At the Center for Artistic Activism we help people use their creativity and culture to effect power.
The Center for Artistic Activism is a small (but scrappy) 501c3 non-profit organization. We have worked in 23 countries on 6 continents since 2009.
We believe creativity is critical in making a just world.
Imagination powers change, and changes power. Creativity, culture, and the arts are powerful forces, but time is running out. Artists, activists, and organizations must deploy creativity with precision, skill, and expertise. We don’t just need artistic activism. We need artistic activism that works.
Why Artistic Activism?
The Powers of Art
Smithsonian Anacostia Exhibit
We work alongside artists, activists, organizations, and everyone in between.
Our methods provide the structure to leverage the powers of art toward meaningful outcomes. We share them through our workshops, communities you can join, in books, and online. Whether you’re an individual artist, a die-hard activist, the leader of a national organization, or just someone looking to make the world a little bit better, we want you to have ideas and tools that work.
Resources
The Art of Activism book
For Individuals
For Organizations
Because all successful activism has been artistic activism
Movements that win can envision utopic futures and find innovative ways to turn dreams into reality. We study past movements, engage with present-day campaigns, and run experiments to find what works. Then we freely share what we learn. Because our goal is to help you be more imaginative, innovative, and most importantly: impactful.
Research Initiatives
Case Study: The Civil Rights Movement
Open Office Hours
We join fights for democracy, public health, human rights, and more.
Unstoppable Voters
Opioid Justice Campaign
Regional Creative Hubs
Sex Work Decrimalization in South Africa
We are the Center for Artistic Activism.
Let’s see what we can change, together.
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Tools, trainings, and stories from artistic activists around the world. Once a month.
Recent News
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Unstoppable Voters & Keseb
We’re reimagining the building blocks of democracy We are thrilled to share that our Unstoppable Voters program as led by our Programs Director, Rachel Gita Karp, has been selected for the inaugural cohort of Keseb’s Democracy Innovation Lab (iLab)! Keseb is a nonpartisan, pro-democracy nonprofit organization building a vibrant transnational civil society ecosystem for learning,…
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Play to Win
Takeaways from projects centering trans liberation How can our movement win by centering trans liberation? This spring, the Transgender Law Center and its Trans Agenda for Liberation, in collaboration with the Center for Artistic Activism, supported seven trans-led organizations in testing bold answers to this question in this highly challenging moment. Each organization was given…
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13 ridiculous voter projects
Here to Inspire You and Your 2026 Election Work This election season, you might see giant wearable brains parading through Portland to remind Oregonians to return their ballots, or aliens from Planet No Choice registering voters at Lake Merritt in Oakland. You might catch drag performers picking up voters on a party bus in Baltimore,…
Featured Programs and Resources
Our Unstoppable Voters program supports organizations and individuals that protect the freedom to vote in the US with creativity and innovation.
Our book The Art of Activism: Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible includes lessons and insights from two decades of our work.
Tutorials, podcasts, videos, lessons, and case studies! Check out our resources!
15 Years of Impact – a comprehensive research project, analyzing the work of the Center.
Those dedicated to democracy, justice, and human rights deserve the best training and resources. Unfortunately, ideas that win don’t always reach those needing them most because of geography, finances, and other barriers. The Center for Artistic Activism is dedicated to making valuable information accessible to all through our practical approach and open distribution.
Your contribution helps us to reach those who need it most. Thank you!
