Home | For Freedoms

Freedom of Speech

Freedom from Fear

Freedom from Want

Freedom of Worship

We believe citizenship is defined by participation, not by ideology.

Through non-partisan nationwide programming, we use art as a vehicle for participation to deepen public discussions on civic issues and core values. We are a hub for artists, arts partners, and citizens who want to be more engaged in public life.

What we do

Billboards

For Freedoms outdoor activations invite artists to use the tools of art and advertising to encourage civic engagement. We believe that if artists’ voices replace advertising across the country, public discourse will become more nuanced.

Town Halls

Traditionally used by politicians as forums to connect with their constituencies, answer questions, and promote their campaigns, For Freedoms Town Halls provide safe platforms for conversations that seek to encourage a more active, collaborative, inclusive, and empathetic community. Town Halls bring together experts in various disciplines such as art, design, policy making, and community organizing in cities across the country to discuss issues related to freedom.

Exhibitions

For Freedoms exhibitions engage local perspectives on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms: affirming the inalienable human rights of freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

Freedom Quilts

Lawn Signs

In 2018, For Freedoms launched the largest creative collaboration in our nation's history, the  50 State Initiative. During the midterm election season, we held over 600 concurrent decentralized public events across the country with over 250 partners that reflected a multiplicity of voices and sparked a national dialogue about art, education, commerce, and politics. On our platform, you’ll see all of the incredible activations that happened this past fall, in addition to others that the For Freedoms community continues to put on today.

50 STATE INITIATIVE & BEYOND

In 2018, For Freedoms launched the largest creative collaboration in our nation's history, the  50 State Initiative. During the midterm election season, we held over 600 concurrent decentralized public events across the country with over 250 partners that reflected a multiplicity of voices and sparked a national dialogue about art, education, commerce, and politics. On our platform, you’ll see all of the incredible activations that happened this past fall, in addition to others that the For Freedoms community continues to put on today.

Featured Projects

We are For Freedoms

We Are For Freedoms

Greensboro

UNCG For Freedoms Lawn Signs Project in NYC

Accessibility in the Arts

Accessibility in the Arts: Is Expression Really Free to All?

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Community Feed

Michele Pred

I'm a Swedish-American artist, activist and intersectional feminist.

Amir Whitaker

Civil Rights Lawyer Educator, Artist, & Author Project KnuckleHead. ACLU of SoCal

Lorie Novak

Artist, Professor @ NYU Photography & Imaging. Consumer and maker of images.

Chip Southworth

I had a design-heavy upbringing, working in the family sign shop. Today, I consider myself an activist as much as an artist and I’m doing my best to say what I think needs to be said. Art is a powerful tool in that regard. Art can protect and magnify our voices, freedoms and even point to injustices. This is where I live… My art is about giving voice to those who aren’t able to make these same statements… who don’t have the same rights or protections that I do. The pop-ish bright hues throw the viewer’s senses off while setting them up for the impact of the message that the pieces convey. My work explores the interaction of color theory and text compositions that push visual perception. Color-play can create these optical illusions around intersections and interference at others. Mixing these dynamics with socially important topics allow viewers to de-code parts of the work.

Julianne Hughes

Artist - Teaching Artist / Arts Educator at The Berkeley School, Berkeley CA

Jamila El Sahili, "Human Being" Reception

See Jamila El Sahili's "Human Being," now on view outside the Eaton DC and join the artist for a reception at the hotel.

December 20, 2019

Eaton DC

Eaton Workshop is a global purpose-driven company and creative lab at the intersection of culture, media, hospitality, wellness, and progressive social change. Founded by Katherine Lo, whose background in activism and filmmaking fuels her vision of a new inclusive gathering place for changemakers and creatives, Eaton consists of distinct parts—Hotel, House, Media, Wellness, and Impact. Collectively, the pillars serve as an incubator for arts and culture, a beacon for sustainability, a hub for impact initiatives, a holistic healing center, and a global media presence.

Marie Vickles

Marie Vickles, is the Director of Education at the Pérez Art Museum Miami and has served in various roles within the Education department since October 2013. Marie also maintains an active practice as an independent curator with work on over 30 exhibitions and is the Curator-in-Residence at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex.

Janet Wong

Associate artistic director of New York Live Arts and the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company.

Deborah Willis

Deborah Willis, Ph.D, is University Professor and Chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and has an affiliated appointment with the College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Social & Cultural Analysis, Africana Studies, where she teaches courses on Photography & Imaging, iconicity, and cultural histories visualizing the black body, women, and gender.

Maya June Mansour

young photographer dedicated to ending mass encarceration

Maryland Institute College of Art

Acknowledged nationally as a premier leader in art and design education, MICA is deliberately cultivating a new generation of artist – one that is capable of seamlessly integrating innovation, entrepreneurship and creative citizenship with contemporary approaches to art, design and media.

50StatePartner Billboard Exhibition Lawn Signs Public Program Town Hall

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Our supporters

Bromley Foundation

DDI

Ford Foundation

Illumination fund

Lamar

MSS MEDIA

Openbox

pentagram

Rutter Family

Silicon Valley

Unbound

WESTRIDGE

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