Community Arts Network

What happens when art meets community, purpose, and global connection? @commartsnetwork (CAN), we are a global platform of 1K+ members across 93 countries, all harnessing the power of the arts for social change. We champion, connect, and empower artists, organisations, and communities driving impact through creativity. We exist to reclaim the arts as a force for transformation and we do this by demonstrating the power of arts led impact across regions and context through our member stories. If you use art to create positive change, you have a place in CAN. Join us for free at community-arts.net. And if you’re looking for the latest opportunities in arts for social impact or inspired approaches to social action through creativity - follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook, wherever you get your daily inspiration! [community arts network, arts for social change, global network, changemakers, creative communities, arts and culture, social impact through arts, artists for change, art can, arts for humanity]

It’s always nice to hear from our CAN members, and this time it’s about our monthly 1-2-3-4 Newsletter! Inside every edition, you will find: 1️⃣ One story to spark new thinking 2️⃣ Two individuals using art to create meaningful change 3️⃣ Three organisations transforming communities 4️⃣ Four curated resources & funding opportunities you won’t want to miss Your monthly read for arts and social impact should really start here. Click the link in our bio to subscribe to our newsletter. [Community Arts, Social Impact, Arts & Democracy, arts for social change, global network, artivism, creative communities, art and culture, arts for humanity, Newsletter]

🎭 Theatre changes lives: across the globe, changemakers use participatory theatre as a powerful tool for social transformation. In our network, CAN members share success stories on its impact through inspiring programmes and explain what makes theatre so well-suited to deliver change. ◽️ Thanks to @assitej_za South Africa children are learning to talk about sexual violence and criminal justice through "Nompilo", a touring drama production ◽️ @escueladeteatropetare , in a dangerous slum in Venezuela, is helping kids see new futures for themselves ◽️ @kitfest_ke - Kenyan theatre festival is re-imagining theatre through decolonisation lenses and rediscovering its rich African performing arts heritage ◽️ Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are experiencing the power of connection through @teatarmagicni participatory theatre practice ◽️ Participatory theatre helps Sri Lankan @stagestheatregroup cultivate the next generation of artivists ◽️ @seenary0 guides children in Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Syria in co-creative processes, nurturing their sense of agency ◽️ @soulpeppertheatre , Canada, opens its artist-driven space to the community, creating an open hub of sharing and creativity in the city ◽️ Amsterdam-based refugees and migrants are claiming their place in Europe through theatre programmes by @zid_theater 📍Swipe through to discover how these practitioners are reimagining theatre for change [community arts network, global network, arts for humanity, theatre, decolonisation, youth]

📣 From fellowships rooted in ecology and craft, to residencies exploring mental health, food systems, democracy and socially engaged art, this month’s opportunities invite artists, researchers and changemakers to imagine new futures 👇 ▫️ OSGF Fellowship for Distinction in Fine Crafts and Design USD 10,000 fellowship, residency for craftspeople and designers engaging deeply with the natural world 31 May ▫️ Interdisciplinary Residencies - OSGF For artists, scientists and writers exploring plants, landscapes and ecology 31 May ▫️ Open Call: The Farm Residency AUD 15,000 residency supporting artists responding to environmental, ecological and agricultural contexts 1 June ▫️ Democracy Grants for Civil Society Organisations USD 50,000 grants supporting NGOs and CSOs advancing democracy, human rights and civic participation 2 June ▫️ Food Lab Fellowship 2027 11-month residency exploring global food systems through radical artistic research 4 June ▫️ MedSEA – Socially Engaged Arts in the Mediterranean Sea EUR 3,000 stipend, fully covered residency for artists collaborating in remote Mediterranean communities 5 June 2026 ▫️ Open Call: The Wonders of the Possible Opportunity for artists experimenting with theatre, art and new technologies to showcase work in Italy 7 June 2026 ▫️ Khoj International Residency 6-week residency in Delhi exploring mental health and collective trauma through artistic practice. 7 June ▫️ The Cooper Prize 2026 AUD 20,000 international playwriting prize for bold and thought-provoking theatre works 19 June ▫️ Just Tech Fellowship 2027 USD 60,000 unrestricted fellowship for artists and researchers exploring technology, justice, social impact 28 June ▫️ Enlight Fellowship Programme 2026 Fully-funded 16-week fellowship for community leaders building solutions for youth mental wellbeing globally 5 July ▫️ OIF – Support for Artist Mobility and Circulation of Cultural Goods Mobility grants supporting artists in theatre, music, dance and comedy 31 August 📤 Save and share this post with someone looking for their next creative journey Check the link in bio! [community arts network, funding, open call, arts for humanities]

🗣 What if just 10 minutes of your time could help reshape how the world supports changemakers? A global survey led by @thewellbeingp , in partnership with Center for Healthy Minds at University of Wisconsin–Madison, under the leadership of Richard J. Davidson, is capturing how changemakers are really doing. Not just burnout and stress, but also resilience, purpose, connection, and hope. 🔹️Takes 10 minutes 🔹️Available in 12 languages 🔹️Fully anonymous 👉🏼 The goal? To gather insights from 10,000–15,000 changemakers worldwide and use this data to advocate for stronger investment in the wellbeing of people driving social change. Add your voice to a global call for change. Take the survey via the link in bio. 🕓You have until May 29 to fill it in and amplify it. [community arts network, arts for social change, changemakers, art can, arts for humanity, The Wellbeing Project]

What if the arts aren't a luxury? What if they're the infrastructure we've been missing? The arts unlock perspectives that data alone can't reach. They shift mindsets. Build a connection. Open pathways that conventional approaches close. CAN with ALLIANCE magazine, a leading global publication dedicated to philanthropy, social investment, and civil society - is holding space to explore these questions, led by the findings of our milestone report: Margins to Masterpieces. If you missed our previous webinars on the report, this one would definitely be worth attending. Especially because CAN will also tease a little information on what to expect this year with ‘Arts for Humanity’, a bold initiative that will be launching very soon. This is a conversation that's been building. Come be part of where it goes next. Reclaiming the Arts in Global Public Education and Beyond 📅 8 May 2026  🕐 14:00 CET 💻 Free. Register now -  link in bio. [community arts network, arts for social change, global network, changemakers, creative communities, art and culture, social impact through arts, artists for change, art events, arts for humanity, Alliance]

Discover exciting upcoming events hosted by CAN members and global changemakers this May and beyond. Reclaiming the Arts in Global Public Education and Beyond (@alliance.magazine )- A global conversation on strengthening arts education and collective wellbeing. Touring with Intent (@julies_bicycle )- Exploring sustainable, just, and creative touring practices. Barcelona = (Diversity + Intensity) x Complexity ( @domesticdatastreamers )- An exhibition rethinking architecture and urban futures. Situated Cinema ( @grigriprojects )- A 5-day immersive festival of storytelling, filmmaking, and community. Resilient Ties – Beyond ( @nckgdansk )- A conference on resilience in cultural work amidst global uncertainty. Explorez Festival 2026 ( @zid_theater )- Site-specific performances and creative exchange transforming public spaces. Rogue Campaigning Strategy Studio - Strategy-building for human rights and environmental justice organisers. Concerto Rainbow ( @liberamusica_ )A symphonic and choral celebration of youth, music, and shared stories. Save this post and share it with someone in your creative community. Links to all events are in our bio. [community arts network, arts for social change, global network, changemakers, creative communities, art and culture, social impact through arts, artists for change, art events, arts for humanity, upcoming events, may events]

Check your inbox, our 1-2-3-4 Newsletter has dropped! In this edition, “All the world’s a stage, and we are merely the players.” We explore how CAN members are using theatre as a collective practice to create meaningful impact, turning participants into changemakers. On the lookout for that game-changing gap? We’re sharing €500K+ worth of funding opportunities and global resources to support your artistic journey. And as always… meet CAN members harnessing the power of art for social transformation. Don’t miss it. Not yet a subscriber? (April Newsletter, Community Arts Network, Arts for Impact, Theatre for Change, Collective Practice, Art as Action, Creative Changemakers, Social Transformation, 500K+ Funding, Global Opportunities, Grants for Creatives, Open Calls, CAN Network, Changemaker Stories, Creative Community, Global Voices, Subscribe Now, Stay Updated, Get Inspired)

🌀Why do we keep dancing, against the odds? 👇 Countless words are spoken through a dancer's body. Dance embodies voices and stories that touch audiences through movement, amplifying meanings in the ripple of rhythms and silences. Today on International Dance Day, CAN members share their movements and thoughts around the discipline that has shaped their artistry, body and mindset – and the changes that dancers need. As @nitattvam highlights, secure livelihoods are critical. “We must bridge the gap between artistic value and economic security by providing dancers with consistent living wages and comprehensive healthcare that covers long-term physical maintenance. Our industry needs to move beyond ‘gig-to-gig' survival toward a sustainable infrastructure that respects the body as a lifelong professional asset.” @amelie.joannides says “The system would greatly improve if it would acknowledge the historical, cultural, social and spiritual importance of dance for Humanity, and therefore treats the dancers as essential artists in societies and give them more financial support, opportunities and respect. @hazemheader_ndc highlights the real need for “sustainable funding; fair pay; supported dance schools that are accessible to everyone, not just who can afford it; more accessible rehearsal spaces are essential for dancers in Egypt to continue creating and developing their work; affordable performances for the audience and reminding people of their roots and their dancing culture.” Unity is essential for @bboymowgliii . "For dancers to thrive, we must come together as one community. When we stand united, we amplify our voices and bodies and uplift the entire dance world.” 📣 As we appreciate, praise and enjoy their art – and the social change it helps deliver – are we also listening to them? 💬 What keeps you dancing? Let us know below and share this with dancers you know - let’s turn movement into a conversation. E. Alamareen in Descension-Zarathustra by Z. Alshurbai. H.Header, impro & Fix me, NÜT Dance Company. Aakash Odedra Company in Samsara. A.Joannides, Giselle. N.Dongre, impro & Nitattvam Dance. L. Ballarin, impro

Art has the power to show us that which we might not normally see naturally - whether through a painting, image, film, song or dance. That applies not only to an artist's personal creative expression but to the artistic expression of our own perspectives, thoughts and experiences that we share as communities in our gatherings. It's an art form known as Somatic Scribiing - the live-drawing of conversations to produce a powerful visual map that reveals more than words alone ever could. Meet passionate Somatic Scribe, Kate Morales, a cultural worker who braids visual media, performance, ritual, theatre, and play to surface collective wisdom and support ecosocial healing. Kate also hosts and produces the Somatic Scribing Podcast, directs Playlab - an intergenerational embodied research ensemble - and established the Somatic Scribing Lab, a hub for politicised artists and facilitators - where they are co-developing a body of contemporary, anti-colonial visual writing systems and teaching scribing, cultural somatics, and eco-literacy. Across movements, from climate and racial justice to education and governance, Kate’s maps reveal the “cultural heartbeat” of a group, turning dialogue into accessible visual stories that support reflection, healing, and collective understanding. Learn how Kate engages Somatic Scribing and explains its origins, functioning and impact. [community arts network, arts for social change, global network, changemakers, creative communities, arts and culture, social impact through arts, artists for change, art can, arts for humanity, Kate Morales]

Brazilian artivist, Mundano, doesn't just make art ABOUT environmental destruction - he makes art FROM it. This World Earth Day, we're introducing and spotlighting him as our Humans of CAN. For more than 20 years, Mundano has built something rare: a practice that is communal, political, and deeply rooted in the communities most affected by the crises he depicts. From large-scale murals co-created with local communities, to mobilizing 150+ artists in support of Brazil's National Network of Volunteer Brigades, to the traveling Festival Paredes Vivas — his work doesn't just raise awareness. It demands a response. And what has shaped his artistic journey? "My greatest learning has come from the waste pickers (catadores). Through them, I gained an entirely new perspective on the city and the materials we discard. This shift in vision eventually led me to rethink my own footprint as a graffiti artist. I began researching and developing natural pigments sourced directly from environmental crimes, transforming the mud from the Brumadinho disaster, ashes from scorched forests, and spilled oil into paint. Turning these tragedies into tools for advocacy and using the "waste" of a broken system to create beauty and awareness is what keeps me moving forward.” Audio credit: Mundano [community arts network, arts for social change, global network, changemakers, creative communities, arts and culture, social impact through arts, artists for change, art can, arts for humanity, Humans of CAN, Mundano]

What if art could help young people talk about mental health in ways words alone never could? Walking Our Way (Caminar Distinto) is more than a short film, it’s a window into the emotional worlds of nine young artists across Latin America, showing how creativity can open dialogue, challenge stigma, and build resilience. Developed through the OLA Young Ambassadors Programme by People's Palace Projects at Queen Mary University of London, the film brings research to life through theatre, music, and performance, reaching thousands of young people across cities like Bogotá, Lima, and Buenos Aires. Check out the link in the bio to read the full story. [ arts for social change, global network, changemakers, creative communities, art and culture, social impact through arts, artists for change, arts for humanity, People's Palace Projects, Queen Mary University of London, new films, award winning movies]