July 2016 was a busy month for Big Bowl of Ideas. The Democratic National Convention brought us to Philadelphia as one of the co-producers of ‘Truth to Power,’ an extraordinary pop-up art show, discussion salon and performance space presented by Rock The Vote and #Cut50. With the DNC as its backdrop, the three day event featured works by over 200 artists, over 20 discussion panels and performances with policymakers, activists and celebrities. The subject matter of the art and programming shed light on the most pressing issues for young people in America today, including police brutality, mass incarceration, student debt, reproductive rights, environmental justice and economic inequality.
(Clockwise from top left: “Gun Country” by Michael Murphy, “Stop Telling Women to Smile” by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, “Debt” by FK Productions, “Protest Signs” by Favianna Rodriguez.)
Big Bowl of Ideas worked on many aspects of ‘Truth to Power,’ especially focusing our efforts on building partnerships and production of the event’s programming. Through strategic creative organizing, we recruited the support of over 35 national progressive organizations like Planned Parenthood, SEIU, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Fusicology, who helped fund, promote and contribute panelists to the event. As a programming producer, Big Bowl of Ideas resourcefully crafted discussion panels with diverse mashups of panelists and performers that reflected our wide and varied client base and network of collaborators. BBOI-produced programming included a discussion between Melissa Harris-Perry, Gerry Hudson, Jelani Cobb and Rosie Perez on race and the US economy, a special ‘Truth to Power’ version of Dice Raw and Phillip Brown’s hip-hop musical ‘The Last Jimmy,’ and a panel on art and activism with Touré, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Danny Glover, Asheru and Aaron Huey.
(Clockwise from top left: Touré, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Danny Glover, Asheru and Aaron Huey discussing art and activism; Melissa Harris-Perry, Jelani Cobb, Gerry Hudson and Rosie Perez discussing race and the economy; members of Lady Parts Justice League perform sketch comedy; Wendy Carrillo, Sheila Pree Bright, Tatti Ribeiro and student journalists from Global Girl Media and Wake The Vote discuss citizen journalism in the digital age.)
Big Bowl of Ideas is proud to have worked with an incredible group of co-producers: SOZE, TaskForce, Little Giant Creative and 1215 Creative, to name a few. The strengths and assets of each of the co-producers made ‘Truth to Power’ a particularly well-rounded and high-quality event, which ended up drawing over 10,000 attendees and garnered praise from local and national visitors and a range of media outlets.
We are excited to continue working with the ‘Truth to Power’ co-producers and partners on more impactful and inspiring projects to come!
