Lisa Russell, MPH is an Emmy-winning filmmaker, Nicholl Fellowship QF Screenwriter, UN/NGO Artist Curator, 2x TEDx Speaker, Fulbright Specialist and Founder of CREATE2030 whose work lies at the intersection of arts, social justice and global development. An avid proponent of narrative justice and responsible storytelling, Lisa has been a featured speaker and workshop facilitator at some of the leading global health gatherings including TEDxJNJ (Johnson & Johnson), Switchpoint, Envision, Unite for Sight, and others.She is a writer and director, known for A Revolutionary Act (2020), Bi-Racial Hair (2009) and Mother’s Cry (2015).
It was a stroke of luck that we were able to interview her. Read the full conversation:
Rajni Vohra: How art and culture can help mitigate various issues in the World?
Lisa Russell :Art and culture help mitigate issues around the world by transforming them into stories and narratives that have an emotional and personal element to them. Art and culture help us not only to learn more about the world around us but to unlearn the inherent bias we are exposed to and systems of oppression we have accepted as “normal.” Art and culture serves to question, disrupt, inspire, motivate, anger, love and appreciate the world around us. Art and culture are the most powerful tools we have to truly create an equal and sustainable world for current and future generations.
Rajni Vohra: In your experience, what is the best way to empower artists in developing nations?
Lisa Russell :The best way to empower artists and creatives from low and middle income countries, is to create systems that value and support their livelihoods. Many artists, through the challenges and resiliency they experienced in life, have empowered themselves and those around them. But we need to ensure they are paid for their contributions and we value their livelihoods in the same we do other sectors.
Rajni Vohra: Where do you see your current role in helping society?
Lisa Russell :My role as both a creative practitioner and an advocate for artists in the UN/NGO sector is to challenge harmful norms of how artists are valued and engaged with their work. I advocate for artist representation, believing that the best ones to shape policies and programmes for creatives are creatives themselves. In my experience, UN/NGO entities and staff are creating the programs they believe help creatives but they live on the opposite spectrum when it comes to livelihoods, pay scales, health insurance and more. Letting artists lead in the creation and implementation of UN/NGO creative campaigns, events, initiatives its a win-win for everyone. In the same vein of us not having adults speak on behalf of young people or men speaking on behalf of women, we must let the creative practitioners speak for themselves and other sectors to offer a seat at the table.
Rajni Vohra:. What impact do you envisage and aim for through your work?
Lisa Russell :The impact I aim for in my work is to first and foremost, inspire through action. In in my own personal life, the biggest moments I have experienced that have shaped or shifted my path has been meeting others who truly inspired me. As an artist and creative working in two male -dominated industries – development and media – I have aimed to break glass ceilings in order for myself and the women who follow me to be able to create a more equitable space for women and girls – of all colors, educational backgrounds, etc – to thrive. I want to continue to be at the forefront of the change around the engagement and amplification of the creative economy in helping to share a more just, inclusive and sustainable future for all.
Rajni Vohra: Thank you for talking to us
1 Comment
An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment. I do believe that you ought to write more about this issue, it might not be a taboo matter but usually people dont discuss such subjects. To the next! Kind regards!!