The Faculty of Arts and Design, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), is delighted to announce a pioneering partnership with the Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism, Community Arts Network (CAN) and the Global Commons Alliance (GCA) for the highly anticipated inaugural Global Artivism Conference 2024, scheduled to take place in Pretoria from 5 to 8 September 2024. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to leveraging the arts for social and environmental change, fostering a platform for dialogue, innovation, advocacy and action.
The conference, themed Artivism: Centering Cultural Activism for a Safe and Just World, aims to explore the dynamic intersection of the arts and activism, highlighting the pivotal role of creative expression in advocating for societal and environmental issues. This event promises to bring together a diverse array of voices from the arts, academia and activism to engage in meaningful discussions, workshops and exhibitions, showcasing the transformative power of artivism.
Prof Nalini Moodley, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership: "This collaboration with the Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism, the Community Arts Network and the Global Commons Alliance is an important contribution to the promotion of innovative approaches to education and social engagement by the creative community. The Artivism Conference will not only spotlight the critical role of the arts in addressing pressing global challenges but also reinforce the importance of cross-sector partnerships in driving sustainable change."
The Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism, founded in memory of the late South African hip-hop artist Riky Rick, is dedicated to empowering the youth through the arts. The Global Commons Alliance exists to safeguard the global commons, which support the well-being of all life on Earth.
The Community Arts Network is a global platform that seeks to enable, engage and empower artists, organisations and communities that use the arts for social impact. Together, these partnerships reflect a comprehensive approach to artivism, emphasising the synergy between artistic creativity and impactful activism, representing a different kind of global effort, and a different kind of thinking about the urgent challenges facing humanity.
Louisa Zondo and Kumi Naidoo, co-founders of the Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism, said: “The main challenge facing activism is that we are unable to communicate powerfully enough to ensure that the urgency of the multiple crises humanity is facing is responded to with the largest level of participation possible and with a deep sense of urgency. While arts and culture on its own will not provide salvation from the challenges that we face, without harnessing the power of arts and culture we are guaranteed to fail. The Foundation is pleased to partner with the TUT, Global Commons Alliance, the City of Tshwane and the Community Arts Network. We extend an open invitation to individuals and organisations that wish to join and support this effort.”
CAN Managing Director, Anis Barnat, said: "Artivism and practice of engaging the transformative power of the arts for social change is at the heart of our mission at CAN. We are excited to join this powerful partnership in this historic initiative to promote the critical role of artistic expression in changing our world for the better."
The City of Tshwane (CoT) has also come on board as a conference partner as they recognise the value of such interventions in their ongoing attempts to address social challenges.
City of Tshwane's 2022/2026 Integrated Development Plan states that “The City of Tshwane, the administrative capital of South Africa, needs to be a leader in sustainable and innovative development. As the capital city, Tshwane should be ranked among the most liveable cities in Africa, if not the world. A liveable city is convenient, efficient, safe, attractive and cost-effective for work, play and accommodation, meeting the needs and preferences of citizens taking into account broader social, environmental and economic interests.”
Participants can look forward to a rich programme featuring keynote speeches, conference papers, panel discussions, interactive workshops, performances and art exhibitions, all designed to inspire and empower attendees to harness the arts as a tool for social and environmental advocacy. The conference will also serve as a platform for networking, collaboration and exchanging ideas among artists, scholars, activists and students from around the globe.
ABOUT TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY: Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) is a leading higher education institution in South Africa committed to providing innovative and technology-driven education. With a strong focus on research and community engagement, TUT strives to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country and beyond.
ABOUT THE FACULTY OF ARTS AND DESIGN: The Faculty of Arts & Design boasts five departments, namely Design Studies (Fashion Design & Technology), Fine & Studio Arts (Fine and Applied Arts and Jewellery Design & Manufacture), Interior Design, Performing Arts (Dance, Music (Jazz & Opera), Theatre Arts & Design (Technical Theatre & Design and Theatre Arts & Performance), and Visual Communication (Commercial Photography, Integrated Communication Design and Motion Picture Production). Our programme qualification mix is locally relevant and internationally competitive.
ABOUT THE RIKY RICK FOUNDATION: The Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism honours the legacy of Riky Rick, a visionary in the South African music industry. The Foundation focuses on uplifting the youth through initiatives that promote access to the arts and education, fostering a new generation of artists and leaders, and on promoting mental health.
ABOUT THE GLOBAL COMMONS ALLIANCE: The Global Commons Alliance is a growing coalition of scientists, philanthropists, civil society groups, businesses and innovators, enabling collective action to safeguard the global commons. A sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, the GCA is working to ensure a safe and just future for people and planet.
CITY OF TSHWANE: The Metropolitan Municipality is a Category A municipality situated in the Gauteng Province that moves progressively towards the social and economic upliftment of local communities and ensures universal access to essential services that are affordable to all.
COMMUNITY ARTS NETWORK: The Community Arts Network (CAN) is a non-profit organisation with more than 780 members across 60 countries that works to support individuals, organisations and communities that use the arts as a vehicle for social change. CAN supports and promotes community-based arts and culture initiatives. CAN serves as a resource for artists, organisations and communities interested in applying the arts as a tool for social change, community development and cultural expression.
For more information on the Artivism Conference, including registration details and programme updates, or if you would like to come on board as a partner, please contact Irene Botes, Faculty Marketer, Faculty of Arts and Design, Tshwane University of Technology, at