Texts on Early Video Activism

Kino Eyes and Agit Trains

Firstly, what do we mean by the term Activist Art?
It all started last year when a group of us in Eyfa were motivated it would seem by some creative feeling in the air to start using art more in our projects as an amazing way to do such a variety of things.
so to split it up a little as to why and how we like it, (links - look below)
Activist art is more ‘real world oriented’, to contain a critique of society, the larger world and its conventions, criteria or values. With art you can say any thing. Even if its a rude, witty joke! Rather than being strictly private, aesthetic, and we aim at transcending all boundary's.
We feel this form of creativity, used in a purposeful way becomes not just an art piece but a continuous process. Beginning with its creation, action and living on through the reaction it provokes. It can be seen as direct action. A powerful response creating interaction with the spectators. Not only in consuming the messages and ideas but pushing themselves to go further in thought. (and for us to think of them)
As activists learning and creating more interactive forms of dissent is vital. It is a form of protest which can be accessible to all. Working well in communities of all sorts. It offers freedom of speech in public places. Something to be celebrated at all times. It is not only public due to its existence in a public sphere, but it is also public in its content and form. It celebrates and and the creativity and idealism, anger, action, rage frustration, love.
Activist art should be environmentally sound. We have found it it to be wonderfully diverse using all sorts of materials and mediums, locally sourced. It is a sustainable tool due to the recycled, alternative materials used and in the skills it shares.
Using our creativity and passion which motivates us, can be seen as a way to make an effective and take a social, political or environmental stand.

Art can be reclaimed as an instrument of social change taking many forms. Visual Art, films, instillations, sculpting, painting, wall murals, street theatre, poetry, cartoons, drawings, photography, subvertizing,...

On The Move
On the Move Support web site for art activists. It is a web site dedicated to information about international activities, projects and their funding,in the areas of theatre, dance, music and other performing artsdisciplines. It is intended for artists and performing artsprofessionals from the European Union and its surrounding countries whoare travelling also.

Guerrilla Girls:
A crazy feminist activist art website. Based in America unfortunitlybut has good resources. They will also be having an exhibition in theCentral Museum, Utrecht, Holland in June.

AHA:
Activism-Hacking-Artisim (AHA, Hacktivism in Italy). Project on hacktivism and net art in Italy

ALMOSTREAL:
as the core project of the European Cultural Foundation’s new arts programme (2005-2007), is designed to research and facilitatetheartistic exploration of the cultural and social phenomenonofdifference. Basically an EU directive, calls for projectsect.[www.eurocult.org eurocult] then go to 'cultural policy','virtuallibrary', and the report on supporting Balkan cultural groups.The boring EU culture page.

Media and Art activism links:Media and Art Activism, with many links and resources. (Mainly American).

http://www.arts.arizona.edu/change/arts.html
Links on art and activism.

Republic of Art
Concepts behind real public spaces. Theroy involing the artists andcommunity. It was a project which ran from 2002 to 2005. It conatainsquite academic works.

Videos:

G8, 2005,Can you Hear Us:
G8,Gleneagles Scottland 2005. A film about three very different protesters who headed to the Gleneagles earlier this year to persuade the gathered world leaders to take steps to help save the planet fromdistruction.Avalable to download with reviews.

http://www.videoactivism.org/:
A huge collections of 'everything' on videoactivism.