By PALASH MAMTANEY

Artists for Change is a new movement at Beloit College, started by Journey Beier’28 and Ivy Salmi-Perry’28. While the club is still unofficial, it shows how art and activism can come together to make a difference.

The idea came after the recent elections, which left many artists in Journey’s class feeling discouraged. Journey explains, “Our teacher talked about how artists have always played a key role in creating social change. We realized we could either feel powerless or take action.” With this in mind, Journey and Ivy decided to start Artists for Change, giving students a space to use their creativity to raise awareness and push for change.

Journey believes many people don’t realize their power to make a difference after elections. “A lot of people think change stops with voting, but that’s not true,” Journey says. “You can speak up, organize protests, write letters, or join groups to make your voice heard.”

The club held its first meeting on November 17, with close to ten people attending. They talked about their roles, set goals, and planned their first activities. At their next meeting, they’ll start making posters for social causes, a hands-on way to start their work. This semester’s efforts will be broad, but they hope to focus on specific themes in the future.

“We want to pick a theme each semester,” Ivy says. “It could be women’s rights or trans rights, for example. We’ll make art, hold events, and share resources to help people learn more about those issues.” Journey adds that the club is also considering ways to raise awareness for upcoming state elections. “It’s a great example of how we can combine art with civic engagement,” Journey says.

When asked if Artists for Change is more political or artistic, Journey explains it’s both. “We’re about using art to shine a light on important issues,” they say. “That might mean writing letters to representatives, hosting town hall meetings, or just starting conversations with our work.”

The club hasn’t been officially recognized yet, but Ivy says starting early was important. “We wanted to get people involved right away and hear their ideas about what the club could be,” she explains. This approach has helped them build a sense of purpose and community from the start.

Journey and Ivy have big dreams for the club’s future. If they get funding, their first project will be a letter-writing campaign to help students reach out to representatives. “I’ve seen how effective this can be back home in Florida,” Journey says. By spring, they hope to host a talent show where artists can sell their work, with all proceeds going to charities chosen by the participants.

The club also wants to help people who want to make a difference but don’t know how. “Beloit is a small city, so change can feel personal and real here,” Ivy says. Once they’re officially recognized, they plan to ask students what issues matter most to them and use art to advocate for those causes.

A big part of the club’s mission is accountability. Journey explains, “Art can bring attention to problems people might overlook. It’s a way to challenge what’s wrong and push for solutions.”

For Journey and Ivy, Artists for Change is more than a club, for them it’s a way to inspire action and make the world a little better. Through posters, events, and creative ideas, they want to show that art isn’t just about expression, it’s about transformation.