Business and Arts South Africa’s #artMOVESme graffiti hoarding is heading for the National Arts Festival, giving festivalgoers and Grahamstown residents the chance to express the different ways that art moves them.

“We’re thrilled to be hosting BASA’s #artMOVESme graffiti hoarding on its first trip outside of Johannesburg,” says National Arts Festival CEO Tony Lankester. “The National Arts Festival is the perfect environment for everyone and anyone to let the world know the impact that art has on them. We are looking forward to reading what people have to say during the coming 11 days,” says Lankester.

The mobile hoarding will be positioned at Monument Building on the first Floor until July 12.

It is the first time it has moved out of Johannesburg since its launch at Hollard in August last year as the founding element of the BASA Awards, partnered with Hollard, and #artMOVESme – an open source participatory and ongoing campaign that captures and shares the value of the arts for all members of society.

Anyone can write on a pink sticky note and attach it to the graffiti hoarding and, as the previous appearances of #artMOVESme have shown, the responses from members of the public are both moving and thought provoking.

“Being artistic is the other me,” wrote one user while another simply said “I explain it when I dance it”. “Sometimes arts moves me to act – sometimes it’s a catalyst for change in me,” said another.

An initiative pioneered by Business and Arts South Africa, #artMOVESme explores that value of the arts for both business and broader society and is based on the understanding that art provides value – social capital, EQ and social cohesion.

The campaign takes the form of a dynamic and growing collective of digital images and text from diverse members of society. The #artMOVESme campaign starts with the graffiti hoarding featuring the work of artist Sindiso Nyoni. Through #artMOVESme the public can engage with Nyoni’s images, describing – through visuals and words captured on pink sticky notes – how the arts impacts them.

Share your responses with us #artMOVESme on Twitter @basa_news and visit the #artMOVESme graffiti hoarding at the National Arts Festival to be part of this crucial conversation.