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New York, NY – Create2030 in partnership with the World Health Organization is launching an online COVID-19 Arts Festival from 26-31 July, 2020.

Co-curated by Christopher Bailey (Lead, Arts and Health, World Health Organization) and Lisa Russell (Emmy-award winning filmmaker and Founder, Create2030), the festival is a culmination of COVID-19 related artwork from a growing community of artists from around the world who are using their talents to dispel myths, educate and create a narrative of this unique time in history.

The festival includes the launch of a virtual art gallery, a meet and greet with the artists and a series of webinar events focused on art and COVID-19. The festival will encourage attendees to support artists through licensing or purchasing of current artwork or contracting artists for future work.

Invited speakers range from UN development specialists to arts therapists/educators to professional artists including Victor Orozco (Senior Economist, World Bank), Fahmy Hanna (Technical Officer, WHO’s Mental Health Division), Nisha Sajnani, (Associate Professor & Director, Drama Therapy and the Theatre & Health Lab, NYU), Ashara Ekundayo, (Founder, Artist as First Responder), Ayandi McKayi (Actor, MTV Shuga), mental health experts and artists and others to ensure a comprehensive discussion about the role of arts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, the World Health Organization released a report “What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being?” that showed that arts are instrumental in the “prevention of ill health, promotion of health, and management and treatment of illness across the lifespan.” 

“Artists are often among the first to respond to a collective crisis, helping communicate life-saving messages, providing comfort, building solidarity, and helping us make emotional sense of a chaotic and anxious time,” states Bailey.  

“The pandemic has taken a hard toll on the creative economy and we are thankful to work with the World Health Organization to find innovative ways to highlight the important contributions artists make in times of crises as well as ideate ways to support them,” states Russell. 

More information and RSVP at bit.ly/COVID19ArtsFest

WHO and Create2030 representatives available for interviews.

About World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution, which establishes the agency’s governing structure and principles, states its main objective as “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. 

About Create2030

Create2030 is an international network of award-winning professional artists who are committed to using their talents in support of the UN-led 17 Sustainable Development Goals through live performances and arts curation, creative workshops and facilitating partnerships between creative professionals and UN/NGO agencies.

Media Contact
Company Name: Create2030
Contact Person: Lisa Russell
Email: Send Email
Phone: 9175544126
Address:125 Ryerson Street
City: Brooklyn
State: NY
Country: United States
Website: www.creat2030.org