The Future is Unwritten: UN75 Dialogues

The Future is Unwritten’s UN75 Dialogues are on-the-record conversations bringing together influential art world voices and UN Agencies to explore culture’s role and value as humanity faces its greatest test since World War II. Discussion themes included rising sea levels, diversity and inequality, the transformation of rural life, architecture after catastrophic change, the healing power of art, indigenous knowledge, and the role of museums in a time of crisis.
The views, concerns and ideas expressed in these dialogues were included in reports to all 193 UN Member States and senior UN officials as part of the official Commemoration of the UN’s 75th Anniversary by the UN General Assembly. From 2021, The Future is Unwritten will work with groups around the world to discuss how best to take forward the priorities and proposals generated.

Art in the Time of Coronavirus

Art in the Time of Coronavirus in collaboration with the World Health Organisation brings together cultural leaders to explore the Art and Culture sector’s role and response during and after systemic-level, global threats like COVID-19. The Dialogue was held on Earth Day to highlight Coronavirus' connection to our climate and ecological emergency and marked the launch of The Future is Unwritten’s UN75 Dialogues series. Understanding that our collective response to these crises will determine how fast the world recovers, and how we can transform this crisis into a paradigm shift on issues ranging from the climate crisis to future pandemics, inequalities, conflict resolution and rapid changes in technology and in our populations, this discussion formed the backdrop of the ongoing series. Moderated by WHO's Arts & Health Lead, Christopher Bailey, the discussion features Jerry Saltz, Senior Art Critic for New York Magazine; Anne Pasternak, Shelby White and Leon Levy Director Director of Brooklyn Museum; and Mona Chalabi, Artist and Data Editor at the Guardian US. The event concludes with a public Q&A and an invitation to join a global reading of Letters to the Earth.

Letters to the Earth | Earth Day Readings

On Earth Day - April 22nd 2020, The Future is Unwritten took part in 'Letters to the Earth' by sharing Letters of Love in a Time of Crisis as part of its UN75 Dialogue: Art in the Time of Coronavirus. These Letters to the Earth were streamed for the global community to unite in watching and listening to responses to the global pandemic and a planet in crisis.

Members of the public - young and old - from across Europe, America, Chile, Brazil, Australasia, Russia, Palestine, India and Hong Kong shared their ‘Letters of Love in a Time of Crisis’ and were joined by actors, poets, artists, politicians, with a special reading organised by The Future is Unwritten by Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead at the World Health Organisation.

Rising Waters / Resilient Cultures

In collaboration with UNESCO and ResiliArt, this Dialogue explores cultural resilience and the need for innovation and imagination in the face of rising sea levels and a global climate emergency. There is a special focus on Small Island States and the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale. The Dialogue is moderated by UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, Ernesto Ottone R., and features panelists Anna Somers Cocks, Founder Editor of The Art Newspaper and Former Chair of the Venice in Peril Fund; Hashim Sarkis, Dean of MIT’s School of Architecture + Planning and Curator of the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale; Angelique Pouponneau, Chief Executive Officer of Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust; and Rashad Salim, Expeditionary Artist and Creator of Ark Re-imagined, representing Iraq at the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale. The one-hour discussion is followed by a public Q&A and special video messages from the President of Seychelles, H.E. Danny Faure, broadcasting live during the Nekton Mission’s first descent 124 meters below the Indian Ocean; Venice resident and Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources, Andrea Rinaldo; and Rashad Salim's Ark for Iraq project.

Medicine Men / The Art of Health

In collaboration with the World Health Organization, this Dialogue brings together physician-artists and curators to explore the healing power of art as a driver for improved health, education and social justice. The discussion is moderated by WHO’s Arts & Health Lead, Christopher Bailey, with panelists Chip Thomas, aka Jetsonorama, Artist-Physician based on the Navajo Nation and Founder of The Painted Desert; Kōan Jeff Baysa, Curator-Physician and Founder of Honolulu Biennial Foundation, Director of iBiennale, and Co-Founder of Joshua Treenial; and Ahmed Mater, Artist-Physician based in Riyadh, Founder of Pharan Studio and Co-Founder of Edge of Arabia. Following the unprecedented impact of COVID-19, the discussion is framed within the dual crisis of a global pandemic and a climate emergency. The panelists share their journeys from Medicine to Art, and explore the values of service, healing, and collectivism that have guided their practice. This Dialogue features the perspectives of Medicine Men and TFIU acknowledges the views of Medicine Women are not included in this panel. The one-hour discussion is followed by a public Q&A and video about Chip Thomas’ The Painted Desert produced by KQED Arts, San Francisco.

Indigenous Voices / Listening for Tomorrow

This UN75 Dialogue features leading cultural voices working with First Nation communities in the United States and Canada, exploring indigenous values, wisdom, and culture as vital drivers for the activation and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The discussion is moderated by Shamina de Gonzaga, World Council of Peoples for the United Nations (WCPUN) Executive Director and Main Representative to the UN, with panelists Joseph Kunkel (Northern Cheyenne), Director, Sustainable Native Communities Design Lab; Nathalie Bondil, Director General and Chief Curator at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts; Aaron Leggett (Dena’ina Athabascan), Curator of Alaskan History & Culture at Anchorage Museum and President/First Chief of Native Village Eklutna; and Larissa FastHorse (Sicangu Lakota), Writer, Playwright, Director and Choreographer, and the Recipient of the PEN/USA Literary Award for Drama. The one-hour discussion is followed by a public Q&A, a video message from Wounded Knee, South Dakota and a preview of the 2020 film Gather by Sanjay Rawal.

Countryside, The Future, A UN75 Dialogue

Coinciding with the reopening of AMO’s seminal exhibition, Countryside, The Future, at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, this UN75 Dialogue addresses urgent environmental, political and socio-economic issues in rural contexts. The discussion is moderated by Rem Koolhaas, Founder of OMA and curator of Countryside, The Future; and Samir Bantal, Director of AMO, the research and design studio at OMA; with panelists Etta Madete, architect and lecturer at University of Nairobi; Dr. Linda Nkatha Gichuyia, Department of Architecture, University of Nairobi; Matthew Mazzotta, Social Practice Artist and Founder of The Main Idea; and Lenora Ditzler, Agricultural systems scientist; PhD candidate at Wageningen University. This Dialogue was presented as part of The Future is Unwritten’s official program during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in New York; in partnership with the Open Mind Project.

Architecture After Catastrophic Change

This UN75 Presentation by Beatrice Galilee, founder of The World Around, explores case studies that show how Designers, Architects and Thinkers can collaborate and rebuild in a Time of Crisis. Established in 2019, The World Around is a New York-based institution that champions innovative and outstanding contemporary architectural and design practices; connecting a global audience to the most progressive values and promising ideas in culture today. Prior to founding The World Around, Galilee was the first Associate Curator of Architecture and Design at The Met Museum. This Talk was presented as part of The Future is Unwritten’s official program during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in New York; in partnership with the Open Mind Project.

Creativity & Recovery: The Healing Power of Art after Trauma & Conflict

As part of Goals House @ UNGA, Community Jameel and The Future is Unwritten convened this UN75 Dialogue to highlight the healing power of art after trauma and conflict. The event explores ground-breaking research into the links between art and health and focuses on a specific case study relating to the preservation of Yazidi culture following the ISIS genocide in 2014. The panel is moderated by Katy Wickremesinghe, Founder, KTW London, and chaired by Fady Jameel, President, International, Community Jameel (Chair). Panelists include Injonge Karangwa, Chief Organizer at University of Global Health Equity, Hamwe Festival; Christopher Bailey, Arts & Health Lead, World Health Organisation; Hannah Thomas, Artist and Humanitarian Activist; Dr. Maher Nawaf, Director, Yazda UK and board member for Yazda Global; Antonella Caruso, Founder, LAMEDINA Institute and ex-Director of Middle East and Western Asia Division, Department of Political Affairs, United Nations; and Lord Ed Vaizey, Former UK Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries. This Panel was presented as part of The Future is Unwritten’s official program during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in New York; in partnership with the Open Mind Project.

THE TIME IS NOW / Museums as Agents of Change

This UN75 Webinar features pioneering museum leaders from around the world discussing how the cultural sector can confront the most pressing social and environmental issues facing humanity. As bearers of history and physical places of trust, museums are uniquely placed to transform the values that guide our actions. Facing unprecedented global threats, a positive and hopeful future depends on radical shifts in mindset and on action at massive scale. So, at this crucial moment in time, how do we lead with action and optimism?

The discussion is moderated by Molly Fannon, CEO, Museum for the United Nations – UN Live; with panelists Frances Morris, Director, Tate Modern; Elizabeth Silkes, Executive Director, International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, Global; Bonita Bennett, former Director, District Six Museum, South Africa; Courtney Johnson, Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive, Te Papa, New Zealand; Andrés Roldán, Executive Director, Parque Explora, Colombia; and George Okello Abungu, CEO, Okello Abungu Heritage Consultants, Kenya. This Webinar was presented as part of The Future is Unwritten’s official program during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in New York; in partnership with the Open Mind Project.