The artist must take sides. He must elect to fight for freedom or for slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative.” — Paul Robeson
In times of war and crisis, when people are rising up, when people are taking a stand, when the stakes could not be higher– what is the responsibility of the artist?
History points us to the answer. Culture is the heartbeat of our movements. It brings people into collective action, sharpens our sense of our own power, and makes a better future feel possible. But the ruling elites also use culture to flood our screens with art that makes the current crisis feel natural, inevitable, and permanent. Artists on the side of freedom have to fight back. Nina Simone, Langston Hughes, June Jordan, Elizabeth Catlett, and Paul Robeson all took a side. The muralists of the Chicano Movement took a side. Hip-hop artists and those speaking out on stages, screens, studio walls, and the streets today take a side. Now, we as artists have to consider what that looks like in today’s context.
In this course presented by Artists Against Apartheid & The People’s Forum, we will study the role of the artist in the movement. We will discuss the responsibility of artists to struggle against the system that exploits, alienates, and pacifies and towards building a culture that inspires, drives, and sustains our collective struggle for liberation. Art alone cannot make a revolution, but it can transform the people who will.
More About the Course: You can take this course from anywhere in the world — join live in-person in NYC at The People’s Forum and online via zoom, or access recordings and readings on your own time. There will also be opportunities to connect with people participating in your regional area to watch classes, discuss and build connections together. Register now and we will follow up with details about local participation.
Drawing from the tradition of the Black Arts Movement, the John Reed Clubs, and other radical artist organizing, part of this course will be Artist Salons — gatherings to exchange ideas, and discuss how to bring the classroom lessons into our artistic practices and organizing. Salons will take place twice over the 6 week course, with some opportunities for those outside NYC to plug into one in their area.
About the Organizations:
Artists Against Apartheid is a network of over 15,000 artists & cultural workers dedicated to using our practices to build the movement for the liberation of Palestine & beyond. We are musicians, writers, poets, actors, filmmakers, painters, dancers, chefs, sculptors, directors, and more—and we know that all artists have a responsibility to build a better world. AgainstApartheid.art
The People’s Forum is a New York City-based education and cultural center for working class and marginalized communities. We build unity across historic lines of division at home and abroad through courses, workshops, grassroots organizing, and cultural programming. peoplesforum.org
WHEN:
This course runs for 6 weeks, from April 21 to May 26, meeting on Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8:30 PM ET. If you aren’t able to join each class live due to scheduling conflicts or time zone differences – no worries, the recordings from each session are uploaded to the course student portal, which all registrants will have indefinite access to, within 24 hours of class.
WHERE:
The Artist Must Take Sides: Culture and the Movement Past Present and Future is a hybrid program, so you can participate from anywhere in the world.
HOW:
Register here to join the course and gain access to all course materials!
