Spread Solidarity around the World through Arts and Music!
After being on Stage at the Bob Marley Birthday Celebration in 2018 in Kingston (Jamaica), The former Paris based World Citizen Artists (WCA) movement has moved to the UK, and just returned for a new virtual “Solidarity For All” initiative to encourage artists and non-artists to be creative during the lockdown by providing positivity and hope around the world. The initiative, in light of COVID-19, hopes to help people cope with the current situation, whether it’s for those who feel powerless being stuck at home, medical staff around the world, charities who are suffering more than ever and in support of those who are losing their loved ones.
“As an artistic movement, we can show our solidarity to the world through creativity. Sending a positive message is needed more than ever. Like everyone, we’re trying our best to contribute. This competition is not about competing but to motivate creativity, productivity and solidarity around the world.” said WCA founder Valerie Won Lee.
Everyone is invited to participate: artists, non-artists, families, art and music amateurs. It’s a chance for everyone to test their creativity and their impact. The jury panel will consist of music celebrity Emmanuel Jal, the Gandhi Foundation, the prestigious Belgravia Gallery whose exhibits include the work of Picasso, Nelson Mandela, Andy Warhol and Prince of Wales and former award recipients and finalists of previous World Citizen Artists Awards initiatives.
University of Bristol Students’ Union is sharing solidarity by involving its students in the WCA’s mission and Awards initiatives, they said, “We are delighted that our students have contributed so positively to World Citizen Artists’ initiatives. Projects like this play a really crucial role in inspiring creative thought, encouraging collaboration and channelling collective energy in pursuit of a good cause, which is all the more valuable in times like these.”
Submission deadline is 00:00GMT, May 31, 2020.
Winners will be notified from June 15, 2020 and Marta Gomez will announce the Award recipients on worldcitizenartists.org and its social media channels, July 1, 2020. Award recipients will receive a Digital Award and be featured on the World Citizen Artists social media platforms and website: worldcitizenartists.org
About:
World Citizen Artists’ mission is to build a global movement of engaged artists, creatives and thinkers whose aim is to create effective and evolutionary change in the World through events, exchanges and other opportunities involving the use of art to raise global awareness. https://www.worldcitizenartists.org/
The Gandhi Foundation promotes nonviolence egalitarian economics, simple lifestyles, grassroots democracy, tolerance and pluralism and respect for animals. Gandhi is one of the most significant figures of modern times. He began as an insignificant individual with no particular talents and gradually became a remarkable human being. He considered that everyone has the potential for ethical and spiritual growth, and that community is the most effective basis for our development. Gandhi’s ideas have a relevance beyond his own time. His approach was holistic and evolved through experience. The foundation organises annual events, such as the Multifaith Service, Summer School and an Annual Lecture. Each event promotes unity and the bringing together of multiple faiths, backgrounds and nationalities, demonstrating the continued relevance of Ghandi’s teachings. https://gandhifoundation.org/
Belgravia Gallery One of Europe’s leading art galleries, it regularly features the work of renowned artists such as: Picasso, Andy Warhol, Matisse, HRH The Prince of Wales, Nelson Mandela, Sir Peter Blake and other celebrities. Belgravia Gallery is based on Maddox Street in the heart of the art district in Mayfair, between Regent Street and Bond Street. The gallery’s ethos is to be professional, welcoming and approachable and has a strong emphasis on art for charity, particularly on raising funds for The Sebastian Hunter Memorial Trust. https://belgraviagallery.com/
Bristol SU is The University of Bristol Students’ Union (known as Bristol SU). It is among the oldest of the UK students’ unions and was a founding member of the National Union of Students. Bristol SU runs over 330 societies, sports clubs, groups and support networks. https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/
Peace Day 365 is a bridge between NGOs, corporations, schools, individuals and the United Nations to bring awareness of Peace Day celebrated annually on September 21, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and global citizenship education. Working with UN departments and inter-departmental agencies, PeaceDay365 brings strategic partnerships combined with local and global SDG and global citizenship education efforts while building on a prominent youth-led platform that includes highlighting innovation, culture and artistic achievements of member states. https://www.peaceday365.com/
Emmanuel Jal started his life as a child soldier in the war-torn region of Southern Sudan in the early 1980s. He overcame a huge number of struggles to become a successful and acclaimed recording artist and peace ambassador. Emmanuel’s greatest passion is his charity which he founded in 2009 Gua Africa which supports those affected by war and poverty from South Sudan and has trained and educated South Sudanese refugees to becoming first-class professionals in medicine, law and education. https://www.emmanueljal.com/
Marta Gomez is Grammy-Award winning singer-songwriter from Columbia. http://martagomez.com/
This Is My Brave is a live presentation of touching essays, original music, poetry and comedy performed by a dozen individuals living with – or loving someone with – a mental illness. Shows are held in cities and towns across the United States, as well as in Australia. https://thisismybrave.org/