Madonna has named Katy Perry to be the next guest curator of the Art For Freedom project.
The project, which launched in September, promotes art and free speech as a means to address persecution and injustice across the globe. Its website showcases daily, user-generated submissions in the form of video, music, poetry and photography focused on the values of Art For Freedom, selected with the assistance of Madonna’s celebrity guest curator. Last month, illusionist David Blaine served as curator.
As part of her duties as the site’s curator, Perry, whose duties last through January, will help Madonna sort through submissions to feature on the site and ultimately select one artist at the end of the month whose “creative expression demonstrates a unique view of the fight for human rights.” The winner will receive a $10,000 grant for the nonprofit organization of his or her choice, paid by Madonna, who launched the project in conjunction with Vice Media via a gritty 17-minute film known as “secretprojectrevolution”.
“I am so fortunate to have the freedom to express myself through music,” Perry said in a statement. “Now I’m calling all of my incredibly creative KatyCats to use their talent to show Madonna and me how they express their freedom. I believe that 2014 can be a year of great social change. Together we can all stand up for Human Rights.”
Honored to be curating Art for Freedom w/ @Madonna this month! Make 2014 a year of social change. Submit your art at http://t.co/KcidTOg6X8
— Katy Perry (@katyperry) January 8, 2014
“Art can change the world, but first it needs to be seen and heard,” said Madonna in a statement. “Katy Perry and I are asking you to be that voice and show us how you define freedom in 2014. This will be a year of monumental changes for human rights, and we want you to be a part of that change. Let us hear from you.”