ABOUT COMPASSION ARTS

Egrets in Fog is Chris Taylor (Copy) (Copy)

Derek Goodwin photograph for CAF 2020.jpg

forget_me_not (1) painting by Jane O'Hara.jpg

CompassionArtsFestival2019.poster.V2.jpg

Compassion-Arts-Culture-and-Animals-Festival-slider.jpg

Poetry, Story, Spoken Word (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

Theater Labs & Music Projects (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

Humane Education Speakers (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

Workshops & Book Studies (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

Image credits at the bottom of this page

Compassion Arts is an all-volunteer grassroots arts and education initiative for inspiring a deeper understanding of and compassion for other animals and the earth we share.

Now in its eighth season, Compassion Arts presents virtual programs in the arts about animals and our relationship with them, using four different formats for creative outreach. These are: hosting an annual Compassion Arts Festival every fall, presenting Partnered Programs year round, creating Original Projects with our collective, and developing our Center for Compassion Arts, an online museum and virtual performing arts center to launch in 2024.

Compassion Arts is not a non-profit organization and does not accept donations. We are an independent project and volunteer collective founded on the principles of a ‘gifting economy’, and so most of our programs are free. Our work is made possible through the generous sharing of time, artistry, and services of the volunteer presenters and groups we partner with.

Linnea Ryshke, “Water Will Always Find the Crack”

“More-than-human animals resist their captivity and oppression in seemingly subtle, but sometimes very clear ways …. The human and nonhuman animal figures in this painting take on the form of a flooding wave…..” (L Ryshke)

WHAT WE DO

COMPASSION ARTS FESTIVAL

We serve as a virtual platform presenting the work of established and emerging artists from different disciplines, by curating virtual art exhibits, screening documentary films, and presenting performance works, theater, poetry, and music, in programs that we host for our annual Compassion Arts Festival.

PARTNERED PROGRAMS

We collaborate with other groups on Partnered Programs to develop creative educational projects that deepen understanding about animals and explore the intersections of compassion for animals with non-violence, social justice, spirituality, environment and plant-based living. Some program examples include story slams, writing workshops, community exhibits, reading circles, speakers and more.

ORIGINAL PROJECTS

We strive to expand ‘the arts for animal advocacy’ model as a tool for non-violence and social change for use in education, arts institutions, and other organizations through developing multi-arts Original Projects with our Compassion Arts collective to create exhibits, plays, music, and other works.

CENTER FOR COMPASSION ARTS

We commit to cultivating connection by offering virtual arts programs year round starting fall 2024, through our Center for Compassion Arts virtual museum and arts center currently in development.

Solo Egret photo by Chris Taylor, Wild Love Photography
“It is our responsibility as photographers to not only share our vision with others so they can appreciate the world through our lens - it is also our responsibility to take care of the community that provides us with these images..” (C. Taylor)

COMPASSION ARTS TENETS

We dedicate our work to holistic non-violence towards all species (humans and animals) and the earth, as well as non-violence in our advocacy, our lives, and our creative works.

We hold that the animals of this world co-exist on the earth with us, not for us.

We believe that humans do not own the earth, people, resources, or other animals but, that we have a responsibility to respect and care for the life we share the planet with.

We recognize that we live within a world of complex dualities and are not perfect, but commit to use our lives and artistry for non-violence for all, to the best of our ability.

*Janell O’Rourke, My Body Is Mine* *(art in public spaces project, woodcut on wall by live market)*
*“I do it to bear witness to their anonymous suffering, their innocence and death. I ponder the question posed by a fellow artist, "what makes for a grievable life?" (J. O’Rourke)*

OUR HISTORY & PAST PROGRAMS

Image Credits for SlideShow at top of page from L-R:

Egrets in Fog photo by Chris Taylor, Farm Sanctuary photo by Derek Goodwin, Jane O'Hara painting "Forget Me Not", "The Last Pig" film, "A Prayer for Compassion" film, "Vegan Paradise" album by Mr. Hip, "The Invisible Vegan" film, Climate Healers, Luiso Garcia artwork "Freedom", CAF2019 "Casey Making a Nest" photo by Jo-Anne McArthur, CAF2018 "Crossing Over" painting by Janell O'Rourke, CAF2017 "Encounter" painting by Cyrus Mejia, CAF2016 "Lamby" painting by Jane O'Hara, CAF2015 "Red Moon & Woman with 3 Doves" painting by Linda G. Fisher, publisher Martin Rowe speaking on "We Animals", photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur on "Captive", Beasts of Burden exhibit NYC 2017, artist Jane O'Hara, poet Donald Vincent, musician Joy Askew, Benefit for Maple Farm Sanctuary, poet Gretchen Primack, multi-arts performer Michael Harren, "Food Chain Re-Imagined" ensemble and filmmaker Melissa Miller Wolfson, Farm Sanctuary founder Gene Baur , "Kedi" film, "World Peace Diet" author Will Tuttle - and beloved Josie ,whose irrepressible spirit of love lives on as the soul of inspiration in the creation of Compassion Arts.