International EARTH Project

JMP has worked to foster and establish a worldwide network of organisations and individuals committed to catalysing meaningful engagement and social change through the arts. A central strategy involves bringing people - and, most importantly, youth - together to create new synergies needed for the development of projects that address concerns and issues of young people everywhere. This type of networking is designed to "break down the isolation that so many Canadian young people feel when faced with issues...at both local and global levels". In this context, the arts are conceived of as a tool for creating understanding, empathy, hope, and action.

This programme consists in two key components: the EARTH Project Symposium and the EARTH Project Festival. For the former activity, in May 2004 JMP brought together 300 leading arts-in-community practitioners and youth from 21 countries in 5 days of over 70 workshops and dialogue sessions. Organisers hope to sustain the momentum of this UNESCO-designated gathering through website activity and projects with EARTH partners worldwide, including collaborations that will be presented at the Festival in 2006. For example, in January 2005, Punjab Lok Rahs in Lahore, Pakistan brought Judith Marcuse to meetings, lectures and arts workshops with youth in 3 universities. In June 2005, JMP brought youth from Canada to Japan to teach the organisation's artistic methods to young artists and youth-centred organisations there, in an effort to “export” skills and create new dialogue.

Interpersonal communication was also central to the June 2006 EARTH Project Festival. Many symposium participants returned to Canada for the festival, this time with young performers and activists. In collaboration with over 30 groups from within and outside of Canada, including organisations from South Africa, Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, India, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the Middle East, JMP developed what it describes as a week of accessible and varied work from around the world (performances, exhibitions, workshops, and dialogues) that introduced international organisations and presenters to Canadian artistic practices, products, and perspectives. Over 300 activist artists from around the world, most from "the South", participated. Some 20,000 visitors came to the EARTH Village, where performances were held on 5 stages and approximately 50 social and environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) held booths/activities. In addition, lectures, dialogues, exhibitions, workshops, and other events were held over the 5-day period. JMP's theatre/dance production, "EARTH=home" premiered at the Festival and will tour to 14 cities in Canada in the fall of 2008. The purpose of this experience was to provide an opportunity for Canadian audiences, many of them youth, to see the world through the eyes and voices of youth from around the globe.

Founded in 1979, Judith Marcuse Projects (formerly DanceArts Vancouver Society) is a Canadian not-for-profit arts organisation working in the disciplines of dance, theatre, music, and film with a specific commitment to art that is issue-based and rooted in activity contributing to the development of civil society.

Organisers hope that the art creations of the project will tour to new audiences after the 2006 Festival. In addition, a documentary film about The EARTH Project is in development. Filmmakers will be travelling to EARTH Partners’ home bases in 6 countries to document the work that is taking place as part of the project. A 48-page report on EARTH-related activities, published in 2004, is available (please see the Contact section, below, to inquire about accessing this report.)