Ford Foundation Names HowlRound Director P. Carl “Art of Change” Fellow

ArtsEmerson co-artistic director and HowlRound director P. Carl is one of 25 new Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellows, joining the ranks of Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay and award-winning writer Edwidge Danticat.

Art of Change Fellowships support visionary artists and cultural leaders in advancing freedom, justice, and inclusion, and strengthening democracy. Those selected have “a demonstrated commitment to social justice, and reflect a powerful diversity of experiences and creative voices,” according to the Ford Foundation.

HowlRound, which Carl co-founded, is a free and open platform for theater-makers around the world to share knowledge and progressive ideas for diversity and community engagement. The platform promotes collaboration through online forums and in-person gatherings.

“I am overwhelmed by this honor, to be included in a group of artists who have so heavily influenced my life and my own creativity,” Carl said in a statement. “The Ford Foundation is a leader in insisting that art and social justice belong in the same sentence, and to be recognized by them in this way is both a gift and a responsibility.”

Emerson President Lee Pelton said in a statement that the College is “thrilled” about Carl’s appointment, and praised his commitment to civic engagement.

“P. Carl has brilliantly put Emerson’s civic engagement goal into action—establishing deep and meaningful engagement embedded in curricular and co-curricular activities. We congratulate him,” Pelton said.

Among the 25 artists and cultural leaders honored this year are DuVernay, director of the Academy Award-nominated film Selma (2014) and documentary 13th (2016); Danticat, Haitian American writer (The Farming of Bones, Brother, I’m Dying) and winner of a MacArthur Foundation Genius grant; singer-songwriter Esperanza Spalding; and dancer-actor Mikhail Baryshnikov.

For a full list of recipients, visit fordfoundation.org.