Art Against War Festival

City of West Hollywood presents: Art Against War Festival

October 5, 2024 – December 21, 2024 | Fiesta Hall, West HollywoodTime: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

The Art Against War Festival offers a glimpse into this rapidly expanding demographic of refugees from Eastern Europe, whose presence is sparking both cultural creativity and societal challenges. With five dates spanning from October to December 2024, this festival highlights a growing reality: Southern California must now reckon with how to integrate this influx of refugees — many fleeing war in Ukraine and repression in Russia and Belarus — into the fabric of local life.

The New Face of Immigration in West Hollywood

While West Hollywood has long been a hub for various immigrant communities, the recent surge of Slavic and Far East refugees arriving due to the war in Ukraine and political oppression in Russia and Belarus presents a fresh challenge for the city. These individuals — intelligent, creative, and often well-educated — have been forced to escape regimes that see them as threats. Now, as they rebuild their lives in the U.S., local society faces the question of how to accommodate and engage with this new wave of immigration.

A Cultural Call to Action

The Art Against War Festival shines a spotlight on this new community, offering a platform for dialogue between these immigrants and the broader public. The festival will feature two theatrical solo shows, a pop up art fair, a documentary and short film showcase, all created by artists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, USA and other countries. In addition, Art Talks will explore the emotional and political toll of war, displacement, and life in exile. While these performances give voice to the immigrant experience, they also challenge local society to consider the impact of this growing group and how best to engage with them.

Theatrical Centerpiece: The Border

At the heart of the festival is The Border, an award-winning one-man show performed by Misha Suvorov which recently won the Best of The Actor’s Company award at the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2024. This anti-war self-confession delves into the personal and political borders we erect—an evocative metaphor for the real borders these immigrants have crossed in search of safety.

A Collaboration of Nonprofits

The festival is hosted by RimoVision Group (“Creative theater for all!”) and DeepARTment (“Helping underrepresented artists thrive”) with the sponsorship of Russian Sepaking Advisory Board of the city of West Hollywood.

Supported by Russian Americans for Democracy in Russia and Navalny LA Group.

October 12th

6pm - Art Against War exhibition

7pm - The Border

8pm - Vocal Therapy

November 15th

6pm - Art Against War Exhibition

7pm - The Border

7:45pm - Vocal Therapy

8pm - Brainwashed

December 14th

6pm - Art Against War exhibition

7pm - The Border

8pm - Vocal Therapy

December 21st

6pm - Art Against War exhibition

7pm - The Border

8pm - Vocal Therapy

See you there!

Host or Publisher DeepARTment