Uniting artists to show the importance of empathy
Each day leading up to Giving Tuesday on November 27th, we will feature one case study showcasing our member companies’ social impact work. View the list to date here.
Amnesty International + Sid Lee
What was our intention?
In these times of uncertainty and volatility, we saw an opportunity to show that peace, and more generally empathy, still needed all the attention they could get. We wanted to unite artists around the world to portray the contrast between the naive ideal of a peaceful world and the harsh reality of our troubled times.
What did we do?
In the heart of Montreal, next to the Queen Elizabeth hotel where John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their Bed-in for Peace in 1969, we installed 40 beds and invited people to come together and celebrate peace during a brand-new bed-in. Posters received through a peace competition organized for the event were printed on the beds and allowed people to reflect, lie down, and enjoy musical performances while funds were raised for Amnesty International.
How did this drive impact?
Over the years we came to the realisation that hate gets all the headlines. We wanted to use art as a powerful tool to help peace. For a rare day in 2017, it was peace that made all the headlines. More than 400 artists from 17 countries submitted artwork, and 35 million media impressions were generated for the event. We were able to raise awareness for numerous international conflicts.
What do we aspire to do next?
Continue to find ways in which artists can inspire positive change through generating awareness about global conflicts. By coming together to deliver creative and unrelenting messages of compassion, kindness and peace, we demonstrate that art can be a powerful force for social change and ultimately design the world of tomorrow.
Want to learn more? Contact:
Katia Aubin
kaubin@sidlee.com
Photo courtesy of Sid Lee