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BE CREATIVE |
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Artistic expression is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Any one who writes, performs, draws, or paints a political message makes a loud statement. Even when society silences you, artistic expression can be heard loud and clear.
In this section, read more about our online art gallery; check out the current issue of Panorama magazine; learn about the artists behind the music on this site and find out why hip hop is inextricably linked to urban issues and social justice. |
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GLOBAL GALLERY |
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Upload your artwork and create your own online collection on urban life! Or enter our current contest |
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ART CONTEST:
FRAME YOUR CITY |
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A city is an infinite collage of spaces that are constantly in transit and motion. Gaps often go unnoticed and build a new landscape that is blurry and out of focus. The 'urban' lives and breathes in between these gaps, relations between places and people, that also often go unnoticed. It is all periphery put in focus only by our gaze, as citizens or travelers, within and through a city. Our gaze is the only true epicenter of a city. |
The aim of our current contest is to put your city into focus - to literally frame a space, a gap, a place, a person, an issue and people - with the objective of capturing that one fragment that for you reflects the feeling and essence of a city. Your submission can be any medium (e.g. photograph, painting, drawing, digital graphic manipulation).
Go to the Gallery |
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PANORAMA |
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For our December/January issue, we invite you to submit writings on the topic of urbanization and sustainable development. Investigate the challenges of increasing urbanization in both developing and developed countries. Think about slums, access to water, environmental sustainability, finance and governance, safety and security and health and well being. |
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What are the realities where you live? What can we do to "green" our spaces? How can public transportation be more effective, energy efficiency be achieved, water and air quality improved? Are there models that work where you live?
Go to the Current Issue
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ABOUT THE MUSIC |
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A powerful song can be a springboard for reflection and action. Our featured artists speak frankly and honestly about urban realities such as inequality and oppression. Some listeners may find the words shocking, but we promise the message is passionate and powerful.
Read about the artists, listen to the lyrics, then share your thoughts on our world urban café discussion board |
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YOUTH AND THE ROLE OF HIP HOP |
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The harsh reality of the inner city is the topic of choice of many hip hop artists. Perhaps the group most at risk in today's urban world is young people. Of the one billion slum dwellers, approximately 50% are under 24 years old. Without access to adequate education or training, they have no prospects for meaningful employment. They have no say in policies and decisions that affect their livelihoods. They are victims of a cycle of poverty and social exclusion, and are particularly vulnerable to crime, drug abuse, prostitution, and HIV/AIDS.
In recent years, disenfranchised urban youth have, however, given birth to a powerful voice. This voice is Hip-Hop. |
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Originating from the cities of North America, Hip-Hop is becoming the most popular form of expression of urban youth worldwide. A recent study undertaken by UN-HABITAT reveals that Hip-Hop is more than a genre of music or dance. It is a social movement. It is both a product of and a reaction to globalization and represents a strong political statement. Many popular artists and performers are often those who sing, dance, paint and "rap" about critical social, economic and environmental issues and who play an active role in their respective communities.
--From Project "Messengers of Truth," UN-HABITAT |
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