Civil society is facing significant challenges globally, including legislative, administrative, financial, and physical threats. Certain groups, such as environmental activists, LGBTQI+ communities, and women, are particularly vulnerable, though no one is entirely safe. While much effort has gone into documenting these crackdowns and resistance efforts, less focus has been placed on advocating for the importance of civil society and human rights.

In the past, it was generally assumed that most people supported civil society and human rights. However, in today's world, there is a need to actively make the case for both. Civil society is complex, and supporters of an open and progressive society must effectively communicate its value and significance. Similarly, the importance of human rights needs to be connected to people's everyday lives, helping to reinforce the social contract that holds state and other forms of power accountable.

In this context, we are seeking collaborative proposals from artists and activists aiming to convey the value and contributions of civil society through art. While our primary focus is on visual arts, other formats will also be considered.

Proposals can:

- Move beyond technical, jargon-heavy arguments to present the case for civil society in a way that resonates emotionally with people.
- Explore how the language of human rights and civil society can be reclaimed from illiberal forces.
- Identify macro-narratives to challenge populist and authoritarian messages, such as claims that NGOs or civil society groups are foreign agents.
- Focus on proactive responses rather than just reacting to abuses or new laws.
- Imagine alternative futures, drawing from past or current innovative ideas and interventions.
- Offer ways to move beyond the idea that human rights and civil society are zero-sum games, where one group’s gains are seen as another’s losses.

Background

This call is a collaboration between the research project Art Rights Truth (ART) and CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.

ART, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) in the UK, is co-hosted by the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR) and the History of Art Department at the University of York. ART aims to explore how the arts contribute to the development of new human rights languages, with a focus on commissioning collaborative arts-based interventions between artists and activists.

CIVICUS is a global alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society worldwide, with a longstanding interest in artivism. In 2024-25, CIVICUS will publish a thematic report on this topic, integrating submissions from this call into related research and activities.

Successful applicants will be involved in light-touch research as part of ART and CIVICUS’s projects and will have opportunities to showcase their work through online and physical exhibitions, social media, conferences, and workshops.

Proposals

Proposals must be no longer than three pages and should include:

- A brief profile/biography of the applicants.
- A description of the proposed project, including how it aligns with the call’s theme, whether it builds on existing initiatives or is a new collaboration, and which media/methodologies it will use.
- Information on the main beneficiaries and audiences of the project and the suitability of the chosen methodology/medium for the local context.
- Details of additional sources of funding or contributions.
- The envisioned outputs of the project, with encouragement for outputs in local languages.
- A timeline for project delivery, with projects starting between November and December 2024 and concluding by 31 December 2025. A final report or blog must be submitted at the end of the period.
- The amount of funding requested, along with a basic budget justification. Funds can cover subsistence/salary costs, materials, or other reasonable expenses. Most grants will be around £4,000.

Proposals may include an appendix of up to two additional pages featuring examples of artistic work. Video proposals are also accepted, with a maximum length of four minutes.

Evaluation

Proposals will be reviewed by a team from ART and CIVICUS based on the following criteria:

- Alignment with the call’s theme, "We are (for) civil society."
- Innovation and creativity—we are open to supporting work that is provocative and challenging.
- Feasibility, including considerations of safety, security, ethics, timeline, and budget.

Applicants will be notified of the outcomes in October 2024.

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is 15 September 2024, 5pm GMT.