Art for The World

ART for The World is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) [1]; it is based in Geneva, Switzerland and since 2005 collaborates with its sister association ART for The World Europa based in Milan, Italy. In 1995, Adelina von Fürstenberg founded ART for The World within Dialogues de Paix (Dialogues of Peace), an international contemporary art exhibition which she curated on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations.

ART for The World is inspired by the Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proclaims creative activity as an essential part of people’s well-being (“Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts…”). Its mission is to create, through the universal language of art, a meaningful and enduring dialogue among people and cultures in order to encourage tolerance and solidarity and to foster education as a human right.

ART for The World works in close collaboration with the artists' community and with the institutions that defend and promote the principles of human rights: the United Nations, the World Health Organisation (WHO) [2], the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) [3], etc and the European Parliament [4]. It presents its projects in sites, which do not belong to the traditional contemporary art circuit, such as ancient monuments, monasteries, medersas, public buildings, schools, islands, parks, stadium and other open spaces. Art for The World organises exhibitions, lectures, conferences, publishes books and produces films.