ADVOCACY ART EXHIBITION
HOPE IN ACTION
Curated in collaboration with the UN SDG Action Campaign and HUG, Hope in Action is a global traveling exhibition exploring hope not as a feeling — but as a force for change. Featuring 25 works selected from over 1,500 submissions worldwide, the exhibition spans digital art, performance, photography, sculpture, and embroidery, each responding to the central question: What does hope look like when it moves us to act?
Unveiled at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York during the opening ceremony of the Summit of the Future, the exhibition opened in the presence of UN Secretary-General António Guterres before traveling to major UN high-level events. From spotlighting changemakers at the UN SDG Action Awards in Rome, to elevating voices on climate justice at COP29 in Baku, to highlighting land restoration and food security at COP16 in Riyadh, each edition was adapted to reflect its unique context and audience.
Grounded in six SDG-aligned pillars — Climate Action, Gender Equality, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, Zero Hunger and Food Security, Youth Empowerment and Education, and Digital Transformation and Inclusion — Hope in Action transforms art into advocacy, curating spaces where solidarity, imagination, and action converge.
New York · Rome · Baku · Riyadh
September – December 2024
United Nations Exhibition Series at High-Level Events in collaboration with UN Youth Office, UNFCCC, and UNCCD
Artists
4EverKurious, Anand Manchiraju, Ben Haisenburke, Caroline Harroe, Dan Kabiaru, Daniil Alikov, Dreams, Eyerusalem, Federico Massa, Gianni Depaoli, Haleema, Heather Timm, Jane Ugah, Katie Godowski, Mary L. Peng, Maryam, Matt Brunel, Richard Zheng, Saidu Degri, Segun Jiboku, Supratim, Tracie, VulcanStudioNFT
Summit of the Future
20 September 2024
New York
At the opening ceremony of the Summit of the Future Action Day, Hope in Action — curated in collaboration with the UN Youth Office — was unveiled in the UN General Assembly Hall, showcasing youth-focused artworks that turned creativity into the backdrop for dialogue between young leaders and the UN Secretary-General.
UN SDG Action awards
29 October 2024
Rome
At the UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony in Rome, Hope in Action went beyond the stage — with artworks printed on walls, large-scale photography setting the tone, and digital displays in the foyer — transforming the venue into an immersive space of creativity and action, broadcast globally via UN Web TV and Italian national television.
UN Climate change COP29
11-22 November 2024
Baku
At the UN Climate Change COP29 in Baku, a special selection on climate justice, presenting immersive and emotionally resonant works that gave voice to communities most affected by climate breakdown.
UNCCD COP16
2-13 December 2024
Riyadh
At UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, the exhibition shifted focus to desertification, land justice, and food security, and was featured during the side event “Cultivating Creativity: Collective Action for Land Restoration.”
Photo: Mohammed Mostafa
EXHIBITION CONTRIBUTIONS
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Positioned hope not as a feeling, but as a force for change, and built the curatorial framework around six SDG-aligned pillars: Climate Action, Gender Equality, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, Zero Hunger and Food Security, Youth Empowerment and Education, and Digital Transformation and Inclusion. This structure ensured the exhibition was both cohesive and adaptable — providing a unifying narrative while allowing thematic flexibility across diverse contexts, from opening the Summit of the Future at the UNGA Hall in New York, to Rome for the SDG Action Awards, to climate justice at COP29 in Baku, and land restoration at COP16 in Riyadh.
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Reviewed over 1,500 submissions and selecting 25 works across digital art, performance, photography, sculpture, and embroidery.
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Tailored each exhibition edition (New York, Rome, Baku, Riyadh) to reflect local and global contexts, from youth empowerment to climate justice and land restoration
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Developed the exhibition’s logo, social media assets, digital backdrops, and on-site design elements to ensure visual cohesion
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Led the storytelling approach across digital films, exhibition displays, and global broadcast moments
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Collaborated with UN entities, artists, and changemakers worldwide to co-create a participatory platform.
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Shaped the visitor journey and physical/digital installations across diverse venues, from the UNGA Hall to COP29.
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Managed design, content, and curatorial teams to deliver seamless execution across multiple global stages.