Madonna has confirmed Katy Perry as the first guest curator for Art for Freedom in 2014 for the month of January. Katy will collaborate with Madonna to select daily submissions to be showcased on artforfreedom.com. Since launching in September 2013, Art for Freedom has received over 3,000 submissions globally via artforfreedom.com and its social media platforms.

 

"Art can change the world, but first it needs to be seen and heard," said Madonna. "Katy Perry and I are asking you to be that voice and show us how you define freedom in 2014. This will be a year of monumental changes for human rights, and we want you to be a part of that change. Let us hear from you."

 

"I am so fortunate to have the freedom to express myself through music," said Katy Perry. "Now I'm calling all of my incredibly creative KatyCats to use their talent to show Madonna and me how they express their freedom. I believe that 2014 can be a year of great social change. Together we can all stand up for Human Rights. Join the conversation, and let your art be your voice."

 

As part of the Art For Freedom initiative, Katy Perry will work with Madonna to select one artist during the month of January whose creative expression demonstrates a unique view of the fight for human rights. Madonna will then award a $10,000 grant to a nonprofit organization of the winning artist's choice. All projects must be focused on the values of Art For Freedom. David Blaine served as Art for Freedom's guest curator for the month of December.

 

Launched in September 2013, Art For Freedom is a global digital initiative, led by Madonna in partnership with VICE Media, designed to fuel free speech - to respond, address and protest persecution and discrimination around the world. It is an online public art project encouraging people to express their personal meaning of freedom and revolution, in the form of video, music, poetry, and photography. Public submissions become part of the Art For Freedom website: contributors can join the project by uploading original artwork or tagging original posts #artforfreedom. The project was launched with the film secretprojectrevolution, co-directed by Madonna and Steven Klein.

Edited January 15, 201411 yr by SweetCandy

 

Terminal Freedom

Local organizations that help people suffering from neuromuscular diseases will benefit from a video posted by a Rochester area woman. A foundation run by Madonna is granting the money after they reviewed a one minute video.

 

The video was posted by someone in the WXXI family. It’s Joy Parker, our web coordinator, who was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease in April of 2010, when she was just 39 years old. Parker submitted the video to Madonna’s Art for Freedom project, which promotes art and free speech.

 

A spokesperson with Madonna’s Ray of Light Foundation says Parker’s video was picked among all of the others submitted in December. In the video, Joy had a simple, yet powerful explanation for what freedom means to her.

 

“Freedom is still being alive so I can take care of my daughter, freedom is still being able to express myself.”

 

As a result of being selected by the foundation, $10,000 goes to a nonprofit organization of Joy’s choosing, and in this case, it will be shared by the Greater Rochester Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Upstate ALS chapter.

 

Sally Cramer is Director of Business Development for the local MDA. She has known Joy ever since she was diagnosed, and has always been impressed by her spirit.

 

“Even though she’s affected every day of our life, not just Joy, but her entire family, but she still has that, ‘I’m going to get out there and make a difference.”

 

Joy Parker continues to work from home, and as she said in the video, ‘freedom means everything .’

Miley Cyrus is April Guest Curator for Art For Freedom

Madonna announced today that Miley Cyrus will be the guest curator for Art for Freedom for the month of April. Miley will collaborate with Madonna to select daily submissions which will be showcased on artforfreedom.com. Launched in September 2013, Artforfreedom.com was created by Madonna as a vehicle to inspire artists around the globe to share their artistic representations on the subject of freedom and human rights.

"There has never been a more crucial time to participate and help create change in the world. I've been so inspired by people's submissions since we began and I welcome Miley's input along with her fans to express themselves artistically and to share their creative ideas on the subject of human rights and freedom of speech. Miley and I look forward to hearing your voices in the format of your choice throughout the month of April and onward," commented Madonna.

 

"Art can speak volumes - I'm glad to join Madonna in encouraging people to have their voices heard at artforfreedom.com. It's an ideal home to see how each of us can participate in changing the world for the better," stated Cyrus.

 

Cyrus and Madonna will select the winning artist's submission at the end of April and will award a $10,000 grant to a nonprofit organization of the winning artist's choice. All projects must be focused on the values of Art For Freedom.

 

Launched in September 2013, Art For Freedom is a global digital initiative, led by Madonna in partnership with VICE Media, designed to fuel free speech - to respond, address and protest persecution and discrimination around the world. It is an online public art project encouraging people to express their personal meaning of freedom and revolution, in the form of video, music, poetry, and photography. Public submissions become part of the Art For Freedom website: contributors can join the project by uploading original artwork or tagging original posts #artforfreedom. The project was launched with the film secretprojectrevolution, co-directed by Madonna and Steven Klein.