The transformative power of art in community dialogue and positive social narratives
Berlin-based German American photographer, Rebecca Sampson is taking part as a guest speaker at the conference on arts-based peacebuilding, organized by Visual Voices. Her photography is linked to her passion for reportage and social commentary, focusing on a wide range of social issues. Her works have been exhibited internationally in the Americas, Asia, and Europe. AppleS for sale was shown at the Goethe-Institut Cyprus in 2018.
Arts-based peacebuilding draws on well-established means of communication and personal reflection, while benefiting from an existing public interest in the artistic and cultural sector. The combination of which, has the potential to effectively and dramatically contribute to more peaceful societies. In practice, it is a powerful tool that brings strong emotional responses and creates space for expression, reflection and the reformulation of perspectives.
Visual Voices believes that this makes arts-based initiatives a critical component to challenging conflict narratives and transitioning into peace supporting narratives. As the field of arts-based peacebuilding continues to grow, Visual Voices seeks to address the recognized challenges such as measuring lasting impact and receiving greater recognition for its role in peacebuilding processes.
Bringing together practitioners, academics and artists, this conference will examine the power of art as a tool for conflict transformation. Practitioners working in different contexts will share their experiences, insights and lessons learned. Round table discussions will follow focusing on different approaches within the field and how the impact of these actions can be measured.
RSVP by 15 February 2020 at
projects@visual-voices.org
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