PURPOSE: The World Art Day is celebrated each year, on 15 April to help reinforce the links between artistic creations and society, encourage greater awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions and highlight the contribution of artists to sustainable development. Art has long played an integral role in conveying messages of evolution, revolution, freedom and creativity, and a messenger to the masses of global issues. World Art Day is a timely reminder that art can unite and connect us even in the most difficult of circumstances. Indeed, the power of art to bring people together, to inspire, heal and share, has become increasingly clear during recent conflicts and crises, including COVID-19.

FORUM: "Art & Human Dignity: Human Rights and Healing Arts for a Culture of Peace." World Art Day 2026. Each year, the celebrations help reinforce the links between artistic creations and society, encourage greater awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions and highlight the contribution of artists to sustainable development. It is also an occasion to shine a light on arts education in schools, as culture can pave the way for inclusive and equitable education. Under the patronage of UNESCO, in partnership with the Jameel Arts & Health Lab in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Global Peace Education Network (GPEN), Dr. Guila Clara Kessous is organizing the forum “Art & Human Dignity: Human Rights and Healing Arts for a Culture of Peace”. This forum, aligned with UNESCO’s mandate to promote the arts as a bridge across cultures, ideologies, languages and geographies, reflects the crucial use of arts as an enabler for healing and social cohesion, contributing to consolidating a culture of peace Art has long played an integral role in conveying messages of evolution, revolution, freedom and creativity, and a messenger to the masses of global issues. Art has the transformational power of taking macro ideas of worldwide transformation and communicating them in a digestible manner for society. The opportunities it presents highlight possibilities for change, and bring to the forefront the urgency of working towards accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Like everyone in society, Artists also have a responsibility for using the work they put out into the world for a greater purpose. Art is not just a pretty painting, it is the pulse of society, the heart of the change they want to see in their local and global communities.On this an occasion; we invite you to shine a light on arts education in schools, as culture can pave the way for inclusive and equitable education. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #worldArtDay, #15April, #Arts.

EVENT: On April 15th; The event held on World Art Day 2026 will examine the positive impact of the arts in promoting global peace, human rights, health, and well-being. As stated by Dr. Kessous, UNESCO Artist for Peace, and Ambassador for Peace of the Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace (Geneva): “The impact of art is underestimated today. We have a limited view of the artist as someone who produces beauty devoid of social conscience. In response, many artists decide to combine activism and art to become ‘artivists’ – offering their talents to alleviate suffering, promote peace and prevent war.”

Agenda Programme

7:00 PM CET Time - INTRODUCTION
- Dr. Guila Clara Kessous, UNESCO Artist for Peace – Ambassador for Peace of the Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace (Geneva)
- Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO
- Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead at the World Health Organization, Co-founder, and Co-director Jameel Arts & Health Lab
- Dr. Nisha Sajnani, Director of the Program in Drama Therapy; Chair, Creative Arts Therapies Consortium; Founder of the Arts and Health initiative at New York University; Co-founder and Co-director Jameel Arts & Health Lab

7:30 PM CET Time – ART and HEALING
Roundtable: Healing through Art
- Dr. Vicky Karkou Director of the Research Centre for Arts and Wellbeing, Edge Hill University, UK
- Dr. Pierre Lemarquis, neurologist, musicologist, member of the Society of Francophone Clinical Neurophysiologists and of the New York Academy of Sciences, France
- Alfredo Fort, MD, Msc. Ph.D. Global health consultant, El Salvador

Roundtable: “Verstohlen”:The Art of Being Human
- Antoine Fenoglio, designer, « Design with care », Conservatoire national des Arts et Métiers, chaire Humanités et Santé, France
- Cynthia Fleury, philosopher
“Museums on Prescription”: a Canadian initiative
- Stephen Legari, Program Officer, Art Therapy, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
- Sophie Lessard-Latendresse, Head of the art and wellness development at the National Museum of Fine Arts Of Quebec

8:30 PM CET Time – ART, HUMAN RIGHTS, and SOCIAL HEALTH
The core of Art - Charles Pépin, philosopher
Roundtable: Ethical Artistic Practice in support of Human Rights and Dignity
- Alison Phipps, UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts at the University of Glasgow.
- Taigué Ahmed, artivist, Chadian choreographer and director of the association Ndam Se Na in N'Djamena.
- Jonathan Fox, Co-Founder of Playback Theatre, USA
Artivism
- Fabrice Don de Dieu, artivist, “Refugees on the Move” workshops for refugees from the Central African Republic

9:00 PM – ART and PEACE EDUCATION
Roundtable: Peace Education through Art
- Dr. Tony Jenkins, Manager, International Institute for Peace Education, Georgetown University, USA
- David Cottrrell, Artist in residence, Department of Defense, UK
- Tarrie Burnett, Executive Director for Tomorrow’s Women, Israel

Roundtable: Peacebuilding through Art
- Alla Rogers, Director, Art and Cultural Impact Programs, Global Peace Education Network.
- Melvin Hardy, Arts and Education Social Entrepreneur. United Nations
- Dr. Lisa Worth Huber, National Peace Academy, USA

Theatre of The Oppressed
- Dr. Julian Boal, Co-Founder, Escola de Teatro Poplar/ The School of Popular Theatre, Brazil
- Dr. Nisha Sajnani, Director of the Program in Drama Therapy; Chair, Creative Arts Therapies Consortium; Founder of the Arts and Health initiative at New York University; Co-founder and Co-director Jameel Arts & Health Lab

10:00 PM CET Time – CONCLUSION
- Dr. Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Mukwege Foundation, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

African congolese initiative: art to help the fight against child labor in mines
- His Excellency Archimede Kabeya Kalasa
- Executive secretary of the Governement of Province Lualaba, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Music for hope
- Jean Michel Jarre, Artist, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador

Rising voices

Roundtable: Art Therapy Methodology
- Dr. Jacques STITELMANN – PhD. Psychologue FSP, Psychothérapeute ASP, Switzerland
- Dr. Jean-Pierre Klein, Psychiatrist, Director of the National Institute of Expression, Creation, Art and Therapy, France
- François Lacroix, MD, Art Therapist, Head of “L’Atelier des Possibles”,Switzerland

Roundtable: Art with social and medical impact
- Marlène Huissoud, experimental designer, Arts Foundation UK for the Material Innovation Award, 2016, UK
- Dr Myriam Belghazi Nciri, President of the Association “Dar Zhor”, Morocco
- François Struzik, photoreporter on the human side, “Simply Human” initiative
- Nawell Ainèche, transdisciplinary artist, “Wearable sculpture” movement

Roundtable: Art and well being
- Barbara Lau, family dramatherapist, vice president of the national association of dramatherapy, French representative at the European Federation of Dramatherapy
- Anne Cazaubon, author, artist, coach
- Marie Serruya, plastic artist
Digital Art and social impact
- Pierre Fautrel, leader of “Obvious” a collective of artists working with artificial intelligence
Art and joy
- Richard Orlinski, artist

Roundtable "Art as a nectar of life"
- Kudsi Erguner, musician
- Alexandra Zimeray, art therapist, Johannesburg
- Yves Dana, sculptor
- Frank Lalou, author, calligrapher
- Bouchra Benyezza, psychotherapist and art therapist, Morocco

Roundtable "The Art Pledge initiative"
- Didier Saulnier, co-founder of The Art Pledge platform
- Gaelle Choisne, artist

Bibliotherapy
- Marie Claude Réau, editorial director of documentaries Bayard youth press
- Céline Mas, co-founder of « Love for Livres » and author

Beauty, tradition and engagement
- Marie Gugliermina, Marketing Manager of Daum, cristal brand

Being aware of what "Art therapy" does really mean?
- Dr. Anne Marie Dubois, scientific manager of the Museum of Art and History of the St Ann hospital in Paris, Center of study and expression

Engage with Art!
- Barbara Borsotto, scarf designer, Daphné brand, Italy
- Laurent Godard, doctor, designer, France

OTHERS EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS: Worldwide Celebrations of World Art Day 2026.
On Wednesday April 15th, 2026; The value of creativity and the richness​ of Jersey's cultural landscape by coinciding a day of artistic and cultural events with UNESCO's World Art Day will be celebrated . The key partners across arts, culture and heritage in Jersey are working together to deliver an Island wide celebration of the arts with support from:Jersey Arts Centre​; The ArtHouse Jersey; The Jersey Opera House; The Ballet d'Jerri​; The Jersey Heritage​; The doors will be open to to Islanders to provide a range of workshops, tours, exhibitions, activities. The celebration is open to everyone. It encourages people of all ages to get involved in art, discover local talent and explore the stories and heritage that shape the Island's identity. The aims of the event is to ​build community connections, to support cultural participation and to showcase the Island's diversity and creativity​​; Learn more about the schedules!

At The Frank Lloyd Wright Building as Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Guggenheim New York is an architectural icon that has inspired countless visitors and is widely seen as Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece.The Museum in New york will organize:

• On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 2 pm EDT Join the event ''Mind’s Eye: Carol Bove''

• On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 2 pm EDT; If you're Curious about the Building?

• On Friday, April 17, 2026, 5 pm EDT, will be held the Students Fest: Play.

The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) issued six stamps in celebration of World Art Day.

PUBLICATIONS: In 2023, Compendium of Cultural Policies & Trends have been conducting a research campaign on Freedom of Artistic Expression. They have published four reports and held a conference in Malta where artistic freedom played a major role, and conducted a survey on artistic freedom in Europe. It is now time to publish an overview of these findings in the first half of 2024, to officially close the research campaign and move on to another topic.

EXHIBITS: You are invited to visit the following exhibitions

•  Carol Bove From March 5, 2026–August 2, 2026

• Gabriele Münter: Contours of a World From November 7, 2025–April 26, 2026

• Collection in Focus | Robert Rauschenberg: Life Can’t Be Stopped From October 10, 2025–May 3, 2026

• Collection in Focus | Modern European Currents From July 15, 2025–January 10, 2027

•  Thannhauser Collection - Ongoing - Vasily Kandinsky - Landscape with Rolling Hills, 1910

STATEMENT: "The impact of art is underestimated today. We have a limited view of the artist as someone who produces beauty devoid of social conscience. In response, many artists decide to combine activism and art to become ‘artivists’ – offering their talents to alleviate suffering, promote peace and prevent war." Dr. Kessous UNESCO Artist for Peace, and Ambassador for Peace of the Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace (Geneva)

PODCASTS : The challenge of keeping art alive, now and in the future, is therefore twofold: we must support culture professionals and cultural institutions, and promote access to art for all. Listen to the audio-podcasts!

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS : The aim of UNESCO’s ResiliArt movement is to affirm the resilience of art in this period and prepare for the future. Get the campaign materials!