Can Art Change the World? Inside JR’s Foundation for Art and Social Impact

What happens when art leaves the walls of museums and is taken over by communities in public spaces? French artist JR has spent the last 20 years transforming public spaces into massive, thought-provoking installations that amplify the voices of communities worldwide. Through the Can Art Change the World? Foundation, his work goes beyond art – it sparks dialogue, empowers individuals, and brings education and creativity to unexpected places, from the favelas of Brazil to maximum-security prisons in the United States.

In this talk, we’ll dive into the unique work of the Can Art Change the World? Foundation and show how something as simple as a black-and-white portrait can be a powerful tool for activism, change, and community bonding.

Presenters Brief Bios

Ashley Hamilton, PhD – Executive Director

Dr. Ashley Hamilton is the Executive Director of the Can Art Change the World? Foundation, founded by French artist JR. For over 15 years, Ashley has specialized in applied and community based arts, using storytelling in many forms to create transformation, community building and social change in individuals and systems. Ashley has taught at New York University, the University of Denver, City University of New York, and for multiple prison education programs. She was the Executive Director of the University of Denver Prison Arts Initiative (DU PAI) for seven years, securing a historic multi-million-dollar contract with the state of Colorado. She also co-founded The Beacon at Skyline: A Correctional Community, ReEmergent Theatre, a theater company for formerly incarcerated people and The Circle: A Center for Artistic Justice, an educational and training organization for previously incarcerated people and their employers.

Ashley has created work Off-Broadway, with universities, in mental health care facilities, and inside over 30 U.S. prisons, engaging thousands of incarcerated individuals and their families. Ashley has directed and produced innovative artistic projects, including producing and directing theatre and film productions such as IF LIGHT CLOSED ITS EYES, co-producing two prison theatre tours (including one to the public), co-producing the With(in) podcast, and overseeing the first public facing prison radio station in the world Inside Wire: Colorado Prison Radio, and The Inside Report, a statewide prison newspaper.

Since 2018, Ashley’s work has been covered in over 200 media outlets, including The New York Times, NPR, and NBC News. Ashley holds a PhD and MA in Educational Theatre for Colleges and Communities from NYU.

Tiphanie Constantin – Program Director, Casa Amarela Providência

Tiphanie Constantin is half French, half Brazilian, and comes from a family of artists as well. Holding a Master’s degree in International Relations and a Bachelor’s degree in Letters and Editorial Translation from Sorbonne University, she has worked with NGOs such as the Ford Foundation, UNESCO, Le Journal International, Casa do Menor, Autres Brésils, Filhos do Marajó, and AEDA – Enfants d’Amazonie. Having settled in Rio de Janeiro since 2015, she worked for France Télévisions as an interpreter, which is how she first connected with Casa Amarela by interviewing its co-founder, Maurício Hora.

Tiphanie has been involved with Casa Amarela since March 2016, leading teams and producing projects. After five years at Casa Amarela, she became co-director and founded the Independent Women of Providência Collective. In 2019, she co-produced the Festival Planeta Ginga in celebration of Casa Amarela’s 10th anniversary. In 2020, she represented Casa Amarela on the SOS PROVIDÊNCIA emergency committee, alongside other important socio-cultural projects in Providência and the Port Region. She led the project and construction of the Santo Skate track in Providência and co-founded the annual Novembro Negro Festival. In 2024, Tiphanie took over as the Director of Casa Amarela.

Damariz Damken – Program Manager, Inside Out Project

Damariz Damken is an artivist and community organizer born and raised on the US-Mexico Border of South Texas. Driven by her passion for art and social justice, she joined the Inside Out team in New York City in 2020, leading operations and assisting projects across the United States and abroad. As Inside Out Project Manager since 2023, Damariz oversees Inside Out’s global operations and Photobooth productions worldwide. Damariz received a double honors B.A in Latin American Studies and Global Liberal Studies with a concentration in Politics, Rights, and Development, and postgraduate studies in International Relations from New York University. She dreams of a world without borders.

Resources

• Can Art Change the World? Foundation’s Website 
• Can Art Change the World? Foundation’s Instagram
• JR’s Instagram 

For any questions, please contact artivism@adelphi.edu.

Sponsored by Artivism: The Power of Art for Social Transformation.