Slavery is illegal in every country in the world, but there are still 27 million people enslaved. Slavery today is even worse than it used to be because food shortages have made it easy for traffickers to trick people into slavery by pretending to offer them jobs. This has led to enslaved people being treated as disposable. However, it is easier to end slavery now than ever before. Slaves make up a smaller percentage of the world population than they used to, no industry relies on slavery to continue, and it is generally accepted that slavery is wrong. Now is the time to abolish slavery.
Art Marathon is a 24 hour art-making session to raise awareness about modern slavery and raise money for
Free the Slaves, a nonprofit organization that liberates slaves and teaches them jobs skills so that they do not fall back into poverty. The marathon begins at midnight of December 31st and ends when the New Year begins. Many of the artists will stream live video of their art as they create it.
Visit
art-marathon.org to learn more about modern slavery and Art Marathon, or to sign up to participate in the marathon. Artists in any medium (visual art, performance, writing, etc.) are welcome to participate.
If you’re not up for staying up 24 hours to make art, you can still help out by spreading the word. A sample blog and forum post for telling artists about the marathon is available at
art-marathon.org now. Flyers, press releases and a donor-directed sample blog post will be added in the beginning of December.
Art Marathon is a project I've been working on for a while now. I'm both organizing it and drawing in it. Hoping that some of you would like to draw, too!