Human rights abuses don’t stop…
And neither does IHRAM
From New York City, USA to Ibadan, Nigeria, from Kerala, India to Brisbane, Australia to Myanmar, our artists and team use creativity 24/7 to make the world a more just and welcoming place.
IHRAM Values: Beauty as a fundamental creative principle; Sincerity and Vulnerability of presentation; Celebrating Diversity and opening doorways of Engagement!
The International Human Rights Art Movement was founded out of artist-activist Tom Block’s passion to use creativity to spur positive social change.
Activist painter, playwright, author and social thinker Tom Block developed his model to use art and creativity to inspire the struggle for human rights and social justice,over the course of his own 30+ year creative career.. He published his ideas as a manifesto/handbook in 2014, Prophetic Activist Art: Handbook for a Spiritual Revolution. Then, he set about implementing his model, founding the International Human Rights Art Movement at Dixon Place, in Manhattan in 2017.
Unlike much oppositional activism, our work is predicated on reaching out to decision makers, non-art activists and organizations and into the general population. We do not set ourselves up against power-brokers, nor take sides in ongoing conflicts. Always on the side of those fighting for social justice and human rights, we see the humanity in all peoples. Most importantly, we feel strongly that we must positively interact with decision makers in politics and society, as change will ultimately be effected by infiltration, not revolution.
The IHRAM uses our platforms to give voice to artists and issues around the world. We protect freedom of expression by highlighting those who might be suppressed or oppressed in their home countries.
We bring together all members of society through our programming, from artists-in-exile and at risk; to activists on the front lines of the struggle for rights and justice in their own country; to creators working in all media; to national and international politicians, government agencies, social leaders and celebrities.
We believe that creative engagement with all members of the society is the surest path toward social justice and positive change.
Learn more from our featured videos.
This documentary shows our first festival, held at Dixon Place in New York's Lower East Side, March 3-5, 2017. There were more than 50 events presenting 150+ artists and performers, including welcome videos from Norman Lear and Senator Charles E. Schumer, appearances by NYC Human Rights Commissioner Carmelyn Malalis, Chinese Democracy Activist Wei JingSheng, Nigerian activist and founder of Sahara Reporters Sowore Omoyele and many more.
The annual International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF) took place at the Tank Theater (NYC) from December 4-10, 2023. Videographer Chris Bradley made this short documentary about the event.