In 2014, Stephen Duncombe and Steve Lambert were invited to write an introductory essay for “Truth is Concrete: A Handbook for Artistic Strategies in Real Politics“. It includes essays from, among many others: Andy Bichlbaum, Reverend Billy, Andrew Boyd, Tania Bruguera, Andrea Fraser, Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Hans Haacke, John Jordan, Kalle Lasn, Leónidas Martín, Antanas Mockus, […]
Author Archives: The Center for Artistic Activism
On Utopia
Keri Smith is a long-time friend of the Center, and even sits on our board! For her 2014 book, The Imaginary World Of…, Center Co-Director Steve Lambert was asked to write a few words on Utopia, so he did… (Also – check out her latest book, “The Wander Society“) On Utopia The problem with reality […]
‘No One Wants To Watch A Drum Circle’ (and Something for the Letters Section of The Sun Magazine)
Back in 2011, Center Co-Director Steve Lambert wrote a short piece called “No One Wants to Watch a Drum Circle” for the Beautiful Trouble book (which you can read here). That piece was selected to be included in The Sun Magazine in 2014. After it was published, someone who didn’t like his criticism of drum […]
And What Do I Do Now?
Center Co-Director Steve Lambert presented this talk at the Responsible Data Forum in January. We think it’s got a lot to say about how to turn data towards social goals so we thought we’d share it. USING DATA VISUALIZATION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE Those who visualize data can be reluctant to sully themselves in the messy world […]
School for Creative Activism in Berlin – THE MOVIE!
In October 2015, in collaboration with Transgender Europe (TGEU) and funded by Open Society Foundations, we travelled to Berlin to carry out a School for Creative Activism Workshop with trans-activists and artists from across Europe. From 8-11 October, we worked with 17 participants from 13 European countries, developing a creative activism campaign to mark some […]
How do you measure the impact of socially engaged art?
In our new Æfficacy project we’ve been working with our colleague George Perlov, thanks to funding from The Open Society Foundations and The Compton Foundation to begin to answer that question. As a first step, we’re conducting a literature review on the topic and George will be spotlighting a few of the interesting things we’ve found so far. Today […]
The Axes of Art and Activism
What happens when 4 of the greatest minds in Æfficacy get together and brainstorm around creative activism? The Axes of Arts and Activism, that’s what! This is Artistic Activism Technology (AAT) so advanced even we aren’t sure what it means yet. But to be clear – when it is ready we’ll know how to use it.
C4AA’s Steve Lambert on Al Jazeera
In the fall of 2016, Steve Lambert was a panelist in-studio on Al Jazeera’s The Stream. It aired internationally and the topic was “Art and Activism.” He was a guest with Molly Crabapple, Annya San, and Rajkamal Kahlon. Al Jazeera site: The Stream – Art and Activism
C4AA IN BERLIN WITH TRANGENDER EUROPE
In October 2015, in collaboration with Transgender Europe (TGEU) and funded by Open Society Foundations, we traveled to Berlin to carry out a School for Creative Activism Workshop with trans-activists and artists from across Europe. From 8-11 October, we worked with 17 participants from 13 European countries, developing a creative activism campaign to mark some […]
ARTS ACTION ACADEMY AT QUEENS MUSEUM
In the Fall of 2016, over seven weeks, the C4AA led an Arts Action Academy with local artists at the Queens Museum. Our final, collaborative, project took place in Queens, New York the most ethnically diverse community in the world, and birthplace of Donald Trump, a week after Trump was elected president of the US.
C4AA AT 2016 INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE
This short video includes some of the work the C4AA collaborated on with the Sex Work Education and Advocacy Taskforce
STEPHEN DUNCOMBE ON UTOPIA
An extensive interview of Stephen Duncombe by the film-maker Murat Cem Mengüç on the topic of Thomas More’s Utopia and the politics of Utopia as an activist strategy in today’s world. Recorded in June of 2016.
ARTISTIC ACTIVISM LUNCHEON, DISCUSSING EFFICACY
The following video is from a research luncheon hosted by Artistic Activism at NYU (AA@NYU). Below this video you will find selected highlights with time markers so you may navigate each discussion to what might be most relevant to you and your practice. These working research group meetings are a time and place where academics, […]
ASKING PARTICIPANTS TO DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE
At the School for Creative Activism we often ask our participants to put colorful marker to paper and to dream the impossible. What would a “win” look like, without any barriers? This often leaves our participants slightly flummoxed by the freedom of possibility, but then opens them up to new ideas and amazing potential. Watch […]
INTERVIEWS WITH MACEDONIA PARTICIPANTS IN THE SCHOOL FOR CREATIVE ACTIVISM
In 2013 the Center for Artistic Activism went to Skopje in the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia to train LGBTI activists and advocates. We did a 5 day workshop which included history, communications theory, cognitive theory, and cultural theory, as well as practice in developing creative actions, strategies, and goals. We also did an action […]
Creative Catalyst Keynote III: Stephen Duncombe and Steve Lambert
CREATIVE CATALYST SYMPOSIUM ON ART & SOCIAL INNOVATION TORONTO, JUNE 11-12, 2015 Creative Catalyst brings together Canadian artists, designers, researchers, industry, and community members in discussion on how arts and culture catalyzes social innovation. In the face of “wicked” social problems, radical innovation is required to change perspective and shift culture. Artists and creatives are […]
STEPHEN DUNCOMBE ON WHAT IS CREATIVE ACTIVISM?
CAA Co-Founder Stephen Duncombe was asked the questions: “What is Creative Activism and What Can it Do?: in Copenhagen in May of 2014 by activists with Action Aid Denmark, here are his edited remarks.
STEPHEN DUNCOMBE ON ARTISTIC ACTIVISM FOR ACTION AID IN DENMARK
CAA Co-Founder Stephen Duncombe delivered this talk in Copenhagen on January 23rd, 2013, for activists and NGO workers affiliated with Action Aid Denmark.
STEVE LAMBERT AT THE KITCHENER CITY HALL IN CANADA
Steve Lambert spoke about his work in the Rotunda of the Kitchener City Hall in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada on May 22, 2012 as part of the Big Ideas in Art and Culture Lecture Series. The Big Ideas in Art and Culture Lecture Series is a co-production of Musagetes and CAFKA – Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener […]
Koch Quits!
Two days ago, in a big win for cultural institutions everywhere, it was announced that David H. Koch has resigned in his role on the board of the American Museum of Natural History. You may be familiar with Koch, the ‘the fourth richest person in America’ the billionaire who has given millions in ‘philanthropy’ to […]