So far it has felt like Art for Change residencies only engage with disturbing issues such as destitution, disparity between rich and poor, and the killing of unborn girls. We considered this year to do something different. Instead of focusing on the bad news, on specific issues or causes, or on the helplessness one may feel in the face of these, we wanted to consider looking beyond—to the idea of hope.

What is hope? Where does hope come from? What is it founded on? These were some of the questions we wanted to ask. But to ask some more specific questions, too: What is the relationship between hope and justice, hope and dignity, hope and truth, hope and beauty?