The Hypocrisy of Representation and Equality in the UN Space: A Call for Authentic Artist Leadership

For over two decades, I have introduced the transformative power of art and storytelling to leaders within the United Nations (UN) system. As a contracted UN filmmaker and arts curator, I have been at the forefront of engaging diverse poets, musicians, filmmakers, dancers, beatboxers, DJs, and more in High Level events, conferences and more.

Throughout this time, I have witnessed the organization's efforts to champion women's empowerment, youth representation, and the inclusion of diverse voices. However, I have also observed a troubling trend: leaders who advocate for representation and equality often fail to elevate and support the artists and creatives who bring these movements to life. This hypocrisy undermines the potential of the arts in driving social change and dilutes a movement that could be profoundly impactful.

One glaring example involves a woman from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) who initially supported my work in arts, storytelling, and maternal health in the early 2000s. Despite her vocal advocacy for representation, she did nothing to elevate my career. She once heard a young poet from my MDGFive artist network deliver a piece about maternal mortality in Sierra Leone and has continuously told that story, claiming it made her cry—surprising, considering she had been working on the topic for so long. Yet, when recounting this experience now, she does not credit the poet or me, the curator. Instead, she uses it to promote her own agenda on the power of arts to "move hearts and minds"—a very "thoughts and prayers" approach that conscious artists would never claim. She approaches the movement like a fangirl, while we approach it as a lifestyle, a culture, and a result of lived experiences. You can't fake authenticity, and this movement has become so fake.

Another example involves a young person I collaborated with on a film about youth voices. Now an adult with a prestigious position, this individual has taken on advisory roles with arts and culture awards, sidelining curators who are better positioned to nominate artists. These individuals, while strong advocates for the representation of women and youth, have sidelined artists and creatives, taking away paid opportunities and positioning themselves as leaders for our community. This is not just hypocritical; it dilutes a movement with the potential to be truly revolutionary.

A particularly frustrating instance of this disrespect occurred when I produced a film for a girls' empowerment organization led by an adult woman hungry for power and attention. She premiered the film at the UN Commission on the Status of Women with a panel featuring another filmmaker while I sat in the back of the room and attendees looked at me with a mix of confusion and sympathy. This level of disrespect would never fly at a music, film, or arts festival which champions and centers creatives. The UN space must do the same if it embraces the creative economy in an authentic manner.

Additionally, we have activists leading the "artivist" movement who, while talking about promoting pop culture and engaging celebrities like Taylor Swift, support brands and corporations that exploit musicians and creatives. This contradiction must be addressed. These individuals undermine the very essence of what it means to be an artist and activist.

I am tired. I see so clearly the potential that exists if the development community would step aside or provide artists with the opportunity to lead this movement.

Their current approach is failing—research shows we are far from meeting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. According to the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024, only 17% of the SDG targets are on track, with progress on over one-third having stalled or regressed due to lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts, geopolitical tensions, and growing climate chaos (Sustainable Development Report 2024). UN staff are assuming curatorial roles, yet feedback from participating artists indicates they lack the necessary expertise.

We are at a critical point now. We need these same former UN staff, communications experts, youth leaders, and diversity champions to support artist representation by giving us a platform to speak, allowing us to lead the movement, and not co-opting our efforts with their own agendas. Support us both financially and technically in our work.

Don't know where to start?

We need your support to advocate for the strong inclusion of the "arts" in the revised Pact for the Future, the UN resolution to be adopted during the upcoming Summit of the Future. We need you to use your privilege and power to support artists, not only utilize them to aid in their organization's advocacy or fundraising efforts. We are not your next poverty porn.

It is time for artists to lead this movement, to revolutionize the narrative of development and culture that comes with it. Those who advocate for the representation of women, youth, and communities of color must ensure that artists have their own voice and representation.

In the lead-up to the Summit of the Future, representation is a significant theme. Let's not just talk about it—let's practice it. If you find yourself at a table making policies and programs using the words "they" and not "we," it is time to step aside and give the platform to those of us who can speak from lived experiences.

Through the Arts and Culture Working Group's "Arts for the Future" Festival during the UN Summit of the Future, we are amplifying the voices of artists and cultural workers by championing initiatives that center artists, not tokenize them as an addition to institutional culture. We aim to show exactly what letting arts professionals lead looks like. Join us. Support us. Don't create competing UNGA and Climate Week NYC events that overshadow ours. This festival is a call to action for solidarity and authenticity, demonstrating that true representation means supporting artist-led initiatives to undo the harm that has been done and shift direction towards a more impactful movement. Let this be the moment we move from tokenism to genuine inclusion, and from words to action. The time for change is now.

The future of a sustainable world depends on it.