As society grapples with complex issues, challenges and concerns, the arts are finding their way into education, business, government and many other areas. These arts-based processes help to expand and deepen knowledge, create insight and engagement, change behaviour, and create opportunities for cooperative enterprise.

Throughout the world, an increasing number of artists and social enterprises are working together to facilitate positive social change through art, whether the work explores issues of racism, facilitates conflict-resolution, educates about health and environmental issues, empowers women to assert their human rights, builds resiliency in youth-at-risk, empowers marginalized communities, creates effective public policy, celebrates local histories, or simply provides new opportunities for expression and dialogue.

Art practices are potent tools serving diverse agendas for social change by engaging people with issues and with each other in new, creative ways.

This is an opportunity to explore ideas and initiatives and contribute to creating connections, communication, relationships, and cooperative enterprise across the silos that often divide us as we address local and global challenges.

Guest speaker, Arlene Goldbard, is a writer, a consultant, and a leader in the field of cultural and community development. She works with arts, educational, community, and government organizations to encourage change through the arts.

Host, Judith Marcuse, has been creating art as a social force and a catalyst for change, marrying artistic excellence and social relevance in her contributions to Canadian dance and theatre.

The artists and arts organizations you will meet will have been exhibiting their materials during the day, meeting their peers, discussing their work, and engaging in conversation with Arlene and Judith about how ICASC might best serve artists working in social change.

The International Centre of Art for Social Change (ICASC) is a partnership between Judith Marcuse Projects and Simon Fraser University. ICASC will become a communications and learning centre to facilitate connections, relationships, and collaboration.

Join the conversation and discuss how the International Centre of Art for Social Change could contribute to local and global opportunities through the arts.