See Jane Do Everyday Women Doing Extraordinary Things
Are you an artist who cares about social justice? If so, we hope to meet you this July at the annual Arts for Social Change Jam, a five-day retreat for “artivists” (artist-activists) in the beautiful Santa Cruz mountains. This is an amazing opportunity for people working at the intersection of the arts and social change to gather together, create networks and new communities, share ideas and skills, discuss the rewards and challenges of working in the arts and activism, find new collaborators, and be nourished and inspired by nature, healthy food, a supportive community of fellow artivists, and the time and space to reflect and dream.
The Arts for Social Change Jam is organized by Yes! Yes! is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting, inspiring, and collaborating with change-makers to create more just and sustainable ways of living. Yes! is headed by Shilpa Jain, a woman who embodies See Jane Do’s emphasis on putting Passion into Action, and helping others do the same.
Past participants in the Arts for Social Change Jam have reported experiencing breakthroughs that moved them through artistic blocks and developing new ideas about the role of artists in increasing social justice. Participants frequently develop relationships that extend long after the Jam. For example, one California based visual artist recently exhibited her work at a New York museum curated by a woman she met at last year’s Arts for Social Change Jam. Another group of people who met at the Jam have been meeting weekly over Skype to support each other’s processes and work. Jammers who live in the same geographical area tend to build even deeper community, through attending each other’s arts and activism events, as well as participating in each other’s lives more broadly, and sometimes even becoming artistic collaborators.
This year’s Jam will take place July 7-12. Applications are now open, with a May 1st deadline and priority given to those who apply by March 31. Artists working in all genres, on any social justice issues, and with any level of experience are encouraged to apply. The cost for the program, lodging, and vegetarian food is $750, and scholarship and work-trade opportunities are available.
For more information about the jam, including bios of the facilitators, testimonies from past participants, and instructions on how to apply, please visit www.yesworld.org/artsjam2015
You can also email us at artandsocialchangejam[at]gmail.com
We look forward to playing, working, growing and connecting with you in July!
