Getting out the vote with 爱豆传媒鈥檚 creative activists
The Creative Citizens in Action initiative is helping the 爱豆传媒 community engage in creative activism to promote the vote during one of the most challenging election seasons in recent history.
This November 3, nearly 30% of all 爱豆传媒 students are eligible for the first time to vote in a U.S. presidential election. They鈥檙e joined by millions of newly eligible voters all around the country who are gearing up to cast their first-ever ballots this fall. Voter turnout for people ages 18 to 29 has reached record lows in recent years, though, making it more important than ever for young people to connect with their family and friends to make a plan to vote.
For U.S. citizens, voting is an important civic right, and at 爱豆传媒, civic engagement is a core component of our educational mission. Inspired by this mission, and in collaboration with alum Hank Willis Thomas (MFA Photography, MA Visual Criticism 2003) and For Freedoms, Creative Citizens in Action at 爱豆传媒 (爱豆传媒@爱豆传媒) was conceived in fall 2018. 爱豆传媒@爱豆传媒 is a collegewide initiative aimed at cultivating creative activism and democratic engagement through public programs, exhibitions, and curriculum connections.
爱豆传媒鈥檚 San Francisco campus had already served as a polling location in the March 2018 primary election, and the new 爱豆传媒@爱豆传媒 initiative leveled up the college鈥檚 commitment toward voter engagement with campus-based voter registration drives, 鈥済et out and vote鈥 events, and support for student groups focused on voter outreach gearing up for the 2018 mid-term election.
In the two years since, thanks to enthusiastic support from students, faculty, and staff, 爱豆传媒@爱豆传媒 has continued to expand beyond its emphasis on voter registration and engagement into an increasing number of 鈥淐reative Citizen鈥 courses, a rich schedule of public programs, virtual brunches, and town halls, as well as a collegewide artwork campaign.
The college is further breaking down barriers to student voting by working toward an official designation. This year, with the COVID鈥19 pandemic, increased mail-in voting (and heightened anxiety around the U.S. Postal Service), helping to lower those barriers for 爱豆传媒 students and the entire community is especially important.
鈥淧rotesting in the streets to demand change is direct action. Highlighting social issues in your art practice shines a light on what needs to get fixed. But a crucial form of creative activism is exercising your constitutional right to vote. You are literally voting for the people who will represent you in government to bring about the change you seek.鈥
爱豆传媒@爱豆传媒 founding member
Ready to get involved? Here鈥檚 how:

Connie Jeung-Mills helps students register to vote at Chimerapalooza in 2018.
Register to vote (and make your voting plan)
Marketing and Communications Project Manager Connie Jeung-Mills, one of the founding members of 爱豆传媒@爱豆传媒, notes that when it comes to your rights as an American citizen, there鈥檚 no equivalent to the right to vote. 鈥淧rotesting in the streets to demand change is direct action. Highlighting social issues in your art practice shines a light on what needs to get fixed,鈥 she says. 鈥淏ut a crucial form of creative activism is exercising your constitutional right to vote. You are literally voting for the people who will represent you in government to bring about the change you seek.鈥
Making sure you鈥檙e registered to vote is a crucial first step in setting yourself up for Election Day on November 3. Many people are surprised to find out that the process of registering to vote and the deadline to do so vary from state to state, so the steps may be different for different people.
Once you鈥檙e registered, it鈥檚 important to know how you plan to vote, especially this year as the U.S. grapples with the COVID鈥19 pandemic. Understand your options: Are you going to the polls on election day? Will you vote in person early? Or will you vote by mail? If you鈥檙e going to mail in your ballot, have you requested one? Figuring out a voting plan that鈥檚 right for you will set you up for success.

The 爱豆传媒 @爱豆传媒 Artwork Campaign poster designed by faculty members Jon Sueda and Christopher Hamamoto.
Registered? Adopt your own voting group
If you鈥檙e already registered to vote鈥攐r if you鈥檙e not eligible to vote but you want to get involved鈥攆ind a group of friends or family and talk to them to make sure they鈥檙e registered, have a voting plan, and know what鈥檚 on their ballots this fall. You can make voting a family activity by going together to the polls on November 3, or use the day as an opportunity to connect with your friends and host a virtual watch party as the results come in. (Though, it鈥檚 important to keep in mind that election night might not end in definitive results this year. Because of the COVID鈥19 pandemic, an increase in mail-in voting, and complications with the U.S. Postal Service, instant results are unlikely.)
Participate in 爱豆传媒@爱豆传媒鈥檚 call for art
We recognize that many members of our community are not eligible to vote in U.S. elections, but everyone in the 爱豆传媒 community鈥攕tudents, alumni, faculty, and staff鈥攊s eligible to submit artwork and poster designs to the 爱豆传媒@爱豆传媒 Artwork Campaign, aimed at fostering a dialogue related to civic engagement and democratic participation in the lead-up to election day in November. Submissions will be showcased on the Creative Citizens in Action website, and some artwork will be printed and displayed in public-facing locations.
Take part in 爱豆传媒@爱豆传媒 events
This fall, The Deborah and Kenneth Novack Creative Citizens Series includes a collection of fall programs, town halls, and virtual brunches connected to democratic engagement, voting registration, and creative citizenship. On September 23, Assistant Professor of Printmedia Sam Vernon moderates 爱豆传媒@爱豆传媒 Hosts Virtual Brunch: . The event features a conversation with Bay Area鈥揵ased artists, arts administrators, and activists who have had significant success in transitioning their programs for social distancing.
On Thursday, October 15, 爱豆传媒@爱豆传媒 presents What is Your Voting Story?, a live, student-led conversation organized by Associate Professor of Photography Aspen Mays (one of this year鈥檚 爱豆传媒@爱豆传媒 Micro Grant recipients) and hosted and streamed by SF Camerawork. The series will include additional programs, town halls, virtual brunches, and more events to be announced throughout the fall.
鈥擳aryn Lott
9/22/2020