Rise Up International spreads its wings in the art of resistance
Piggybacking off the thought last week of art as an act of philanthropy, we have film making for international advocacy. This, of course, is a far more common approach--after all, film making and journalism are not always so far apart in their approaches to covering an issue. Certainly, there is a greater opportunity for exposure when a film can easily be sent around the world.
Something I find puzzling, however, is that for an “international,” organization, their website (http://riseupinternational.com/#section-mission) seems to focus as much, if not more, on their domestic/local programs than anything else. There is a brief mention of their “art ambassador,” programs and a quote from someone in the State Department, but no real detail on their international activities. This brings up the question of what these organizations actually do.
By the article’s coverage, one may think that Rise Up International operates in conflict to the government, exposing their shortcomings. However, the quote from the website mentions collaborations with the State Department, so I begin to doubt just how “radical,” they are. More so, I find myself wondering what services they really provide. Are they helping in meaningful ways, that benefit the people they are serving, or are they mainly just serving themselves? Is this a prime example of philanthropy for egoism? Probably. While the brief profile does provide insight into what motivates someone to start an organization such as this, the answer could easily be summarized in “This thing I did once made me feel good, so I wanted to do it more and include more of my friends.”
There is a phrase freelance artists like to use when they are asked to work for free in order to gain exposure: “People die from exposure.” I wonder if nonprofits that seek to “expose” issues should consider that as well and make sure they are taking the best approach.