The Upvote Group and Give An X Alliance have come together in the UK, working under the poignant campaign slogan: “Demand the changes we need.” This collaboration is all about galvanizing the youth electorate in the upcoming general elections through an emphasis on their potential to shape the future.
The campaign has seen high-profile artists including Anthony Burrill, Anish Kapoor, Joy Yamusangie, and Jon Burgerman offer their talents. Their works have been appearing nationwide, on billboards, social media platforms and even on the big screens at Glastonbury. Each unique interpretation of the campaign’s message has successfully sparked conversation and engagement, proving the power of art as a tool for communication and influence.
The campaign explicitly targets the youth of the UK, who unfortunately only represented a 47% turnout in the 2019 general elections. This contrasts significantly with the much higher 80% participation rate among pensioners. The aim, not simply to reach equal footing, but to see them lead the way in voter turnout.
Empowering UK youth through artistic advocacy
The strategy? Comprehensive voter education, motivation, and engagement campaigns specifically designed for this demographic.
The contributing artists have expressed themselves through a myriad of styles and themes, resulting in an array of messages that all revolve around the shared human desire to communicate and connect. Apart from being standalone works of art, these pieces urge viewers to reflect, question, and engage, providing the potent conversation starters missing in so much of today’s political discourse.
Artist contributions celebrate individual perspectives and themes. Examples include Anish Kapoor’s emphasis on the importance of youth addressing climate change and cost of living, while Anthony Burrill promoted peace, freedom, and community wellbeing. Both offering unique but vital approaches to ushering in positive change.
Additional support for the campaign has come from leading figures in the creative industry, including the non-profit arts platform, Amplifier, who is assisting in distributing these invaluable artistic works. With the general elections scheduled for July 4th, the campaign’s message, powerful and engaging, is a call to action for the youth to tap into their democratic privilege and make their voices heard.
