The first frontline of the struggle against rising hate is in the imagination. As artists we know that this is a time when our gifts as dreamers, creators, inspirers, healers, clowns, conveners and provocateurs are urgently needed. But we also know how tempting it is to pour out our brilliance from an empty cup, or to struggle alone with our own thirst for inspiration, hope, community.
Jams are not retreats in a few important ways. We don’t retreat from the world (though that can be a valuable break!), we bring the world with us into jamming. And all of us gathered make it what it becomes. Writer Meg Wheatley says that amidst the collapse of empires, we can’t stave off all destruction but we can create sanctuaries of wholeness. What if, for a few days, we create vivid sanctuary for our full selves and each other – particularly the parts of ourselves that are marginalized, under attack, or minimized under a fascist state? What if we created the space to let our burning questions emerge and then linger? What if we played and cross-pollinated with people who begin as strangers and become co-conspirators? What if, for a few days, we filled up that creative cup?
That is the intention and the dream of the 2025 Arts for Social Change Jam. We are here as fellow artist-activists, committed to a vibrantly just future and enjoying our lives along the way – and we can’t do it without your particular brand of magic. Come and fill your cup.