“Artivism” for Social Change
“If I can’t dance, I don’t want your revolution.”
— Attributed to Emma Goldman
All significant movements for positive change are accompanied by outpourings of artistic expression that help open our eyes to injustice and convey powerful new visions and possibilities.
This key role of the arts in social movements is as true today as it’s ever been, and we at Bioneers have sought to feature the work of groundbreaking socially and eco-engaged artists from across different disciplines. It is our belief that without the inspiration and visions artists provide, we won’t be able to give birth to the life affirming and just civilization we aspire to.
Bioneers conference art galleries: 2025 · 2023 · 2022 · 2019 · 2018
Call for Artists: Bioneers 2026
Applications are open through November 1, 2025.
Bioneers 2025 Conference Performances
Watch incredible performances from Bioneers 2025.
Conference Key Art
Featuring artists Daniel Coe, Guillermo Flores, Christi Belcourt and Lisa Ericson.
Artist Interviews
Talented artists, activists and storytellers discuss their work with Bioneers’ Polina Smith
Polina Smith is the Arts Coordinator for the Bioneers conference and Artistic Director of Crescent Moon Theater Productions and worked for ten years with the Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women.
Check out more of Polina’s Arts interviews here.
Some of the incredible artists, performers and writers who have presented at Bioneers:
Dancing Earth
OLOX
Destiny Arts
Lyla June
Sarah Crowell
Joel Dean Stockdill
Alex Grey
Cello Joe
Nicole Klaymoon
Jerry Tello
Georgie Nakima
Thrive Choir
Cory Doctorow
Terry Tempest Williams
Yustina Salnikova
Climbing PoeTree“The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.”
Toni Cade Bambara
Featured Videos
Featured Radio Shows
Hear more Arts Radio Shows & Podcasts
Featured Articles
Engaged Arts Resources
Check out these incredible organizations working at the intersection of art and social justice.
- Art for Justice Fund – Supporting artists and advocates working to end mass incarceration.
- 350.org Arts & Culture Program – Leveraging art for climate justice.
- Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation (VONA) – Writers’ community of color empowering underrepresented voices.
- The Laundromat Project – Using art to connect neighbors and strengthen communities of color.
- Creative Capital – Funding and advisory support for socially engaged artists.
- Art + Feminism – Closing the gender gap on Wikipedia through art and activism.
- Sins Invalid – Disability justice performance project.
- Indigenous Arts Alliance – Supporting Indigenous arts and culture.
- Intersection for the Arts – San Francisco nonprofit supporting socially engaged artists.
- Amplifier – Design lab producing art and media for social justice movements.