The Broadway Advocacy Coalition has announced that its first Arts in Action Festival will take place on July 24 in New York City.
Based at the Manhattan School of Music, the one-day event will be a collaborative space for organizations, individuals and leaders working at the intersection of art, theater, politics and advocacy. An opportunity to demonstrate the impact of unjust social policies on marginalized communities, the Tony Award-winning non-profit festival also highlights the possibilities of abolition and a society that does not rely on incarceration to solve social problems.
Originally conceived by BAC advisor Alejo Rodríguez, the festival’s first year is dedicated to “reimagining justice” and will feature workshops, performances, panels, discussion groups, galleries and video screenings that will give participants a focus and direction from the city. . Justice system. This includes how real justice may not be created for many New Yorkers.
“Fundamentally, art is an act of voice declaration and therefore essentially an expression of defense,” Rodríguez said in a statement. “It’s not just fun. With the first Arts in Action festival, I hope we can spotlight all organizations that raise artistic voices in support of justice across New York City.”
Divided into several program blocks, most of the festival will be invite-only, making it the first attempt to organize it during COVID, which will be able to participate in panels and screenings, as well as workshops and debates. .
“[BAC meets] At the intersection of art and promotion, if you are someone who wants to develop your ability to see yourself as an exchange agent, if someone who hasn’t bitten the gusanillo but wants to be surrounded by people who are pushing these ideas , This is for you. If you are someone who has worked for years at the intersection of art and law, this is for you. If you are a member of the Broadway industry who has never thought about how to use your advocacy skills to create more human policies and systems through storytelling.
However, the event will end with an open house performance featuring Lynn Nottage, Ariana Apsari, Kenyatta Hughes and more. The event is hosted by Lisa Jessie Peterson and Khalil Cumberbatch and showcases the talent of BAC and other participating organizations.
“We’ve cast a wider net for the ultimate introduction to someone who wants to see how they can use their skills, how they can use their toolkit to change culture and culture,” adds Brown. “It’s for those who have, who have a passion for using stories for justice.”
Throughout the nine-hour day, participants can showcase and celebrate their work related to the city’s justice-affected community, while illustrating how art, with an emphasis on the performing arts, can be a tool to create more powerful policies and systems. and play. a vital role based on justice and liberation in the construction of spaces.
Participating organizations include ARTE (Art and Resistance through Education), University and Community Scholarships, Solidarity Dances, Drama Club, Parole Preparation Project, PEN America, RAPP (Release of the Elderly in Prison), Recreational Arts, Theater of the Oppressed, Theater. Social Change, Urban Justice, Urban Word and Instituto Justiça Vere.
“We are fortunate to be part of an incredible community of organizations that have invested in the defense of the arts in New York City for decades,” said Rob Nanus, executive director of BAC, in a statement. “With so much important work to do, we felt it was vital to invest in finding ways to work more deeply and finding moments to celebrate each other and build the coalition needed to create a more just city.”
The event pushes BAC, whose promotional work is featured in Derek Amengual’s new video, into a familiar and new space with their work.
“We were founded by artists who were looking for ways to use their skills to advocate for a more just city, and we were finding other artists and advocates who were excited to use stories for justice, who wanted an opportunity to really come together. so who decided to do it. responsibility to do so,” says Brown. “This will open many doors and paths for us to build a coalition. We will hear more stories, and by focusing on the stories, we can reimagine what justice looks like. “
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.