New Kickstarter Campaign for "Arts and Minds" Promotes Liberty Through Art

Kickstarter to raise money for a summer project that will use “creative energy to spotlight Oregon’s criminal justice system and activate change.” Arts and Minds (a project of the non-profit Spark Freedom) plans to host a block party where members of the community come together for a day to paint a collaborative mural that tells the story of the criminal justice system in Oregon. United by a passion for freedom and criminal justice reform, attendees will engage in a city-wide “experiment in grassroots artistic activism.” According to their Kickstarter page, they “want a criminal justice system that encourages human dignity, improves public safety, keeps victims whole, and leads to a healthier society. [They] believe art can make the reform conversation louder and more urgent.” After the event is over, the mural will serve as a reminder to Portland’s citizenry about the criminal justice work that is yet to be done. In order to execute the project, the organizing group is raising $7,000 on Kickstarter for art supplies, rental equipment, wall preparation, licensing fees, and more. Visit their page to learn more or donate. Have you ever used artistic creation as a pathway to policy reform? How did it go? What do you think about the method? Please share your comments below.]]>