INSPIRING HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISM – Creative Day

Every day, around the world, inspiring individuals risk their lives to fight for and defend the human rights that many of us take for granted. Their commitment to the causes they defend, despite the risks they face, is deeply inspiring.

The Centre for Applied Human Rights is hosting an art competition which will celebrate inspirational human rights activism by inviting you to think about what or who inspires you to value and support human rights activism.

What does human rights activism mean to you and why should we celebrate it? Has a particular human rights defender inspired you? What about a moment you witnessed, experienced or read about that made you value human rights and those who defend them? Which human rights causes are particularly close to your heart that you want to inspire others to think about?

The competition is open to everybody; you don’t need to be an activist or artist to take part. Vouchers for artist materials will be awarded to first and second place winners in adults and under-16s categories.

We will be hosting a creative day at The Crescent on Sunday 13th October, where some materials will be provided for people to make their competition entries. Throughout the day, artists and activists will join us to talk about their work and lead creative activities. You can drop in to their sessions free of charge, and materials will be provided. The sessions are aimed at people with all skill levels – no previous knowledge needed!

• 12pm – 1pm Stone decorating: this is a peaceful and therapeutic activity that will help you think about our connection with the natural environment and land, and those defenders who risk their lives to protect it.
• 1pm – 2pm Lino printing: print-making has long been a popular and effective way of sharing eye-catching and impactful revolutionary messages. This session has a focus on the historic and contemporary use of print-making in Mexican activism.
• 2pm – 3pm Collage: this versatile art form is used in all sorts of activism, from zines to posters to flyers. It is one of the most accessible and affordable ways to make powerful and politically relevant images.
• 3pm – 4pm Art, Activism and Archive: this is a chance to hear from photographer Jim Joel, installation artist and sculptor Shohrab Jahan and film maker Emilie Flower who are working in collaboration on the Art, Activism and Archive research with CAHR.
• 4pm – 5pm Embroidery: textile-based work like embroidery and sewing is practised around the world as a form of peaceful protest. Members of a York-based collective whose embroidery commemorates and celebrates human rights defenders will join us in this session.

Please contact Tallulah Lines with any questions or queries: tallulah.lines@york.ac.uk