On December 9, 2014, the release of Ezell Ford’s autopsy report inspired an 18-day protest held in
record-breaking cold in front of LAPD headquarters. The evidence confirming that Ford had been shot by
police at close range inspired a group of dance activists, led by Black Lives Matter founding member Dr.
Shamell Bell, not only to occupy space but also to move within it. The protest represented what she coined
“street dance activism” based on “radical joy” and “collecting freedom dreaming.”
Impact: The Journal of the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning at Boston University invites
submissions for a special issue on arts activism. We ask: Who are the leaders of arts activism today? How
has arts activism responded to our current political moment? How can an understanding of past
movements help us navigate the present? How does arts activism interact with or transcend other forms of
protest? How are students and educators embracing the “artivism” movement in creative, educational, and
social ways?
We seek scholarly, experimental, and/or experiential work on arts activism including street art/community
installations; music and composing; public performance; architecture and design/space; community
engagement; somatic activism; comedy and activism; digital/social media; zines/pamphlets, comics, and
more.
We also solicit work on the convergence of arts activism and revolution: how forms of creative
expression drive social and/or policy change in areas affecting human rights, systemic inequality, climate
change, etc.
We welcome articles with video or audio components, as well as projects that incorporate movement,
somatic practices, theater and performance into the classroom or curriculum.
Submissions through Scholastica here: www.bostonuniversity.news/impact