Hope-based Communications and Artworks for Social Impact
15 Artists, 10 Countries, 2 Days, 1 Goal – Let‘s Reshape Europe and The Future of Ukraine Together!
Together with our partners Fine Acts, a global nonprofit creative studio for social impact, we are excited to announce a remarkable collection of illustrations on the topic of “Reshape Europe – The Future of Ukraine” to highlight hope, resilience, courage, and solidarity in the face of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Our goal is to imagine the future of Ukraine and Europe, tapping into the potential of artists’ creativity and visionary talent, while using hope-based communications for human rights. The hopeful, empowering, and engaging artworks serve as a rallying call to action for citizens across Europe, to educate, to trigger empathy and to inspire action.
To create the collection, we brought together 15 talented artists from more than 10 European countries, including Ukraine, for SPRINTS, a dynamic creative bootcamp developed and led by Fine Acts, in which visual artists are confronted with a thrilling challenge: a mere 48 hours to conceptualize and craft compelling visual artworks that address a specific, pressing issue.
The objective is to use art to unleash hope and solidarity, while demonstrating the unwavering spirit of the Ukrainian people amidst the war. The resulting collection of more than 22 captivating illustrations is now available online under a specific open license on theGreats.co, a unique global platform dedicated to open-licensed socially engaged visuals. This means that activists, organizations, and civil society around the world can freely use and adapt these artworks non-commercially for their communications and campaigns in support of Ukraine.
“In the fight for human rights, hope is not just a strategy. It”s a promise of a brighter future. Our SPRINTS format brings together visual artists to create artworks on a specific human rights issue, rooted in hope. This serves to imagine our future and acts as a compass to take us there. The bootcamp is a unique platform for illustrators, graphic designers, and typographers to amplify their creative voices and contribute to meaningful societal dialogues,” shares Fine Acts.
‘In the fight for human rights, hope is not just a strategy. It’s a promise of a brighter future. Our SPRINTS format brings together visual artists to create artworks on a specific human rights issue, rooted in hope. This serves to imagine our future and acts as a compass to take us there.’
Artists were able to choose between two topics to work on. Either to portray the remarkable resilience and courage of Ukrainian people in the face of conflict, highlighting everyday acts of resilience, heart, and strength within the country. Or to depict and encourage solidarity across Europe by illustrating what support looks like from donating, volunteering, and countering disinformation to providing humanitarian aid, and reaffirming acts of solidarity at local, regional, and global levels.
The SPRINTS initiative is part of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom’s global campaign #ReshapeEurope. FNF has launched a global dialogue on how Europe can strengthen its resilience and stand up to the enemies of freedom worldwide. Make your voice heard, download and use the artworks, share with us your ideas on how to #ReshapeEurope!
The artworks will be premiered on 10 October at FNF’s global annual conference in Berlin, Germany. “#ReshapeEurope – Defending Liberal Democracy around the World” will bring together more than 200 liberal changemakers and thought leaders, political decision-makers, international experts and partners. Discover the programme and watch the livestream here.
It is a critical time for democracy in Europe. Тoday, we find ourselves facing a new set of challenges that threaten to undermine the progress made so far – from the rise of war, authoritarianism, and far-right leaders to the erosion of common democratic values in many countries within the EU and beyond. “We firmly believe that by rekindling its creativity and radiance, the EU can reinforce its position as a champion of free and democratic societies, both within its borders and on the global stage,” shares FNF.
The war against Ukraine has shaken the world, shattered the peace in Europe and marks a global turning point. The attack on democracy, freedom and the Western order of values and peace in Europe requires a liberal response. With this SPRINTS, FNF tries to imagine the future of Ukraine and Europe through the prism of artists’ creativity, visionary talent and hope.
“We firmly believe that by rekindling its creativity and radiance, the EU can reinforce its position as a champion of free and democratic societies, both within its borders and on the global stage.”
Artists and Team
We express our gratitude to Fine Acts, TheGreat.co and these talented artists: Anina Takeff (Bulgaria/ Germany), Carilla Karahan (Türkiye), Ieva Ragauskaitė (Lithuania/ Portugal), Janine Rewell (Finland), Judit Zengővári (Hungary), Maks Graur (Moldova/ Romania), Marta Leshak (Ukraine), Oksana Drachkovska (Ukraine), Rozalina Burkova (Bulgaria/Spain), Tania Yakunova (Ukraine/ United Kingdom), Tanya Shyika (Ukraine/ United States of America), Teo Georgiev (Bulgaria/ Finland), Tanya Korniichuk (Ukraine/ Lithuania), Veta Yatsenko (Ukraine).
Get inspired! Amplify your visual language and messaging/advocacy/campaign/educational work with these socially engaged artworks. Слава Україні!
#ReshapeEurope #fnfesee #StandWithUkraine #SPRINTS #FineActs