Welcome to Art at Forum!

Art at Forum—a collaborative and immersive experience aimed at sparking connection, dialogue, and action—is brought to you in partnership with Arts for Global Development, Inc.

For the next two days, dive into visual, literary, and participatory art experience: a digital showcase, special pop-up exhibition, and hands-on activities—all bringing the Forum’s themes of Community, Transformation, and Impact to life.

Through diverse mediums—painting, poetry, sculpture, film, and mixed media—the arts spark belonging, ignite imagination, and inspire meaningful change.

These examples represent just a glimpse of what is possible, yet together they affirm that the arts are essential—opening new perspectives, strengthening our sense of community, and inspiring futures rooted in possibility.

Scroll down to discover the featured artists and explore their works, creative processes, and the stories behind their expressions—spanning Asia, Latin America, Africa, and beyond. 

You’ll also encounter inspiring arts-infused initiatives that educate and empower youth and women while driving meaningful impact in their communities.

And don’t miss the hands-on activities waiting for you at the Forum!

Why Does Art Matter in Development?
Art turns challenges into opportunities, giving communities a voice, sparking change, and driving real-world solutions. Arts and culture don’t just reflect society—they help shape it.

Embedding artists in development teams leads to more innovative, inclusive, and effective designs and policies, ultimately producing better outcomes for communities.

Here are the top 10 FAQs addressing why art is essential for sustainable progress:

Development is about sustained human well-being, not just GDP.  Culture—art, heritage, and creativity—influence values, knowledge, and behaviors that make progress fair, resilient, and lasting.  As UNESCO says: “there is no sustainable development without culture.”

No.  Culture nurtures identity, innovation, and resilience.  According to studies from across the globe, creative industries also drive economies, generating $2.25 trillion annually and 30 million jobs. 

Arts and culture have proven to be powerful tools for promoting social cohesion in conflict and post-conflict settings by fostering dialogue, healing, and mutual understanding among divided communities.

In places like Lebanon, the DRC, and Colombia, arts projects have helped ease tensions and support peacebuilding.

Arts have a proven impact on health—reducing stress, easing pain, combating depression, and supporting cognitive wellbeing.

For example, in the UK, Arts on Prescription programs cut general practitioner (GP) visits by 37% and hospital admissions by 27%, showing how creativity can improve mental health and relieve healthcare systems.

Yes. Storytelling and the arts make climate data more relatable and actionable, but their value goes beyond narrative.

Through education and interdisciplinary practices, arts—especially public art—can drive tangible environmental impact, improving air, soil, and water quality while inspiring sustainable behavior.

Traditional cultural practices often embody deep-rooted systems of environmental knowledge, sustainability, and respect for nature, making them vital to modern environmental stewardship.

According to the World Bank (2019), Indigenous peoples protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity, despite representing only a small fraction of the global population. This protection is largely driven by traditional cultural practices and worldviews that see humans as part of, not separate from, the natural world.

Supporting creative industries is essential for driving inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-led economic growth. These industries not only generate significant revenue and employment but also foster cultural identity, social cohesion, and digital transformation.

According to UNCTAD (2021), creative goods and services grew at an annual rate of 7.3%, outperforming many traditional sectors, even during periods of economic volatility.

When cultural narratives are excluded from development initiatives, there is a significant risk of alienating communities, reinforcing inequalities, and undermining long-term success.

As highlighted by the UNDP (2004), failing to integrate culture into development efforts can lead to implementation failure.

Culture is not a barrier to development—it is a bridge to inclusion and equity.

Integrating artists into cross-sector development teams enhances creativity, inclusivity, and innovation, resulting in more effective, user-centered, and equitable solutions.

Case studies demonstrate that including artists in diverse organizations—across business, public, and nonprofit sectors—adds value by accelerating prototyping and delivering more innovative and equitable outcomes compared to conventional teams.

Measuring the impact of arts and culture in development is challenging because their benefits—like empathy, social cohesion, and identity—are often intangible, long-term, and shaped by many factors. Standard metrics are limited, and research funding is scarce.

However measurement frameworks are evolving and tools like UNESCO’s Culture|2030 Indicators help track cultural contributions to sustainable development, providing a clearer picture of how arts create lasting social, economic, and environmental impact.

From inspiration to impact!

 

A short reel showcasing The Revival, a community-led nonprofit in Ghana, as they intercept textile waste with creativity.

Their work transforms discarded fabrics into vibrant, functional pieces while empowering local artisans and fostering sustainable livelihoods.

By blending art, innovation, and community engagement, Revival demonstrates how creative solutions can address environmental challenges and drive positive social impact. 

Discover more at The Revival.

A short documentary and children’s photo essays by cinematographer, filmmaker, visual anthropologist, and educator Sophie Dia Pegrum.

Sophie co-founded Cosmos Photo Camp, where she guided Kyrgyz semi-nomadic youth in telling their own stories through photography, astronomy and nature. Their “Water Stories” explore lakes, rivers, clouds, and daily water use, offering a rare youth-centered perspective on how water sustains community, shapes identity, and binds people to the land—demonstrating how creativity can inspire awareness and stewardship.

In collaboration, Project H2O Online Arts Exhibition displays select photo essays while highlighting the importance of water and raising funds to build wells in Ethiopia—where nearly half the population still lacks access to clean water.  Make an impact today—join the online arts auction with Bridge H2OPE.

Launched in 2004 by Art4Development.Net, the CreativeChange project celebrates the transformative power of the arts in addressing global challenges.

At the Forum, you’ll explore a variety of youth artworks from around the world, showcasing their interpretations of the development goals —from education and gender equality to health, cultural identity, collaboration, and beyond. Together, these works highlight how creativity can inspire action, foster understanding, and contribute to positive change in communities worldwide.

Learn more and be part of the new edition of CreativeChange + , a study designed to reimagine what creative resilience can look like across generations, cultures and technologies. 

Art in Action: Creating Connections through Art

Add a thread, bead, or fabric to our communal structure—together creating a tapestry of our collective vision. 

Feel free to bring a small personal item, like scrap fabrics, yarn, ribbons, buttons, or a tiny recycled piece from home, to leave your unique mark in the artwork.

Color and inscribe the mandala with quotes, action-oriented promises and key takeaways from discussions—building a shared symbol of transformation and impact.

The completed pieces will remain at InterAction as permanent artworks, a vibrant reminder of our community, shared learning and inspiration.

CURIOUS TO EXPERIENCE THE ARTWORKS ON DISPLAY AT INTERACTION?  

Visit the Resilience and Reverberation exhibition to enjoy the artworks in person, and reach out about purchasing options at interaction[at]art4development.net.

Meet the Artists: A Digital Showcase

*In alphabetical order

EDGAR JAHIR (b. 1987, Isthmus of Oaxaca) is an artist recognized for working exclusively with natural pigments, particularly grana cochineal, which he considers both material and subconscious. Rooted in the cultural and natural architecture of Oaxaca, his practice embodies artisanal tradition while exploring new visual languages.

With over 15 years of continuous work, Jahir has exhibited widely in Mexico and internationally, including Art Basel (Miami), Latino Arts (Wisconsin), Cactus & Creatures (London), and Luz y Color de Oaxaca at the Riihimäki Art Museum (Finland). In 2018, his work was featured at the Museum of the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexican Red, an exhibition tracing three centuries of cochineal’s influence in painting. He also appeared in Greystone TV’s documentary series The Art Show (2016), highlighting contemporary artists worldwide.

In addition to painting, Jahir creates works on paper made from natural fibers, extending his dialogue between nature and art.

Edgar is represented by Red Dot Gallery, Mexico. 

The main theme of my work comes from the awakening of an awareness about the world that is escaping us, about the nature that surrounds us that survives and that sometimes reappears in the face of the unfavorable irruption of humanity.

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EMON SURAKITKOSON is a Thai-born artist based in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Her work focuses on cultural identity, memory, and everyday materials, using handmade brushes and a limited color palette to create abstract paintings and sculptures.

As a first-generation immigrant, Emon’s practice draws from both Eastern and Western influences. She often explores the intersection of tradition and contemporary life, drawing from her Chinese-Thai heritage and personal experiences. Her recent projects include research into Thai traditional art and efforts to create cross-cultural collaborations.

Outside of her studio, Emon curates exhibitions, mentors young artists, and supports community-based initiatives.

As a member of the Advisory Board of Arts for Global Development, she brings her perspective as an artist and cultural connector to help promote global understanding through the arts.

Emon’s work is currently on view at the FORUM, and she is also featured in the Resilience and Reverberation Exhibition at InterAction’s office in Dupont Circle.

Fruit is my first-edition sculpture, created in response to the assumptions and stereotypes often imposed on immigrants. Too often, people are seen through preconceived notions rather than their abilities. I wanted to craft a work that stands strong—both physically and symbolically—to demonstrate that people like me can contribute meaningfully to our communities.

By translating my hand-drawn lines into a solid sculptural form, Fruit carries my personal story and embodies my belief that creativity can challenge perceptions, spark dialogue, and open new conversations about identity, value, and belonging.

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ESTEBAN URBIETA, born in 1973 in Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca, México, discovered his artistic voice early while assisting his father in an auto paint shop and experimenting with welding scrap into portraits.

Personal loss deepened his introspection and fueled his passion for visual expression. At 17, architect Álvaro Guerra Torres encouraged him to pursue art in Oaxaca City, where he later studied at the Casa de la Cultura Oaxaqueña and the “Rufino Tamayo” Plastic Arts Workshop under Japanese-Oaxacan master Shinzaburo Takeda.

Esteban’s work blends traditional and experimental techniques across painting, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramics. Inspired by the folklore of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, he often portrays trees as symbols of family and women as vessels of life, surrounded by birds and fish. His recent series, Birds That Sing Inks, reflects themes of freedom and sustainability.

Esteban’s works are held in major collections across Mexico, the U.S., and Europe. He is represented by Red Dot Gallery, Mexico. 

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ESTHER PADILLA is a Mexican visual artist working in ceramics, painting, and sculpture. Born in San Antonio, Texas, and raised in Mexico City, she draws inspiration from her Oaxacan heritage and her grandfather, a sculptor of religious images. Her practice is deeply autobiographical, transforming personal memories, traumas, and critiques of patriarchy and motherhood into symbolic visual narratives.

After earning a degree in Sciences and Humanities in Oaxaca, Padilla received the FONCA Young Creators scholarship in 1995 for her first ceramic project The Dream of the Stone. She later specialized in sculpture at the Autonomous University of Benito Juárez and trained in ceramics at Taller Rufino Tamayo, and has become part of the women artists’ collective ARMO.

Through raw clay and vivid color, Padilla creates figures that embody resilience and defiance, balancing intimacy with myth to explore identity, love, and existence.

Esther is represented by Red Dot Gallery, Mexico.

Her interests include ecotechnological development, building with traditional materials, and the preservation and revitalization of Indigenous cultures.

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Learn more about Esther through this interview conducted by Soledad Quartucci, CEO, Latina Republic. Reclaiming Identity and Purpose: The Art of Esther Padilla | Latina Republic.

MENTWAB EASWARAN (Mentu) is an Ethiopian-born visual artist and designer based in the Washington, D.C. area. Immigrating to the United States at the age of 20, she has spent the past 31 years navigating the intersection of culture, identity, and creative expression. Her artistic journey began in childhood, but upon arriving in the U.S., the necessity of financial stability led her to a career in design. For the past 18 years, she has worked as a User Experience Designer while continuing to paint, refining her artistic practice and engaging with communities that shape her work.

Mentu’s art is deeply influenced by the resilience of women—as well as the strength and vibrancy of the Ethiopian community. Her work explores themes of community, migration, belonging, and perseverance, weaving together personal and collective narratives. Through rich textures, layered symbolism, and evocative storytelling, Mentu captures the experiences of those who challenge boundaries, nurture one another, and redefine the meaning of home.

Committed to fostering dialogue and connection through art, Mentu’s work stands as a testament to the power of creativity in bridging cultures, amplifying unheard voices, and inspiring transformation.

Mentu’s work is currently on view at the FORUM. She is one of the contributors to the ongoing online Project H2O art auction supporting clean water access. Her work is also featured in the Resilience and Reverberation Exhibition at InterAction’s office in Dupont Circle.

My work explores the layered narratives of identity, resilience, and the enduring beauty of the human spirit. In Stride of Resilience, the grayscale face and bold, colorful attire embody the strength of a woman navigating life’s complexities, carrying the weight of her experiences while moving forward with unwavering determination.

Fragments of Identity speaks to the parts of ourselves that remain untouched by time or distance—memories, culture, and ancestral roots that form a vibrant mosaic of lived experiences.

Together, these works form a visual dialogue about heritage, survival, and selfhood—celebrating the histories we carry, the battles we overcome, and the radiance that persists through it all.

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TANAYA WINDER  is an accomplished author, singer-songwriter, poet, and motivational speaker from the Duckwater Shoshone Nation. Her intertribal heritage includes Southern Ute and Pyramid Lake Paiute lineages.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico. Winder’s poetry collections include “Words Like Love” and “Why Storms Are Named After People and Bullets Remain Nameless.” She combines storytelling, singing, and poetry to delve into themes of healing, love, and discovering one’s purpose—what she calls “heartwork.”

Tanaya emphasizes the importance of storytelling as a form of medicine and encourages individuals to harness their voices as a source of power.

A selection of Tanaya’s poems is on display at the FORUM.

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THULI WOLF  is a Berlin-based medical doctor, artist, and art therapist. In her sessions, she creates a safe space for self-expression, exploration, and transformation.

Thuli deeply believes in the healing power of art, seeing it as both playful and profound—a way to navigate life’s challenges. Her mission is to help people live more creative, and therefore healthier, lives. She offers one-on-one sessions, group workshops, and company events designed to foster creativity and connection.

As a speaker, Thuli shares her insights on the healing power of art at well-known events such as the Forward Festival and Creative Mornings. As an author, she writes about the relationship between creativity and mental health, with her work published in both German and English in outlets including mae magazine and ZEITjUNG.

A member of the Advisory Board of Arts for Global Development, Thuli is featured at the FORUM with her inspirational quotes. She invites participants to explore their inner artist through a variety of art techniques—reflecting, meditating, finding peace, and celebrating the power of collective creativity.

Let’s unlock the power of creativity, together.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

Arts, Culture, and the SDGs — Building a Bridge to 2030

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all. While the arts are not explicitly included, they play a crucial role in achieving these goals—raising awareness, inspiring action, fostering cultural shifts, and building resilient communities.

Beyond individual impact, culture is increasingly recognized as a driver of national development, economic growth, social inclusion, and sustainable progress. Cultural statistics now provide evidence of the social and economic contributions of artists, audiences, and communities.

As highlighted in “Achieving MDGs with Local Creativity: A Brief Overview of Culture and Sustainable Local Development with a Focus on Public-Private Sector Synergies” in “The Missing Dimensions of the Millennium Development Goals: Culture and Local Governments” (UCLG Report, 2009),  Nil Navaie, founder of Art4Development.Net,  demonstrates how culture can strengthen local economies and directly contribute to livelihoods.

She encourages that local authorities support cultural industries and advance the MDGs by first understanding the nature and impact of creative enterprises on their local economies. They should integrate arts and culture into annual development plans, ensuring these industries are part of broader growth strategies. Rural areas should not be overlooked; by developing the agricultural sector while leveraging local culture, communities can create jobs and generate sustainable livelihoods.

Over the past two decades, as the MDGs transitioned into the SDGs, arts and culture have been increasingly integrated into national development plans and local strategies, laying the groundwork for positioning culture as a stand-alone goal within the SDG framework.

Arts and culture intersect directly with key SDGs: enhancing education (SDG 4), amplifying marginalized voices (SDG 5), supporting creative economies (SDG 8), promoting social justice (SDG 10), preserving heritage and resilient communities (SDG 11), and inspiring climate action (SDG 13), and more!

The 2025 UNESCO Global Report on Cultural Policies: Culture—The Missing SDG? reinforces this, advocating for a dedicated SDG target to catalyze investment, institutional attention, and policy coherence. The 2025 UNESCO Framework for Cultural Statistics (FCS) offers governments and cultural actors tools to measure and integrate culture into development strategies.

UNESCO recommends that governments:

  • Adopt a cultural rights-based approach: Ensure equality, freedom, inclusion, and meaningful participation in arts and heritage policies.
  • Invest in digital capacity and infrastructure: Empower cultural actors and communities to benefit from new technologies (including AI).
  • Integrate culture into climate and environmental strategies: Leverage heritage in sustainable landscapes, knowledge systems, and resilience planning.
  • Expand culture-education synergies: Embed arts and heritage in curricula and teacher training.
  • Strengthen legal and institutional frameworks: Protect cultural property, artists’ rights, and heritage in crisis while ensuring accountability.
  • Improve data and measurement systems: Track cultural policies, outcomes, and integration into development processes.
  • Empower marginalized and underrepresented communities: Include Indigenous peoples, women, and youth to ensure equitable benefits.

How will you leverage arts and culture to advance the SDGs in your community?

QUESTIONS OR IDEAS?

Stop by the Art4Development.Net Welcome Desk or email us at interaction [at] art4development.net.

What did you see, feel, or discover at Art at Forum?

Share your thoughts! Your feedback helps us strengthen the role of the arts in fostering community, transformation, and impact in future gatherings and events.

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Short Survey

All artworks, words, and viewpoints featured in this exhibition belong to the participating artists. Please respect their intellectual and creative contributions. For any use, permission from the artists is required. Thank you!