Resources for creating
The Storytellers’ Guide to Changing Our World is a resource for creatives of all types that explores a core story and six storytelling threads that research and experience tell us will motivate critical audiences in this election and beyond. This guide is meant to be used by artists, storytellers and communicators to help us tell a shared story that makes a better, more just, and joyful future feel tangible and possible.
This guide was researched, created, and written for Culture Surge by Kirk Cheyfitz and Erin Potts. Many people contributed to its final form, including Amber Phillips, Joey Soloway, Liz Manne, Luis Castro, and others. Culture Surge anchor organizations also contributed deeply: Harness, IllumiNative, The League and the Center for Cultural Power.
“I wish this existed 10 years ago. The Renaissance in social justice and pop culture we are seeing now would have happened faster...I loved that they were able to balance theory, social justice and clear examples and how to implement change.”
Audience Profiles
To improve our network’s content creation and distribution efforts, Culture Surge compiles and translates research on key audiences. Our focus for the 2020 election is on mobilizing Black, Indigenous, communities of color, young/first-time voters, and women, particularly in Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina. To that end, we have compiled this brief with more information about these key audiences.
Image courtesy of The League (wearetheleague.org)
Briefing Recordings
You can access all of our recorded briefings and events on YouTube. The How Our Communities Win in November briefing focuses on what strategy and culture can do for key civic engagement events. The briefing on The Storytellers’ Guide to Changing Our World launched our resource for creatives of all types and explores how to motivate critical audiences in this election and beyond.
Image: Favianna Rodriguez
The Culture Surge
Post-Election Creative Brief
Regardless of what happens on Election Day and in the counting to follow, there are two Calls to Action that will need amplification: Count Every Vote and The Future We Want. Here’s a guide for creating around both of these calls to action.
Image: Mir Suhail, commissioned by Culture Surge
Art and Creativity
Making History
Examples of art and culture that influenced history from Making Waves: A Guide to Cultural Strategy, produced by The Culture Group.
Image: Joseph Dreher, commissioned by Culture Surge
Into Action
Creative Hub
Into Action Creative Hub is creating and curating thousands of pieces of artist-made, digital-first, and non-partisan content to help build cultural momentum and drive civic engagement.
Gif: Into Action Creative Hub