I Have A Dream – Art As A Catalyst For Social Action

Monday January 19th, 2015

We invite you to celebrate Martin Luther King Day with the Vancouver Biennale.

We are celebrating his memory and the legacy of his speech “I Have a Dream”, each day of our exhibition. Through our Residency Program, which promotes Vancouver Biennale core values of exhibiting art that is a catalyst for both learning and social action, emerging artists from around the world are invited to create new work based on the theme “I Have A Dream”.

2014 residency artist Shweta Bhattad used her residency to create the “I Have a Dream” Community Project. A world wide farming initiative  drawing attention to farming practices and communities by inviting artists to collaborate with farmers to sow fields or grow gardens spelling out “I Have a Dream” in their own language. At harvest time communities come together to share a meal of the produce from their created garden.

11. I Have A Dream - Japan - Project Name9 I Have A Dream - Mexico - Letters

Shweta is using art to empower communities through farming and gardening. Already farmers, artists and community members from 27 different countries from Japan to India, Italy to Canada have created art in their fields, gardens and balconies, and in 2015 Surrey School District will be participating in the project, joining important conversations about human rights, the environment and farming practices through social action.

Have you been inspired by Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech? Do you share our belief that art can promote positive change? Please join Shweta’s initiative and plant an “I Have A Dream” garden in your community or your own back yard. Please contact us for more information.

Read the “I Have A Dream speech in its entirety here at the U.S. National Archives.

Like what you see?