The HUMAN RIGHTS ARE UNIVERSAL ARTS FESTIVAL
The HUMAN RIGHTS ARE UNIVERSAL ARTS FESTIVAL, an initiative by East Africa Visual Artists (EAVA Artists), is an annual public event that harnesses the power of art, activism, and creativity to reignite the values of humanity, equality, and freedom of expression. The festival aims to highlight often-overlooked stories and foster a more compassionate, just, and unified society through the power of storytelling.
EAVA Artists is a human rights visual art and media organization based in East Africa that champions diversity and inclusion. As an active force for human rights advancement in Uganda, the festival recognizes the country's ongoing human rights challenges and mobilizes art as a powerful tool for activism.
Our Goal
Inspire a generation of creatives, ignite dialogue around human rights, encourage reflection, action, and create a more just society that actively promotes inclusion, culture, and protects and defends human rights.
Our Objectives
Amplify works advancing human rights, ignite dialogue around human rights issues and solutions, bring art lovers together to reflect on their beliefs and values, and create spaces for artists to express their creativity and enhance their talents.
Festival Impact
The EAVA "Universal Human Rights Arts Festival" makes a significant impact on activism and human rights advancement in Uganda through various approaches:
Broadening Human Rights Reach
The festival uses diverse art forms (visual art, music, dance, poetry) to make complex human rights issues accessible and relatable to all Ugandans, sparking dialogue and fostering empathy where traditional methods might fail.
Championing Universal Rights
By highlighting "Universal Human Rights" in its name, the festival challenges selective empathy and promotes the understanding that rights are inherent to all individuals, calling for action against discrimination and hypocrisy.
Amplifying Silenced Voices
EAVA provides a vital platform for marginalized communities to share their stories of injustice and resilience through art, humanizing abuses and building a cultural archive of resistance.
Empowering Artists as Activists
The festival cultivates an "art for activism" culture, demonstrating art's power for social change and empowering artists to use their talents as advocacy tools.
Festival Components
The festival features a diverse range of activities designed to engage, educate, and inspire action around human rights issues:
Art Exhibitions
Showcasing artwork created through initiatives like the EAVA Artists Residency, where artists explore themes related to human rights.
Performances
Featuring poets, hip-hop artists, musicians, dancers, MCs, and DJs from across the country, providing a platform for marginalized communities.
Film Screenings
Presenting documentaries, fiction, action, drama, and sci-fi films to engage audiences with powerful stories that can inspire action.
Market Book Exhibition
Inviting human rights organizations and publishers to showcase their books and materials, broadening access to crucial human rights information.
Panel Discussions
Hosting discussions with experts on topics such as accountability, the power of expression, and the role of art in movements for freedom.
Live Debates
Engaging with artists and creatives addressing urgent topics like discrimination, climate change, and democracy using art for social justice.
"Any form of art is a form of power; it has impact, it can affect change – it can not only move us, it makes us move." — Ossie Davis
Festival Gallery
A glimpse into the vibrant, diverse, and inspiring moments from our past festivals.
Upcoming Festival: 2025 Edition
Join us for our next festival, where we'll explore this year's theme "DEFEND" through art, activism, and creativity.
2025 Festival: "DEFEND"
Dates: October 9th-13th, 2025
Locations: Kampala (October 9th-12th) and Jinja (October 18th)
Our 2025 festival will explore the theme "DEFEND" - examining how art can defend human rights, how we defend artistic freedom, and how communities defend their cultural expressions. The festival will feature subthemes including climate change/environment, discrimination and exclusion, democracy, and freedom of expression.
Get Involved in Our Mission
Join us in promoting human rights awareness and education through art, culture, and community engagement.