? Why I'm Launching an Arts Festival Around the UN Summit of the Future ?

By Lisa Russell

As an Asian American Emmy-winning filmmaker, storyteller, and arts curator working in the United Nations space for the past 20 years, my journey has been anything but linear - or easy. Yet, I've witnessed over and over again the transformative power of art in shaping narratives, shifting mindsets, and driving meaningful change when it comes to development.

Well, this past May, during the UN Civil Society Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, I saw a chance to turn a long-held belief into action. The call for conveners for ImPACT Coalitions offered a chance to showcase what artist-led movements could look like within UN processes. From this initiative, the ImPACT Coalition on Arts and Culture was born—a collective dedicated to elevating the role of arts in global dialogues on sustainability & justice.

Our mandate was clear: to develop a plan that would demonstrate the power of the arts in shaping a more equitable world. What began as a workplan quickly evolved into something much bigger—the "Arts for the Future" Festival.

The idea for this festival was born out of years of frustration, inspiration, and a deep-seated belief that artists have an unparalleled ability to challenge, provoke, & inspire.

I truly believe from my soul that if artists had more power/support, our world would be in a much better place.

The UN Summit of the Future is a pivotal moment for global leaders to envision & commit to a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. Yet, these conversations can sometimes feel distant from the everyday lives of people, especially those most affected by the issues at hand.

By organizing the "Arts for the Future" Festival around this Summit, we aim to bridge that gap.

Artists have a unique capacity to humanize complex issues, to turn abstract concepts into relatable narratives, and to provoke the kind of emotional & intellectual engagement that can lead to real change. The festival will bring together diverse artists—visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, poets, & more—from around the world to showcase their work, share their stories, & engage in discussions that matter.

The "Arts for the Future" Festival is more than just an event; it’s a movement. It’s a call to action for all of us to recognize the power of the arts in driving sustainable development. It’s about amplifying the voices of those too often silenced or sidelined in global discussions. And, most importantly, it’s about ensuring that the future we’re all working towards reflects the diversity, creativity, and resilience of humanity.

I invite you to join us—whether as an artist, advocate, or someone who believes in the power of art to create a more just, equitable and sustainable world.

Let’s make sure that when the history of this moment is written, it includes the voices of artists who dared to dream of a better future and took action to make it a reality.

Sign up for more info here: www.artsforthefuturefest.com

#artsforthefuturefest #wetheartists #representationmatters