Call for Session Proposals: 2nd Global Artivism Convening (Global South)

Deadline: 17 June 2025

The Artivism is seeking proposals for sessions and cultural activations for the Second Global Artivism Convening in Salvador, where arts, culture and activism will converge to ignite social change!

Aims

Showcase how arts and culture can catalyze structural change.
Create spaces to strategize around how to build cultural and narrative power in frontline communities.
Explore and address the unique challenges faced by Artivists, particularly in the Global South.
Bridge Artivism with other sectors organizing for justice and climate solutions.

Categories

Case Studies of Artivism in Action
- Sessions that show how Artivists are catalyzing meaningful change today. Share grounded case studies of how artistic or cultural practice is contributing to cultural, political, economic, or societal shifts in a community or region.
- Submissions may explore:
  - The cultural impact of creative work by artivists
  - How art and culture have influenced public discourse, policy, or social movements
  - Artivists–NGO collaborations that reshape public narratives
  - Movement–philanthropy partnerships funding cultural strategy
  - Artivism projects in the private sector
  - Joint campaigns using art and data to mobilize communities
  - Funders evolving their approach to invest in culture as a lever for change
  - Lessons learned and replicable strategies
Educational Training Sessions for Artivists
- Training sessions that help Artivists build their skills and grow their impact. They especially seek workshops that are practical, interactive, and designed to meet the needs of artivists working at the intersections of justice, sustainability, and liberation.
- Examples of themes include:
  - Transforming your artistic practice into Artivism
  - Building effective partnerships with movements and organizations
  - How to fight the extremist right through art
  - Navigating funding and economic sustainability as an Artivist
  - Mental health and wellness in creative resistance
- They also welcome proposals designed to educate Artivists about specific issue areas such as: Climate Justice, Gender Justice, LGBTQIA+ Rights, War & Militarism, Mental Health, Wellness, Disability Justice, Racial Justice, Indigenous Rights, Child and Youth Rights, Migration and Displacement.
Building Artivist Power and Transforming the Arts & Culture Sector
- The arts and culture sector has long been shaped by exclusion, colonialism, racism, ableism, and patriarchy.
- Topics may include:
  - Access and equity in cultural institutions
  - Independent spaces, cooperatives, and artist-run initiatives
  - Approaches for collective care and artist organizing as workers for better working conditions
  - Advocacy campaigns for systemic change in the arts sector
  - Building power across networks of historically excluded artists
Artistic Activations: Stage Performances, Interdisciplinary Artistic Offerings
- At the heart of Artivism is art itself. They invite proposals for artistic interventions, performances, and workshops across all disciplines that embody the intersection of art, culture, and social change.
For Academics & Public Intellectuals: Theories & Practices of Artivism
- Sessions that showcase the historical and theoretical foundations of Artivism? How are these being reinterpreted or expanded today? Proposals can explore how Artivism is being taught, documented, archived, and passed on—as a lineage and as a living, evolving practice. They welcome academic presentations and decolonial practices of knowledge sharing.
Funding Artivism (For Philanthropists)
- Sessions that highlight how funders are moving resources toward Artivism and cultural strategies. Share models of grantmaking, investment, and partnership that help embed cultural strategy into social, political, and economic change.
For Scientists and Indigenous Wisdom Keepers
- They are especially interested in how both Indigenous communities and the scientists are working with artists to translate knowledge – ancestral knowledge and scientific knowledge – into public understanding and action.
Strategy Sessions Strategy
- Sessions are facilitated spaces designed for Artivists and allies across sectors to engage in focused dialogue and collaborative planning. These are not panels nor trainings—they are interactive, goal-oriented conversations that move participants toward concrete outcomes.

Eligibility Criteria

The convening will bring together artists, activists, educators, and cultural workers from across the globe, to uplift marginalized artist voices, foster cross-movement collaboration, and inspire bold, creative approaches to building a more equitable world.
They are seeking proposals for dynamic panels, interactive workshops, strategy sessions, performances, and artistic interventions designed to spark collaboration across sectors and geographies.

Application Requirements