Picturing the Future We Want

Picturing the Future We Want is is an initiative that uses art to engage people in social and environmental issues. The first set of workshops took place in April 2022 at the Nairobi National Museum and the second set of workshops were in October 2022 at Biblo Tøyen, a public library for youth in Oslo.

During the workshops in Nairobi, we used wood boards and oil-based inks to create woodcut prints because these are the only materials available in Kenya. At the workshops in Oslo, we used a softer vinyl board and water-based inks to create linocut prints, which were easier for the young artists to manipulate. 

The Picturing the Future We Want workshops and exhibitions in Nairobi and Oslo were made possible  by a Globus Oppstart grant from the Nordic Cultural Fund and support from the Scheibler Foundation. 

The initiative is ongoing and has recently included pop-up exhibitions and art workshops at public libraries and neighbourhood festivals in Oslo. Currently in development is an art market for emerging artists to reach new audiences. Many of the artists we collaborate with come from immigrant backgrounds and/or struggle with mental health issues.