UN Declaration Art Project
In 2008 Vancouver Island MusicFest, and over 25 community organizations, undertook a large scale participatory community art project as part of the lead up to Vancouver Island MusicFest 2008.
Participatory Community Art is a really amazing tool that links diverse individuals and organizations within a community. In developing this concept we were looking for a project that could galvanize a wide range of community organizations towards a common theme or goal. The power of this common focus is a very beautiful thing.
The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a document that resonates for people on a number of levels. After 60 years in existence, the goals of the Declaration are as important today as they were in 1948. There is strife and suffering the world over but there is also great hope in the power of individuals and communities to make a difference in the world and at home. The groups participating in this project share this hope and this belief.
Participating groups in the UN Declaration Project artistically rendered one the 30 articles of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights on a 4 x 8 foot sheet of plywood for display at the Festival.
Participating organizations included The Community Justice Centre, Dawn to Dawn – Action on Homelessness, The United Way, The Red Cross, LUSH Valley, World Community Development Education Society, 19 Wing Comox, Comox Valley Art Gallery, Wachiay Friendship Centre, Cumberland Elementary, Options for Sexual Health, The Women’s Resource Centre, Amnesty International, The Merville Grandmothers, Eureka, Home Depot, Katimavik, and the Comox Valley Community Arts Council.
As organizers of a roots and world music festival we have had the opportunity to meet musicians from all over the world. Their stories, tears and triumphs have meant a great deal to us. This project is a way of saying that “we need to be paying attention” as a community to what is going on in our communities and around the world.
Vancouver Island MusicFest is thankful for the enthusiasm and support expressed for this project and especially for the support of Home Depot who contributed all the plywood and base paints.
Our dream is that in years to come we will see these panels scattered like the wind across the Comox Valley and fastened to barns, sheds, fences, chicken coups, garages, alley ways and playhouses!.
Community art is culture in action. It is a collective expression of the values and hopes of the community. It welcomes professionals and amateurs and brings down barriers between ‘artists’ and ‘non-artists’. We are all participants in the culture of our community – as actors, painters, singers, players, writers, dreamers, teachers, parents, volunteers or audience.
