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Art Works Projects

Chicago, Illinois

Grants

2019 ( 8 months)
$50,000

ART WORKS Projects (AWP) uses documentary based multi-media projects focused on grave human rights abuses to educate global audiences about challenges and to inspire change. AWP’s recently completed feature documentary, The Prosecutors, provides global audiences with an opportunity to move behind the scenes of justice as lawyers and their clients and partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Colombia ensure that that justice is afforded in all types of cases, even those of conflict related sexual violence, which have been ignored for decades. In convening an international gathering in Abuja, Nigeria with the Centre for Democracy and Development, AWP will ensure that a broad cross-section of the Nigerian community focused on long term peace building and transitional justice benefit from the lessons illustrated in the film. The audience will include: directly impacted communities going through post-conflict processes, policy makers who can support new structures, and advocates who can insist on justice. Highlighted by the presence of 2018 Nobel Laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege, the convening will allow a uniquely diverse gathering of leaders to connect on this most urgent topic. Of significant importance will be the opportunity for Dr. Mukwege to clarify the urgency of addressing conflict related sexual violence, and for the film to illustrate how justice can be used to end the expectation of impunity around these war crimes, and prepare a more durable peace process. Additionally, AWP will be able to assist with media tools creation to be used for follow up activities. A strong press focus around the event will ensure that the work is amplified widely.

2019 ( 6 months)
$50,000

ART WORKS Projects (AWP) uses documentary based multi-media projects focused on grave human rights abuses to educate global audiences about challenges and to inspire change. AWP’s recently completed feature documentary, The Prosecutors, provides global audiences with an opportunity to move behind the scenes of justice as lawyers and their clients and partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Colombia ensure that that justice is afforded in all types of cases, even those of conflict related sexual violence, which have been for decades ignored. Through the global outreach and impact program, AWP will ensure that the lessons illustrated in this film are shared with directly impacted communities going through post-conflict processes, with policy makers who can support new structures, and with global voters who can insist on justice. These activities will take tools and strategies launched in Nigeria and developed through the establishing partnerships and use them across the continent and in other regions, as well as global policy centers.  The work done for the launch will allow AWP to partner extensively around the globe through the coming year with a wide variety of stakeholders and partners at the grassroots, national, and international levels. Medium term outcomes will include content education and fruitful peer-to-peer relationships for practitioners, educated policy makers, and inspired voters as well as increased numbers of successful prosecutions. Long term outcomes will include the creation of more inclusive and durable peace processes as the destabilizing effects of conflict related sexual violence are addressed.

2016 (1 year)
$150,000

Chicago-based ART WORKS Project for Human Rights (ARTWORKS) uses the Arts to raise awareness of, and educate the public about significant human rights issues. ARTWORKS agenda includes projects exposing genocide, wartime sexual violence, women’s rights, famine, child labor and human trafficking, ethnic cleansing, and tyranny. It selects topics that receive the least coverage in mainstream media, yet are the most abusive for victims. This award will assist ARTWORKS with post-production costs, screenings for a global audience, as well as print and digital campaigns to promote the film The Prosecutors, a feature-length documentary that focuses on three prosecutors from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Colombia, fighting for justice for victims of sexual violence.

2015 (2 years 3 months)
$50,000

Art Works Projects for Human Rights (Art Works Projects) uses the arts to educate the public about human rights issues. Art Works Projects will engage in an artistic exchange with organizations with similar missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Colombia, which will result in a new photography exhibition to be shared with audiences in each location. The exhibition will compare the state of transitional justice, the set of judicial and non-judicial measures that have been implemented in order to redress the legacies of massive human rights abuses, in each country (including the United States). It will include photographs by artists from each country as well as academic information on transitional justice. Each country will provide public programs to accompany the exhibition. This grant supports travel, accommodations, artist fees, artistic and publication materials, and exhibition and venue costs. It is recommended as part of the International Connections Fund.

2014 (1 year)
$50,000

A grant to Chicago-based ART WORKS will provide early support for a film that will bring attention to the work of attorneys who are prosecuting sexual crimes committed against women in DRC, Bosnia, and Colombia. Funds will be used to complete post-production for a 15-minute cut that will presented at the Global Summit on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict in June 2014.