By Jason Islas
Lookout Staff

July 27, 2011 – The Model U.N. meets 20th century manifestos, as local artists bring together their visions of art in society this weekend.

The 18th Street Art Center in Santa Monica's Pico neighborhood will host the final installment of its “Debating Through The Arts” series this Saturday.

“The overarching question is 'Can we ensure cultural equity for all people?'” Artist in Residence Jerri Allyn told The Lookout Tuesday.

The debate, scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m., is organized on a “Model United Nations paradigm,” said Allyn.

She said that artists will discuss the question through a variety of different lenses, tackling issues such as freedom of expression, multiculturalism, and the democratization of art.

Artist Raymond Kurzweil, a self-described futurist, will talk about the impact of rapidly developing technology on cultural equity.

As of now, Allyn has 14 confirmed participants but expects 20, each with a unique take on the issue.

After debating, the artists will go into a caucus session which will allow them to form alliances with other artists with similar ideas and goals. They will then create what she called “creative referendums,” artistic versions of text-based UN referendums.

“Artists are trained to problem-solve,” said Debating Through the Arts Co-Creator Inez Bush. It would “behoove society to include artists in these discussions,” she said.

This project was “inspired because arts in education were getting cut,” Allyn said. “The arts are essential,” she said.

Artists tackled the question of whether or not there should be limits on freedom of expression during the first event in December 2009. In September 2010, they were asked to discuss the issues surrounding gentrification and its impact on culture.

At Saturday's event, people will be able to see the results of these previous debates, Allyn said. Their creative referendums will be on display.

In the long run, Allyn hopes that these events will demonstrate that artists can be active participants in the discussion of cultural questions on an international level.

“Our goal is that artists participate in the Model U.N. and eventually, that we'll see artists in the General Assembly at the U.N.,” she said.

She hopes to bring the project to the Model U.N. conference at UCLA this spring.

For more information, visit 18thstreet.org/events