Bismillah…
We make art to create change
To express our pain
Teach our history
We create art to stay alive
We create to survive
We create to share of ourselves
Even if we don’t come from the same land
Our art speaks to our humanity and shared struggle
We make art to unite
We create art to fight
Against injustices and human divisions
We create to dismantle all stereotypes
We create art to uplift and inspire
It’s not about empowerment but sharing power
Dismantling hierarchies and societal expectations
We create art from the heart
Believe in one another from the start
Because our differences make our art more beautiful
So we value diversity of expression
And welcome all forms of art
written by Ifrah Magan at the 2017 Oxford Forum, reflecting on the Arts & Culture Working Group