IHRAM CELEBRATES SIX YEARS OF GLOBAL IMPACT IN ART AND HUMAN RIGHTS
By Wole Adedoyin
The International Human Rights Art Movement (IHRAM) proudly marks its sixth anniversary, celebrating a transformative journey of empowering artists and championing human rights worldwide. In these six years, IHRAM has emerged as a vital force, providing a platform for over 2,000 artists from 114 countries and 41 U.S. states to drive social change through their creative expressions.
Since its inception, IHRAM has organized six annual festivals in New York City, attracting more than 4,000 in-person attendees. These festivals have showcased the transformative power of art in advocating for human rights, providing a stage for artists to express their struggles and triumphs in the face of adversity.
IHRAM’s commitment to safeguarding activist-artists in conflict zones has been unwavering. The organization has extended its support to artists in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Palestine, Kenya, Cameroon, Kazakhstan, Kashmir, and other regions where freedom of expression is under threat. These brave artists, who risk their safety to share their stories, have found refuge and solidarity within the IHRAM community.
The movement has also built an extensive network of partnerships with renowned organizations such as Avant-Garde Artists in Paris, UNESCO-RILA in Glasgow, PEN Artists-at-Risk program in NYC, European Network of Migrant Women in Brussels, and the NYC Commission on Human Rights. These collaborations have amplified the voices of artists worldwide, ensuring that their messages reach a global audience.
Through its robust online presence, IHRAM has promoted the works of its artists to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe. The movement’s social media platforms, newsletters, and website have provided a vital space for artists from remote villages in India, Bangladesh, Malawi, and Nepal to gain international visibility, often for the first time.
One of IHRAM’s core principles is to honor and compensate its artists for their contributions. For many, this recognition has been a life-changing experience, instilling a newfound sense of importance and validation in their work and their fight for human rights.
IHRAM’s influence extends beyond the art world, with features in prominent media outlets such as The New York Times, Fox Five Morning Show, NBC Live!, NY Observer, and The Hollywood Reporter. The organization’s work has also been spotlighted by international publications including Naira (Nigeria), Different Truths (India), and Womawords Press (Zimbabwe).
IHRAM’s publishing initiatives, including IHRAM Press and IHRAM Books, have provided literary creators from over 100 countries and 37 states with platforms to share their work. The quarterly literary magazine and global anthologies have become vital tools for writers using their craft to advocate for justice and human rights.
The movement also honors outstanding creators through its prestigious awards, such as the Rhonda Gail Williford Poetry Award and the Art of Unity Creative Award. These monetary awards recognize artists who use their passion and creativity to inspire positive social change.
IHRAM’s commitment to the African continent is demonstrated through its African Secretariat, which sponsors a growing array of publishing opportunities, interviews, workshops, and events in Nigeria and Zimbabwe. These initiatives have nurtured the talents of African creators, providing them with the tools and platforms to amplify their voices on the global stage.
As IHRAM enters its seventh year, it remains dedicated to supporting international and youth fellows, who embark on year-long programs of awareness-raising and change-making. The annual IHRAM Festival in NYC continues to be a centerpiece of the movement’s efforts, bringing together a global collective of artists whose work embodies the beauty and vulnerability of social change.
