Art in Action: UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony
On October 29, 2024, the UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony was filled with creativity and hope as the highly anticipated HOPE IN ACTION art exhibition was unveiled at the TH Roma Carpegna Palace Hotel in Rome. Organized by the UN SDG Action Campaign and HUG, a global community for artists, the showcase invited people to witness the power of art as a force for inspiring change.
From New York to Rome
The HOPE IN ACTION art exhibition made its debut at the UN General Assembly Hall during the Summit of the Future Youth Action Day and the SDG Media Zone in September in New York, where it served as a powerful expression of art, advocacy and creativity. Following its impactful launch, the exhibition journeyed across the globe to Rome, where it was prominently featured at the UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony. This international journey symbolizes the exhibition’s mission to elevate voices and inspire collective action on a global scale.
The exhibition took center stage at the venue, captivating attendees and audiences alike. It was also broadcast live on Italian TV through media partner Rai and globally via UN Web TV, ensuring that the HOPE IN ACTION message reached viewers around the world.
The ceremony featured a special moment when Marina Ponti, Global Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign, unveiled the exhibition in Rome. A video feature highlighted the significance of the artworks, which included contributions from artists around the world, such as Pakistan, Italy, and Kenya — echoing the first unveiling in New York.
Ponti emphasized the transformative power of art, stating:
“Art has always been a powerful medium — a way to speak when words fall short, a way to envision what could be. Today, we celebrate art as a force that expresses people’s hopes and aspirations for the future. Through these artworks, we see not just dreams but demands. Not just hope, but a call to action. This is HOPE IN ACTION.”
As guests entered the auditorium, they were greeted by six large-scale prints from Vietnamese-American travel photographer and artist Rachel Wood, whose photographs — from Australia’s Outback to Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses — set a vibrant and inspiring tone for the event.
In the Foyer, 25 carefully selected artworks from over 1,500 global submissions were displayed on four digital screens, each divided into three cross-cutting themes: Climate Action and Food Security, Gender Equality and Peace, and Youth and Digital. Each display showcased a wide array of artistic mediums — from digital art to embroidery and sculpture — telling a unique story of hope, resilience, and an urgent call to action.
A Movement for Change
As the HOPE IN ACTION art exhibition continues its global tour, making stops at key United Nations conferences and high-level events, its message remains powerful: art can and will inspire action. In a world of challenges, HOPE IN ACTION stands as a beacon of hope, reminding us that collective creativity and hope can lay the foundation for a more peaceful, just, and inclusive future.
This exhibition calls on everyone to Act Now and take immediate steps toward realizing a better world. From its journey in Rome to the rest of the world, HOPE IN ACTION is more than a display of art — it is a global movement for change, carried forward by the voices and visions of people from around the world.
Stay tuned as HOPE IN ACTION continues its journey, bringing the art of hope to new audiences and inspiring action for a sustainable tomorrow.
Explore the HOPE IN ACTION art exhibition online.
By Krisha Sia, Creative Campaigns Specialist, UN SDG Action Campaign
