Background
Art has the capacity to move us, to open up new ways of thinking and understanding, to increase our empathy and inspire us to take action. The MSU Social Justice Art Festival (SJAF) is a four-day festival featuring a variety of student artworks centered on social justice topics. This festival was created in 2017 by Dr. Amber Benton, Director of Diversity Programming and Student Engagement for James Madison College at Michigan State University, with the first festival kicking off on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January 2018. The objective of SJAF is to provide a unique platform that engages undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, and the greater MSU and East Lansing communities around social justice topics through artistic expression. Due to the success of the first festival, SJAF is traditionally offered annually during the week of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
This event is a partnership among many units and colleges across campus, including: James Madison College, Residential College for Arts And Humanities, and Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives as well as the Michigan State University Federal Credit Union.
Student Art
View Student Art at sjaf.msu.edu
Follow us on Instagram @msuart4justice
Previous SJAF Programs:
Previous Recipients | Year of Award |
People's Choice Award: Jada Flowers | 2021 |
Most "Out-of-the-Box" Award: Charlotte Bachelor | 2021 |
Most Inspiring - Visual Art Award: Nicolei Gupit | 2021 |
Most Inspiring - Performance Art Award: Sequoia Snyder | 2021 |
People’s Choice Award: Raquel Acosta | 2020 |
Most "Out-of-the-Box" Award: Maddy Eischer | 2020 |
Most Inspirational Visual Art Award: Lillian Young | 2020 |
Most Inspirational Performance Art Award: Spencer Arias | 2020 |
People's Choice Award: Kitty Johnson | 2019 |
Most "Out-of-the-Box" Award: Madyson Hoffman | 2019 |
Most Inspiring - Visual Art Award: Frankie Potochick | 2019 |
Most Inspiring - Performance Art Award: Andre Reed | 2019 |
People's Choice Award: Gerena Walker | 2018 |
Most "Out-of-the-Box" Award: Sonali Solanki | 2018 |
Most Inspiring Artistic Display/Performance: Jordan D., Margherita F., Will C., Timothy B. & Tissa K. | 2018 |