Tracie Ching and presidential candidate Svante Myrick are headlining a free virtual event next week, set for Thursday, June 18 at 4 pm EDT.
The event is organized by Art of Saving Democracy, a group built around the premise that artists have real civic work to do. Steven Heller and Debbie Millman are hosting.
Heller has spent decades as one of America’s leading voices in design criticism and history. He’s written extensively about how design has been used in service of propaganda and politics. Millman is a brand strategist and the host of “Design Matters,” one of the longest-running design podcasts in the country. They know how to push a conversation past the feel-good and into something practical.
Art of Saving Democracy laid out the case in an Instagram announcement that drew over 6,000 likes this week. “Throughout history, artists have played a vital role in every major social movement – shining light where others look away, stirring our conscience, and expanding our collective imagination of what’s possible,” the post read. “This time is no different.”
Friends, that’s about as plain as a mission statement gets.
The centerpiece of the discussion is a newly created artist action kit. Heller and Millman will talk with Myrick and Ching about the kit’s development and the artists who contributed to it. The event will also cover the broader network of artists involved with the organization and how creative voices can actually shape civic life.
Svante Myrick is the candidate for People For President, an organization focused on expanding democratic participation. He served as mayor of Ithaca, New York. That background gives him a practical view of what civic engagement actually requires. Having someone with real governing experience in this conversation is useful. Policy has a way of making artistic idealism a lot more specific.
Tracie Ching is a visual artist whose work has engaged with civic and political themes for years. She’s a natural fit for this panel. Her track record makes the conversation more than theoretical.
The action kit is the group’s attempt to give creative energy a concrete form. It’s designed to give artists something to work with, not just something to feel.
Attendance is free. Registration is required but quick. The event runs fully online.
Myrick’s political background and Ching’s artistic track record anchor the conversation. Heller and Millman as hosts add serious design credibility. It’s a solid lineup for a subject a lot of creative people care about right now.
Art of Saving Democracy has registration details available through their social channels. The event starts at 4 pm EDT on June 18.
