A manifesto is a published verbal declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of the issuer, be it an individual, group, political party or government. — Wikipedia
A manifesto is a communication made to the whole world. It may be pleasant, and good-natured, it’s always strong and vigorous. — adapted from Tristen Tzara
Manifestos clarify point of view — explaining why this event series or organization or idea matters — stating clearly what the festival or organization stands for.
Manifestos can also help in the development of creative creative concept/big idea, insights, creative copy writing skills, and tagline.
Your manifesto is included (and adapted to fit) in your intro to your schedule of events / about page / the strategy in your presentation deck and / or live in print as an impassioned letter from the editor / director / curator / event or festival organizer or the organization’s leader.
Write your manifesto by answering the following questions:
What does this organization stand for? Or what does this festival stand for?
What makes this festival unique? special, worthwhile? What differentiates it from all other similar festivals?
Why would I go to this festival?
What is this festival and its leaders point of view?
What motivates the organization? the audience? How do they feel? What makes them act? Why?
What is the story behind or about this season’s events that must be shared?
What is unique, exciting, interesting, funny, smart, compelling about this festival?
Once you have written and edited your manifesto for your festival distill it down to one short statement. See if that short statement is the beginning of a tagline.
For example, Apple’s Think Different
The original long version appeared on posters made by Apple. Text written by Rob Siltanen with Lee Clow. The copy reads like a manifesto…
The Crazy Ones
Full version: “Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.[13]”
Short version: “Here’s to the crazy ones. The rebels. The troublemakers. The ones who see things differently. While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. —The Untold Story Behind Apples Think Different Campaign.
Here are some manifestos to check out:
FUCK COMMITTEES By Tibor Kalman (graphic designer)
(I believe in lunatics)
It’s about the struggle between individuals with jagged passion in their work and today’s faceless corporate committees, which claim to understand the needs of the mass audience, and are removing the idiosyncrasies, polishing the jags, creating a thought-free, passion-free, cultural mush that will not be hated nor loved by anyone. By now, virtually all media, architecture, product and graphic design have been freed from ideas, individual passion, and have been relegated to a role of corporate servitude, carrying out corporate strategies and increasing stock prices. Creative people are now working for the bottom line.
Magazine editors have lost their editorial independence, and work for committees of publishers (who work for committees of advertisers). TV scripts are vetted by producers, advertisers, lawyers, research specialists, layers and layers of paid executives who determine whether the scripts are dumb enough to amuse what they call the ‘lowest common denominator’. Film studios out films in front of focus groups to determine whether an ending will please target audiences. All cars look the same. Architectural decisions are made by accountants. Ads are stupid. Theater is dead.
Corporations have become the sole arbiters of cultural ideas and taste in America. Our culture is corporate culture.Culture used to be the opposite of commerce, not a fast track to ‘content’- derived riches. Not so long ago captains of industry (no angels in the way they acquired wealth) thought that part of their responsibility was to use their millions to support culture. Carnegie built libraries, Rockefeller built art museums, Ford created his global foundation. What do we now get from our billionaires? Gates? Or Eisner? Or Redstone? Sales pitches. Junk mail. Meanwhile, creative people have their work reduced to ‘content’ or ‘intellectual property’. Magazines and films become ‘delivery systems’ for product messages.
But to be fair, the above is only 99 percent true.
I offer a modest solution: Find the cracks in the wall. There are a very few lunatic entrepreneurs who will understand that culture and design are not about fatter wallets, but about creating a future. They will understand that wealth is means, not an end. Under other circumstances they may have turned out to be like you, creative lunatics. Believe me, they’re there and when you find them, treat them well and use their money to change the world.
Tibor Kalman
New York
June 1998
The Skillshare Manifesto
Education is what someone tells you to do. Learning is what you do for yourself.
The traditional way of education forces square pegs into round holes. It’s a one-size-fits-all solution that forces people down a predetermined path.
Our mission is simple. Reunite learning with education and make it accessible to every single person on this planet. Anyone can learn anything, at any age, at an affordable cost, anywhere in the world.
Learning has no roadblocks, prescribed paths, tests, quizzes, or outdated majors and degrees. It’s driven and powered by students. Here, students never ‘graduate’ because they are lifelong learners. Caps and gowns don’t see the light of day.
Teachers are passionate. Students stay curious. Because curiosity is the compass that leads us to our individual passions.
Learn by Doing
Rather than memorize equations for a test, learn by taking action. Learn from your peers. Learn by getting feedback. Learn by making mistakes. Learn by making things.
Your statement of accomplishment no longer needs to be a degree, certificate, or stamp of approval. Instead, frame the pictures you’ve taken, bake a cake, and wireframe your future website.
Proof of learning is in progress and action. Now, a piece of paper is just that, and your creations are your accomplishments. Learn new skills that are transferable, adaptable, and applicable in the world today.
Everyone is a Teacher
You can learn from anyone – which means we’re all teachers. The best way to confirm your understanding of something is to share it with someone else. We all have things we’re passionate about sharing with the world. If you’ve done something for even a few days more than someone else, you have valuable knowledge to share.
Why teach? Because teaching is inspiring, motivating, life-changing, challenging, and all of the above. The best teachers simply ask the right questions, facilitate students to discover, and find their individual passion. Amen!
Learning Can Happen Anywhere
Our cities are our best and biggest campuses, and any address can be a classroom. Forget desks and projectors. Use your hands, talk over coffee and cake, print out pictures that tell the story you want to share. Walls? Never mind them. Teach in a park, at the library, on a boat…and, ok, even in your kitchen. Share your skills online to thousands of students across the globe. Learning can happen online, offline, and everywhere in between.
We Can Change Education
The world’s most abundant resources are excess knowledge and skills. They just need to be shared and made accessible to everyone.
Learning and teaching are essential to keep the world spinning. All of our progress is dependent on it. This cycle turns magical when a student becomes a teacher. If we all share our knowledge and skills with each other, it becomes an endless cycle of awesomeness, and the world becomes a much better place.
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1964 Ken Garland, First Things First
Built By Civilization: We believe in design as a means of social change and are passionate about communicating the greater social, cultural and environmental value of our projects.
Art movement manifesto from The Style (Die Stijl) art movement:
Art movement manifesto for Fluxus by George Maciunas, 1963:
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