Art can be beautiful. Art can also have social impact. Some art can do both.

Many spiritual traditions and philosophies view creativity as something that transcends human origin, passing through artists as a divine or universal force. We happen to believe that creativity is a transcendental force that moves through artists, allowing them to manifest something greater than themselves.

This will be a strange concept to self-absorbed political and business leaders who lack the ability to feel compassion. (Do we really need to mention names?)

You, on the other hand, are an artist with empathy. You are an artist who wants to allocate at least a portion of your talent to the common good. You wish to release your creative energy for a brighter future rather than just making snarky comments on social media…as tempting as that is.

Need inspiration? These pages contain seventy-five actions you might consider as well as sixty examples of people and projects who have activated their art.

Maybe these examples will help motivate you:

Inspiration for Visual Artists

• Fine Arts: Painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking
• Design Arts: Graphic design, interior design, fashion design, industrial design
• Media Arts: Photography, film, animation, digital art
• Street Art: Graffiti, murals, public installations
• Crafts: Ceramics, textiles, glass arts, jewelry
• Outsider Art: Visionary art, art brut, folk art, prison art, naïve art, self-taught art

Inspiration for Performing Artists

• Theatre: Classical, contemporary, musical, experimental, political, cultural, eco-theatre
• Dance: Ballet, contemporary, urban, modern, world
• Music: Instrumental, vocal, composition, conducting, electronic, music festivals
• Performance Art: Experimental, interdisciplinary, historical, poetry slams, street theatre
• Cultural Arts: Storytelling, indigenous and ethnic art forms, ritual performances

Inspiration for Literary Artists

• Creative Writing: Poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction
• Drama: Playwriting, screenwriting
• Prose: Essays, novels, short stories
• Graphic Novels: Comic art, illustrated narratives, manga, web comics

Additional inspiration and examples are coming soon for Applied Arts (architecture, decorative arts, illustration), Environmental and Ecological Arts (land art, sustainable design, eco-activist art) and, yes, even Culinary Arts (cuisine, food styling, beverage arts).