbol for peaceful revolutions. So anyone, wherever in the world can show their support and commitment for non-violent change. Let us join forces to create a global movement of peaceful revolutions for positive futures!

The Social Art Award 2019 targets two categories:

Category 1 is fully open, looking for the most impactful contributions to “We are the people – catalyzing peaceful revolutions through the power of the many”

Category 2 looks for the most impactful global symbol (a visual logo) for peaceful revolutions enabling anyone to show their commitment for non-violent change. Best would be an option that communities can localize/ co-brand with their flag or movement visual, thus, it can be targeted as their specific local movement, yet showing solidarity with the global movement of peaceful change makers.

Apply now with your ideas and visions. Application opens November 9, 2019 and closes December 15, 2019.
 

Why Social Art and the Award?

Social Art is the artistic expression that aims at creating social impact and change. This definition delineates the intention of the artist as crucial. Art engages in questioning and rethinking existing systems and paradigms. Artists are visionaries, utopists, agents for change, with the ability to affect society by creating emotionally captivating experiences. It is aesthetic revolution that preludes societal revolution.

Thus, the goal of the Social Art Award is to invigorate the rise of social art. We need more people to create impact and to inspire change, even if this approach dissents from the widely claimed autonomy of art. The award explores and clusters this field, and seeks to raise attention for social art. Furthermore, the award aims at strengthening the recognition of social artists and the value of their work. Hence, it cherishes the importance of social art for society. All artists and cultural actors are invited to apply with their work they consider relevant for the field of social art. There are no restrictions based on gender, training or nationality.
The selection process

The leading judgment criteria for the Social Art Award is the strength of the artwork to create impact in regard of the topic “We are the people – Catalyzing peaceful revolutions through the power of the many”. Thus, we look for engaging artworks that reach people, unfolding their potential to stand up for their rights, their freedom and their future – Artworks that trigger peaceful solidarity and the unity of people.

• For Category 1, the jury identifies the best contributions through a three-stage selection process. First, the jury does a preselection of 50 artists based on their artwork contributions. These will be published in the book “We are the people – The Social Art Award 2019”. At the next stage, the jury nominates a shortlist of 10 projects out of the 50. Additionally, 2 wild cards enter the shortlist based on public online voting. Finally, the jury selects the 3 winning artists from the 12 shortlisted finalists.
• For Category 2, the vote is purely to the public!
• Stage 1 of the public voting will open December 20 and be closed December 28, 2019, stage 2 from December 29 till December 31, 2019.
• Winners will be announced December 31, 2019!