Art in Times of Corona: The Future We Want

The UN is marking its 75th anniversary at a time of great disruption for the world. Covid-19 is a stark reminder of the need for cooperation across borders, sectors and generations. Both global dialogue and action are now more urgent than ever, to prevent this pandemic from leading to greater mistrust. The project states that 2020 ‘must be a year of dialogue, of us coming together to discuss our priorities as a human family, and how we can build a better future for all.’

Art is often an enabling tool to foster such a conversation about the kind of future we want and sparks the imagination on how we can empower youth in working towards it. To this end, the Perception Change Project in the Office of the Director-General of UN Geneva organised The Future We Want, a worldwide art contest open to all Geneva-based UN Missions. Each work of art on their website was submitted by Geneva-based permanent missions. All five continents are represented.

The Perception Change Project invites the public to rate the artworks that they find represent best ‘the future we want’, until 18 June. The artists’ names and artwork’s countries of origin are hidden to encourage a neutral voting process. The ten artworks cumulating the highest rating scores will be selected, and a jury of children will pick the three final winners during an exhibition at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The three winners will have a book about their work produced by the Perception Change Project.