arts-inspired peacebuilding

Emergent from the practice and life-vocation of peacebuilding and the pursuit of nonviolent social transformation, change agents need to envision themselves as artists. Building adaptive and responsive processes to accompany and facilitate social change requires a creative act, which at its core is more art than technique. Time and again, lasting social change that makes a difference has the DNA of the artist's intuition: The complexity of human experience captured in a simple image and in a way that moves individuals and whole societies. Far beyond the instrumental use of arts, peacebuilding unfolds as an artistic and aesthetic process. In this section, the archives explore the evolution and examples of John Paul's understanding and practice of arts-inspired peacebuilding.

presentation

Keynote Speech by Prof. John Paul Lederach

A keynote delivered for IMPACT’s inaugural event in which John Paul shares lessons on sustainability, relationship, and hope as foundational to building peace.

2024

video recording

Gathering of the Hearts: Braiding Our Ways of Being

An open conversation and experience about facing the challenges of environmental violence and justice from diverse traditions, knowledge carriers, and forms of engagement.

2022

presentation

The Challenges of Peace and Conflict Situation in Thailand and Southeast Asia

A presentation shared for the Virtual U.S. Speaker Program on Peace and Conflict Issues hosted by the Institute of Peace Studies at Prince of Songkhla University.

2022

video recording

Peace & Jesus, Episode 23

A contribution to Peaceworks' series entitled “Peace & Jesus” in which John Paul shares about recent experiences alongside women and politicians working toward peace in Nepal.

2013

presentation

A Sauntering Field Trip: The Extraordinary Arc of a Thousand Conversations…Plus a Few Side Notes on the Way to a Peace Conference

A keynote address delivered for the University Notre Dame Student Peace Conference in April 2021.

2021

presentation

Art and Peacebuilding: Dwelling at the Hearth

A keynote delivered at the virtual Art in the Place of Conflict conference, organized by the Derry Playhouse in Northern Ireland.

2020

presentation

Sustaining Peace: Concluding Thoughts

A concluding keynote address delivered at the Building Sustainable Peace Conference, hosted by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

2019