ART IS CHANGE: Strategies & Skills for Activist Artists & Cultural Organizers

Bill Cleveland
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Can your art help dismantle injustice, shift systems, or spark healing in places like homeless shelters, emergency rooms, or city planning meetings? If you’re passionate about making a real difference through creativity, ART IS CHANGE (formerly known as Change the Story / Change the World) is your front-row seat to the real-world impact of art and social change. Hosted by author, musician, and researcher Bill Cleveland, each episode brings you deep into the lives and work of activist artists and cultural organizers who are doing more than dreaming—they’re transforming communities around the world. You’ll discover: • Proven strategies for thriving as an artist for change in complex, real-world settings • How to build meaningful, lasting partnerships that support your mission and your art • Lessons from global leaders creating cultural blueprints for justice, empathy, and resilience ▶️ Start with fan-favorite Episodes 86 and 87: Lessons From an Art and Change Pioneer—a double-dose of inspiration and practical insight.- https://change-the-story-chan.captivate.fm/episode/bighart-bigstory-redux/

  1. 3D AGO

    166: The Wedding - What Can We Learn From Activist Artists in Northern Ireland?

    How can a play devised by enemies, performed in four locations across a peace wall in the middle of a war zone help provoke lasting peace?In November 1999, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, a community play called The Wedding brought Protestants and Catholics together to rehearse a shared future in the fragile aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement. It wasn’t a feel-good arts project. It was risky, volatile, negotiated truth performed in living rooms and kitchen houses on both sides of the peace line. In this episode, we revisit that moment — not as nostalgia, but as a live question for a divided United States struggling to imagine a coherent democratic future. In this episode, we explore three critical lessons from Belfast that feel urgently relevant today: Proximity changes people. Intimacy — not abstraction — makes caricature impossible.Shared labor builds trust before shared opinion. Competence together can precede consensus.Hope is not a feeling. It’s a container built through practice. Democracy survives inside structured collaboration, not slogans. Listen in for a return to Belfast — and a serious invitation to consider what it would mean to rehearse the future together, here and now. NOTABLE MENTIONSPeopleBill Cleveland Host of Art Is Change and author of Art and Upheaval. David Trimble Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and key political figure in the Good Friday Agreement. George J. Mitchell U.S. Senator and American peace envoy who chaired the negotiations leading to the Good Friday Agreement. Joe Egan Belfast theater director and key figure in the development of The Wedding. Martin Lynch Playwright and co-creator of The Wedding, known for community-based theater work in Northern Ireland. Organizations & InitiativesUlster Unionist Party Political party central to the post-Agreement negotiations referenced in the episode. The Good Friday Agreement (1998) The landmark peace accord that helped end decades of violence known as The Troubles. Community Arts Forum (CAFÉ) Belfast-based organization that supported cross-community arts initiatives including The Wedding. The Shankill–Short Strand Peace Line One of Belfast’s “peace walls” dividing Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods. PublicationsArt and Upheaval by Bill Cleveland Book documenting community-based cultural work in conflict zones, including three chapters on The Wedding. The Troubles (Northern Ireland conflict) Historical overview of the 30-year conflict referenced throughout the episode. *******Art Is CHANGE is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change. Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact. Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.

    23 min

  2. FEB 18

    165: The Intercessor - Art, Faith, & Repair in the MAGA Maelstrom

    In this episode I talk with Arlene Goldbard about her new book that I think takes on a quiet but consequential democratic problem: how, in unstable times, the hunger for certainty can slide into surrender—of discernment, of agency, and responsibility. Rather than offering answers or heroes, her book The Intercessor uses story to explore how people learn to stay in relationship, inquiry, and ethical choice without handing their power over to charismatic leaders, rigid belief systems, or the promise of spiritual or political shortcuts. In this conversation, we explore three deeply relevant themes: Intercession as a practice of discernment, and learning how to listen without disappearing yourself in the process.How artists and cultural workers can function as bridges , helping communities resist the pull toward false certainty.And repair as a practiced skill, not an abstract ideal, but rather personal, communal, and spiritual repair that only happens when people remain accountable to one another. You’re right to call that out. No reason to shrink the ecosystem. Here it is restored—full cast, fuller descriptions, URLs embedded in the titles, and organized by the four categories you’ve been using. Notable MentionsPeopleArlene Goldbard: Cultural critic, novelist, painter, and longtime leader in community-based arts. Author of The Intercessor and In the Camp of Angels of Freedom. Her work bridges spiritual inquiry, democratic practice, and cultural organizing.Rabbi Arthur Waskow: Founder of The Shalom Center and a central prophetic voice in Jewish Renewal. A pioneer in linking Jewish spiritual practice with social justice, environmental activism, and interfaith organizing.Rabbi David Wolfe-Blank: Influential Jewish Renewal teacher known for his mystical depth and pedagogical clarity. A formative guide for many Renewal leaders, including Goldbard.Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi: Founder of the Jewish Renewal movement. Brought Hasidic mysticism, experimentation, and interspiritual dialogue into contemporary Jewish life.Paulo Freire: Brazilian educator and author of Pedagogy of the Oppressed. His concept of “conscientization” (critical consciousness) undergirds much community-based arts and democratic cultural practice. PlacesALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal: The national umbrella organization for Jewish Renewal communities, ordination programs, and spiritual leadership training.The Shalom Center: A Jewish justice organization founded by Rabbi Arthur Waskow. Engages in interfaith social action rooted in prophetic Jewish tradition.Sefaria: A free, open-access digital library of Jewish texts. Provides bilingual access to Torah, Talmud, Pirkei Avot, and other foundational sources referenced in the episode. EventsOctober 7, 2023 Attacks and Israel–Gaza War (BBC Overview): Context for the rupture explored in the novel between Sarah and Yasmine—where love collides with ideology, family pressure, and geopolitical trauma.2024 U.S. Presidential Election (Federal Election Commission Overview): The political backdrop near the novel’s close, underscoring its themes of fear, agency, democratic rehearsal, and moral discernment. PublicationsThe Intercessor: Arlene Goldbard’s novel-in-linked-stories exploring intercession as spiritual practice, discernment, ethical repair, and democratic rehearsal in troubled times.In the Camp of Angels of Freedom: Goldbard’s earlier book of portraits and reflections on spiritual and justice-oriented teachers who shaped her moral imagination.Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire: Foundational text articulating internalized oppression and participatory liberation—key intellectual grounding for community-based cultural work.Song of Songs (Shir HaShirim): Biblical love poetry invoked in the episode as an assignment in praise, eros, and relational repair—an ancient text that insists love sits at the center of existence.Pirkei Avot 2:16 (Ethics of the Fathers): Source of the teaching quoted at the close: “It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” A succinct ethic of sustained democratic practice.Overview of the Talmud (My Jewish Learning): Explains the dialogic, argumentative structure of Jewish learning—where disputation itself becomes a form of worship and discernment. *******Art Is CHANGE is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change. Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact. Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.

    47 min

  3. FEB 11

    164: Meeting The Moment - Tactics & Tools for Activist Artists & Cultural Organizers

    What Arts-Based Tool & Tactics are Emerging to Meeting the MAGA Storm? This is the Arts Freedom weather report for February 11, 2026. In this episode you'll hear how Artists across the country are turning public space into sites of creative resistanceWhy local place based cultural responses in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and beyond are becoming frontline laboratories for cultural democratic practiceAnd how innovative artist led networks and cultural organizers are teaching resistance as a craft. NOTABLE MENTIONSPeople Bill Cleveland Host of ART IS CHANGE and founder of the Center for the Study of Art & Community. Renee Macklin Goode Minneapolis poet and community member whose killing sparked mass protest, mourning, and cultural resistance. (Minnesota Public Radio) Nadya Tolokonnikova Artist and founding member of P***y Riot; creator of Police State, referenced in connection with durational performance responding to ICE raids and militarization. (Museum of Modern Art) Daniel C. Walker Artist whose work G Is for Genocide appeared in the New York exhibition Don’t Look: A Defense of Free Expression. Khan Nguyen Hong Gu Artist whose Miami Beach window installation protesting Gaza was removed; cited as an example of censorship pressure. (Artforum) Madeline Drunot Denver-based artist whose Little Saigon project became a flashpoint for debate over representation and censorship. Organizations, Networks & Initiatives Center for the Study of Art & Community Producing organization for ART IS CHANGE. Fall of Freedom Initiative Grassroots cultural protest effort coordinating hundreds of creative resistance actions nationwide. NYC Resistance Salon Artist-led network using digital billboards and public installations for political dissent. Banned Book Brigade Activist effort highlighting censorship through public performance and visual protest. (PEN America contextual resource) New York Public Library Site of Banned Book Brigade actions and symbolic defense of intellectual freedom. Pioneer Works Brooklyn cultural center that hosted benefit performances supporting civil liberties. Center for Artistic Activism Organization providing the Artivist Toolbox—practical guidance for artists engaging power strategically. Beautiful Trouble Global training and documentation hub for creative resistance tactics and movement strategy. Community Arts Network Archive Historic archive documenting debates, essays, and first-person accounts from the community arts field. Interference Archive Brooklyn-based archive preserving posters, zines, and material culture of social movements. Animating Democracy National initiative documenting how arts intersect with civic life and democratic practice. Natalie Karg Gallery New York gallery that hosted Don’t Look: A Defense of Free Expression. Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles (MOCA) Initial site of Tolokonnikova’s Police State performance. Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Later site of Police State, as the work’s themes collided with real-time events. Think Again: An Artist Activist Collaborative Collective using mobile billboards and public art to engage civic discourse. Chinatown Art Brigade Artist-organizer collective linking cultural storytelling to housing justice and anti-displacement work. Artist Rapid Response Team Network designing banners and protest visuals that travel across movements and geographies. Publications & Field Resources Artivist Toolbox – Center for Artistic Activism A practical, field-tested toolkit breaking down real campaigns, tactics, risks, and outcomes for artists engaging power. Referenced in the episode as a field manual, not inspiration wallpaper. Beautiful Trouble: A Toolbox for Revolution Foundational handbook and ongoing living resource documenting creative resistance tactics, principles, and case studies from movements around the world. Beautiful Trouble Toolbox The continually updated, digital extension of the book—cataloging methods like humor, spectacle, narrative framing, and symbolic leverage. Community Arts Network Archive Extensive archive of essays, project notes, debates, and first-person accounts from the community arts field, capturing the moment when practitioners were still arguing their practice into existence. Interference Archive Collection Public archive preserving posters, zines, banners, and printed matter from social movements—treated not as nostalgia, but as evidence and usable history. Animating Democracy Resource Library Long-running documentation project translating cultural action into civic and institutional language without stripping it of meaning; central to understanding arts-based democratic practice. Banned Books Resource Guide – PEN America Contextual resource grounding the Banned Book Brigade actions referenced in the episode within the larger national landscape of censorship and free expression. ***** Art Is CHANGE is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change. Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building...

    18 min

  4. FEB 4

    163: Arts Freedom Weather Report: MINNEAPOLIS JAN. 2026

    What does it look like when artists and cultural organizers respond to authoritarian pressure—not with silence or fear, but with imagination, strategy, and collective action? This January 2026 Arts Freedom Weather Report comes from Minneapolis, a city once again at the epicenter of grief, rage, courage, and creative resistance. In the wake of multiple killings, intensified ICE activity, and federal misinformation, communities across Minnesota are responding not only with protest—but with song, ritual, writing, mutual aid, and rapid-response cultural organizing. In this episode, we explore three urgent realities shaping this moment: How culture becomes infrastructure for democracy when institutions fail—through singing vigils, collective mourning, and grassroots artistic action.What decentralized resistance actually looks like on the ground, as hundreds of small, uncoordinated acts add up to something powerful and sustained.How imagination, grief, and creative practice help people endure and act, especially in communities long accustomed to state violence and surveillance. Listen in for an on-the-ground report from Minneapolis that shows how artists, organizers, and neighbors are transforming fear into solidarity—and keeping democratic culture alive under pressure. NOTABLE MENTIONSPeopleBill Cleveland Host of ART IS CHANGE and founder of the Center for the Study of Art & Community. Renee Macklin Goode Minneapolis poet and mother whose life and work are honored in this episode. (Minnesota Public Radio) Gregory Bovino U.S. Border Patrol official referenced in discussion of federal enforcement escalation in Minnesota. Hannah Arendt Political theorist cited for her insights into authoritarianism, fear, and the erosion of civic imagination. Christopher Fry British poet and playwright; excerpt from The Sleep of Prisoners is referenced during the episode. Marquis Bowie Minneapolis-based poet, teaching artist, and cultural healer whose reflections on grief, writing, and survival appear in this conversation. (MN Artists / MPR) Organizations & GroupsCenter for the Study of Art & Community Producing organization for ART IS CHANGE. Resistance Revival Chorus National movement using collective singing as protest, courage-building, and democratic practice. Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church Host site for large-scale community singing and resistance gatherings in Minneapolis. Unidos MN Latino-led organization providing community safety training, constitutional observers, and mutual aid. Minnesota Arts & Cultural Coalition Statewide coalition organizing legal briefings, advocacy, and shared resources for arts organizations. Forecast Public Art Minneapolis-based organization providing rapid-response grants and support to artists and cultural leaders. Minneapolis Arts Commission City commission supporting and advising on arts policy and cultural resources PublicationsMad Dog 30/30 by Marquis Bowie Poetry collection by Minneapolis poet and teaching artist Marquis Bowie, exploring grief, rage, tenderness, survival, and Black interior life. The book is referenced in the episode in connection with Bowie’s role as a cultural healer and witness in moments of community trauma. The Sleep of Prisoners by Christopher Fry Verse play referenced through an excerpt read during the episode, reflecting on war, conscience, and moral reckoning.ence, and moral reckoning. Places & Contextual ReferencesGeorge Floyd Square Referenced as part of the geographic and emotional landscape shaping current events. (New York Times) San Pablo Lutheran Church Site of memorial services and community gathering following Renee Nicole Goode’s death. Acknowledgements:From FreeSound.org Winterstorm II: A Cinematic and ambient soundscape by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/552032/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Winterstorm II: A Cinematic and ambient soundscape by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/552032/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Chord Swell - Gmin by Moqally -- https://freesound.org/s/843450/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 *******Art Is CHANGE is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change. Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact. Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.

    26 min

  5. JAN 28

    162: Alan Jenkins: These Art & Social Change Superpowers Can Help Save Democracy

    So if democracy is under pressure, what role do stories, culture, and imagination play in defending it? In this episode, we're joined by Alan Jenkins, civil rights lawyer, former Ford foundation program director, Harvard Law School professor, and now comic book author, for a wide ranging conversation about story making and telling as a tool for social change. From Supreme Court litigation to graphic novels, Alan Jenkins traces how law, narrative, and culture intersect when democracy is at stake. So in our conversation, we explore three big ideas I think matter a lot right now: First, why is story inseparable from power?And how law, policy, and culture work together, whether we acknowledge it or not, to shape public belief and behavior.Next, how popular culture and art have historically been used to confront authoritarianism. From Superman and Captain America to global protest movements that borrow symbol, humor, and myth.And finally, what hybrid 21st century leadership looks like and why flexibility, empathy, and imagination may be as important as specialized expertise in this moment. NOTABLE MENTIONSPeopleBill Cleveland Host of ART IS CHANGE and founder of the Center for the Study of Art & Community. Alan Jenkins Harvard Law School professor; former civil rights and DOJ lawyer; former Director of Human Rights at the Ford Foundation; co-author of 1/6: The Graphic Novel. Anthony S. Fauci Former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; referenced in discussion of ACT UP and activist pressure shaping public institutions. Charles Lindbergh Aviator and political figure cited in discussion of American isolationism and authoritarian sympathies prior to World War II. Pablo Picasso Artist whose painting Guernica is referenced as a defining cultural response to fascist violence. Organizations & InstitutionsHarvard Law School Institution where Alan Jenkins teaches courses on civil rights law, narrative, and Supreme Court jurisprudence. NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Civil rights organization where Jenkins worked early in his legal career. United States Department of Justice Referenced in connection with Jenkins’s Supreme Court litigation experience. Ford Foundation Global philanthropy where Jenkins served as Director of Human Rights. Pop Culture Collaborative Organization that supported research on popular culture and resistance to authoritarianism referenced in the episode. Western States Center Organization that produced the civic action guide accompanying 1/6: The Graphic Novel. San Diego State University Institution that developed an educational guide for teaching with 1/6: The Graphic Novel. Works, Events & Cultural References1/6: The Graphic Novel Graphic novel co-created by Alan Jenkins imagining a future in which the January 6 insurrection succeeded. Seven Things Artists, Entertainers, and Creatives Can Do to Protect Democracy Alan Jenkins' article describing seven strategies that creatives in the arts can use to protect democracy from Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia to West Africa to Latin America. January 6, 2021 United States Capitol Attack Historical event central to the episode’s discussion of democracy, narrative, and authoritarianism. ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) Activist movement referenced for its strategic use of protest, narrative framing, and moral urgency. Superman Comic book character cited as an early example of popular culture advancing social justice narratives. Captain America Referenced for his first appearance punching Adolf Hitler—months before U.S. entry into WWII. The Hunger Games Film and book series referenced for its three-finger salute adopted by real-world protest movements. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi Graphic memoir referenced for its portrayal of authoritarianism and women’s lives during the Iranian Revolution. Guernica by Pablo Picasso Iconic painting referenced as a lasting artistic indictment of fascist violence. *******Art Is CHANGE is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change. Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact. Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.

    43 min

  6. JAN 21

    161: The Arts Freedom Weather Report - January 2026

    When unchecked power rewrites the story of America, who gets to live, who gets to speak, and who quietly disappears?In this episode of ART IS CHANGE, Bill Cleveland shares next chapter in the continuing Weather Report, (now called the Arts Freedom Weather Report) Rather than chasing single headlines or isolated outrages, this episode steps back to examine the cultural climate shaping 2026: how small policy shifts stack up, how institutions quietly recalibrate under authoritarian pressure, and how artists and cultural organizations are responding in real time. In this show, we explore three critical dynamics shaping the arts and democracy right now: How culture is being strategically targeted and weaponized — through funding shifts, legal pressure, and narrative control.What’s actually happening on the ground at the NEA, in public media, museums, universities, and courts.How artists and organizers are responding with preparation, creativity, and discipline, treating resistance as a learned practice rather than a spontaneous reaction. Listen in as we establish a cultural baseline for 2026 — one we’ll return to again and again — and map the early warning signs, fault lines, and sources of strength shaping the struggle for artistic freedom and democratic life. NOTABLE MENTIONSPeopleBill Cleveland Host of ART IS CHANGE and founder of the Center for the Study of Art & Community. Renee Nicole Goode Minneapolis poet, mother, and community member whose work and life are honored at the close of the episode. (Minnesota Public Radio) Sonia De Los Santos Singer-songwriter and educator who stepped away from a Kennedy Center performance, citing concerns that the space no longer felt welcoming. Stephen Schwartz Composer of Wicked who withdrew from a Kennedy Center gala in protest of politicization. Béla Fleck Banjo innovator who canceled Kennedy Center appearances rather than participate in a politicized cultural space. Chuck Redd Jazz vibraphonist and bandleader who canceled his long-running Kennedy Center Christmas Eve jam. The Cookers Jazz ensemble that canceled its New Year’s Eve engagement at the Kennedy Center. Wayne Tucker Trumpeter and composer who withdrew from Kennedy Center programming. Doug Varone Choreographer whose company stepped away from scheduled Kennedy Center performances. Organizations & InstitutionsCenter for the Study of Art & Community Producing organization for ART IS CHANGE. National Endowment for the Arts Federal arts agency examined throughout the episode for structural and policy shifts. American Alliance of Museums Reported widespread loss of federal funding and program contraction across U.S. museums. Corporation for Public Broadcasting Public media funder affected by the 2025 Rescissions Act. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Legal organization representing arts groups challenging unconstitutional funding restrictions. Theater Communications Group National advocacy organization involved in litigation defending artistic freedom. National Queer Theater Plaintiff in the successful lawsuit challenging NEA viewpoint discrimination. Rhode Island Latino Arts Arts organization involved in the NEA lawsuit. The Theater Offensive Boston-based theater organization and plaintiff in the NEA lawsuit. Laws, Policies & FrameworksProject 2025 Conservative blueprint for reshaping federal agencies and executive authority. Executive Order 14168 Order challenged for restricting arts funding tied to “gender ideology.” (Federal Register) Rescissions Act of 2025 Legislation cutting federal support for public media. (Congressional record) Ohio Senate Bill 1 State legislation restricting DEI initiatives and chilling arts and humanities education. Movements & Practice-Based ResistanceNational Artists Safety Survey Anonymous survey developed by the Artists at Risk Connection documenting censorship, harassment, and threats against artists and arts organizations. Beautiful Trouble Global network training artists and organizers in creative, strategic resistance. Center for Artistic Activism Organization helping artists design interventions that apply pressure where power actually lives. Free DC DC-based movement integrating music, ritual, and performance into organizing, including Go-Go traditions. No Kings Movement centering culture, humor, and performance to assert democracy as a lived practice. Acknowledgements:From FreeSound.org 03419 swirly swooshes.wav by Robinhood76 -- https://freesound.org/s/160611/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Ambient 19_Cello Song by PodcastAC -- https://freesound.org/s/720336/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Desolation Wilderness - Rain and Thunder - In Tent by PodcastAC -- https://freesound.org/s/822507/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Ambient 20_Float by PodcastAC -- https://freesound.org/s/720339/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Winterstorm I: A Cinematic and ambient soundscape by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/541062/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Darkest Thursday – A Haunting Electronic Masterpiece by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/558271/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 WonkTone_125bpm01_LoopCache_AbstractPercussion.wav by aikighost -- https://freesound.org/s/199050/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Ominous by ViraMiller --...

    24 min

  7. JAN 14

    160: METRA - A Climate Revolution With Songs

    What if a Musical Could Help us Tell the Truth About Climate Change? In this episode, Bill Cleveland sits down with theater director Emily Hartford and composer–storyteller Ned Hardford to explore Metra: A Climate Revolution with Songs—a nine-episode musical audio drama that reimagines an ancient Greek myth as a near-future climate story. What starts as a conversation about craft opens into deeper territory: imagination as resistance, music as pedagogy, and why genuinely new stories don’t come from algorithms—they come from people doing long, human work together. In it, we explore three big questions at the heart of Metra and the moment we’re living in now: How music, story, and the human voice reach places that facts, lectures, and policy arguments can’tWhat it looks like to tell a climate story without fear-mongering or “disaster porn,”How artists can build work that others can actually use,—turning art-making into cultural infrastructure rather than a one-off production. Listen in to discover how art, music, and story can help us practice a different future—and why Metra just might be the kind of narrative infrastructure we need right now.PeopleBill Cleveland Host of Change the Story / Change the World and founder of the Center for the Study of Art & Community. Emily Hartford Theater director, writer, and producer; founding member of Flux Theater Ensemble and co-creator of Metra. Ned Hartford Composer, songwriter, audio engineer, and co-creator of Metra, focused on musical storytelling and audio drama. Alan Lomax Folklorist and field-recording pioneer whose work capturing the emotional power of the human voice is referenced in the episode. Enoch Rutherford Old-time banjo player recorded by Alan Lomax in Virginia; referenced through a story of lineage, listening, and musical transmission. Bill McKibben Climate activist and author referenced for framing distributed solar power as a metaphor for bottom-up social change. adrienne maree brown Writer and activist whose work on emergence and collective power informs Metra’s worldview. Martin Buber Philosopher referenced for his concept of relational connection (I–Thou), via the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Organizations & CollectivesFlux Theater Ensemble New York–based theater company where Metra was developed and premiered, known for ensemble-driven creation and an aesthetic of liberation. Gideon Media Audio production studio that supported the transition of Metra from stage work to musical audio drama. Third Act Climate and democracy organization referenced in connection with Ned Hartford’s activism. New York Communities for Change Grassroots organization cited as part of the movement ecosystem influencing the creators’ thinking. Climate Defenders Climate justice organization referenced as an example of movement-based learning and narrative change. Works & PublicationsMetra: A Climate Revolution with Songs Official project site for the nine-episode musical audio drama. Metamorphoses by Ovid Source text for the myth of Erysichthon and Metra. Here Comes the Sun by Bill McKibben Referenced for its account of decentralized solar power as a model for social transformation. The Overton Window Political concept discussed in relation to climate disinformation and long-term narrative shifts. Antidote by Karen Russell Novel recommended by Emily Hartford for its imaginative interrogation of manifest destiny and power. The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer Recent book recommendation connecting ecology, reciprocity, and community. Wendell Berry Writer recommended for his grounding reflections on land, ethics, and community.

    49 min

  8. JAN 7

    159 What Can We Learn From Activist Artists in Australia: PART 2

    BIGhART is Australia's leading arts & social change organization. Making art, Building communities, Driving change. 30 years in operation, 62 communities engaged, 47 awards won, 550 artists contributed, 9, 500 people participated, 2. 6 million audience members. Can a skateboard ramp in the rainforest spark a global movement for justice, creativity, and environmental protection? In Part Two of our BIGhART Series, we ride along with Scott Rankin and the BIGhART team as they blend skate culture, Indigenous wisdom, and creative process into a powerful force for social change. Listen to Part One Here Whether it’s fighting for the endangered Tarkine rainforest or giving marginalized youth a platform to be seen and heard, BIGhART shows how art, patience, and deep listening can radically transform the world around us. If you’re wondering what change-making really looks like, this story will challenge and inspire you. Explore how skateboarding becomes both an art form and a mental health lifeline for young people at the edge of society.Hear how BIGhART’s long game—projects that unfold over decades—challenges quick-fix activism by centering deep community invitation and legacy-building.Learn why creativity rooted in respect, reciprocity, and humility is essential to confronting cultural wounds, environmental destruction, and systems of injustice. Scott Rankin BIOScott Rankin co-founded Big hART with friend John Bakes in 1992. As CEO and Creative Director, Scott leads the overarching vision for all Big hART projects – from pilot through to legacy. A leader and teacher in the field of social and cultural innovation, Scott provides daily mentorship and knowledge transfer to all Big hART staff so that they can in turn lead our projects with confidence. An award winning writer and director in his own right, Scott’s works have been included many times in major arts festivals. His reputation is built on a quarter of a century of work, creating, funding and directing large-scale projects in diverse communities with high needs, in isolated settings. Big hART is Scott’s passionate contribution to the arts and society. Notable Mentions:BIGhART: Ngapartji Ngapartji: Big hART designed the Ngapartji Ngapartji project to raise awareness of Indigenous language loss, and the lack of an national Indigenous languages policy. Tasmania is an island state of Australia.[15] It is located 240 kilometres (150 miles) to the south of the Australian mainland, separated from it by the Bass Strait, with the archipelago containing the southernmost point of the country. Vaslav Nijinsky was a Russian[4] ballet dancer and choreographer of Polish ancestry.[5] He is regarded as the greatest male dancer of the early 20th century.[3] Albert Namatjira: 28 July 1902 – 8 August 1959) was an Arrernte painter from the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia, widely considered one of the most notable Australian artists. Namatjira Project: Namatjira Project began as a collaboration with members of the Namatjira family and the Hermannsburg community in Central Australia in 2009.The long-term project has centered around an award-winning theatre performance, Namatjira, seen by 50,000 people, telling the story of Albert Namatjira, with his family on stage. Skate of Mind is a grassroots, national touring collective of skaters, filmmakers, photographers, and artists. We run community engagement events, workshops, music, art, digital art, projection, and soundscape design in regional communities. SKATE is a groundbreaking new work in development fusing the art of skateboarding with percussion and projection. A breathtaking sensory experience for all the family, SKATE sees a cast of talented male and female skateboarders perform jaw-dropping feats and create infectious rhythms with their skateboards. Element Skateboards Winnie the Pooh: Winnie-the-Pooh (also known as Edward Bear, Pooh Bear or simply Pooh) is a fictional anthropomorphic teddy bear created by English author A. A. Milne and English illustrator E. H. Shepard. Ngangkari (a traditional aboriginal healer) The Acoustic Life of Sheds: Acoustic Life of Sheds invites leading composers, musicians and artists to celebrate these architectural embodiments of rural, industrial or maritime culture as memory sound- shells by reimagining them for audiences in the landscape or on the foreshore. Project O: Project O is a prevention initiative driving change for young women in rural, regional and high needs communities. Acknowledgements:Music Studio (Ernabella School Hall) recording of music from the stage show 'Ngapartji Ngapartji'. 1 Ngayunya Wantiriyalku I Shall Be Released Performed by Makinti Minutjukur, Unurupa Kulyuru, Rhoda Tjitayi, Renita Stanley, Andrew MacGregor, Sara Luither, Beth Sometimes, Steve Fraser. Written by Bob Dylan - Translated by Lorna Wilson, Tom Holder, Dora (Amanyi) Haggie, Rhoda Tjitayi, Unurupa Kulyuru, Beth Sometimes. Recorded by Steve Fraser. Dream-Shifting - by Steven F Allen https://freesound.org/people/audiomirage/ https://soundclick.com/AuDioChosisStevenFAllenAuDioMiRage *******Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change. Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and...

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Can your art help dismantle injustice, shift systems, or spark healing in places like homeless shelters, emergency rooms, or city planning meetings? If you’re passionate about making a real difference through creativity, ART IS CHANGE (formerly known as Change the Story / Change the World) is your front-row seat to the real-world impact of art and social change. Hosted by author, musician, and researcher Bill Cleveland, each episode brings you deep into the lives and work of activist artists and cultural organizers who are doing more than dreaming—they’re transforming communities around the world. You’ll discover: • Proven strategies for thriving as an artist for change in complex, real-world settings • How to build meaningful, lasting partnerships that support your mission and your art • Lessons from global leaders creating cultural blueprints for justice, empathy, and resilience ▶️ Start with fan-favorite Episodes 86 and 87: Lessons From an Art and Change Pioneer—a double-dose of inspiration and practical insight.- https://change-the-story-chan.captivate.fm/episode/bighart-bigstory-redux/

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