PROGRAMS

Welcome to the 7th annual Compassion Arts Festival! This year’s festival programs have been inspired by “The Ten Trusts” from the book The Ten Trusts: What We Must Do To Care for the Animals We Love by Jane Goodall and Marc Bekoff.

Each festival event reflects on a theme of one of the ten trusts, using the arts and creativity for animal advocacy as the instrument of expression. Our festival programs are not literal interpretations, but rather an impression shared in the hope of inspiring others to explore further. There are ten festival events centered around the tenets of the trusts, as well as a poetry workshop and the launch of the Vegans of New England project.

Programs will be streamed on the festival website homepage, except for three events that require advance sign up, which are noted in the schedule (The Fifth Trust Exhibit Art Opening*, Teaching Our Children Humane Education Roundtable*, and Writing Like An Animal Poetry Workshop*). All festival events are free and are made possible through volunteer presentations from artists in different mediums, advocates, educators and others using their work to raise awareness about our relationship with animals and the natural world.

THE TEN TRUSTS

The First Trust:
Rejoice that We Are Part of the Animal Kingdom

The Second Trust:
Respect All Life

The Third Trust:
Open Our Minds, In Humility, To Animals and Learn From Them

The Fourth Trust:
Teach Our Children to Respect and Love Nature

The Fifth Trust:
Be Wise Stewards of Life On Earth

The Sixth Trust:
Value and Help Preserve the Sounds of Nature

The Seventh Trust:
Refrain from Harming Life In Order To Learn About It

The Eighth Trust:
Have the Courage of Our Convictions

The Ninth Trust:
Praise and Help Those Who Work With Animals and the Natural World

The Tenth Trust:
Act Knowing We Are Not Alone and Live With Hope

Photo: Chris Taylor / Red Bellied Woodpecker

We wish to express our deep gratitude and appreciation for the work of Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Marc Bekoff, and for the inspiration of their co-authored book “The Ten Trusts: What We Must Do To Care for the Animals We Love” which was the catalyst for the ideas that created our 2021 festival events. We hope that in sharing our creative reflections around these trusts, that people might feel encouraged to explore the wisdom of these powerful tenets for creating a more compassionate world.

CAF 2021 PROGRAMS

Sun 11/14	KINDRED SOUL: 2:00-3:30pm EST Hosted by multi-media performing artist Michael Harren, a virtual house concert and sanctuary tour with Tamerlaine Sanctuary & Preserve, featuring guest performances by Risa Branch, Danny Hamilton, Lila Rose, Mitchell Stewart, Mr. Hip, and others in celebration of “The First Trust: Rejoice that We Are Part of the Animal Kingdom.”
Mon 11/15	RESPECT ALL LIFE: 7:00-8:00pm EST A classical piano concert & speaker presentation on “The Second Trust: Respect All Life” created and performed by vegan advocate and acclaimed musician Dr. Joanne Kong (Vegan Voices) with concert pianist Dr. Paul Hanson. The program includes classical selections, readings, information, and the photography of Jo-Anne McArthur.
Wed 11/17	LEARNING FROM ANIMALS: 5:00-6:30pm EST (available through Thu, Nov 18) Hosted by Lisa Levinson, a roundtable with documentary filmmaker Allison Argo, animal behaviorist and author Marc Bekoff, animal chaplain Rev. Sarah Bowen, and Luvin’ Arms Sanctuary co-founder Shaleene Shah, to reflect on “The Third Trust: Open Our Minds, In Humility, to Animals and Learn from Them.”
Wed 11/17	TEACHING OUR CHILDREN: 7:00-8:30pm EST Hosted by Zoe Weil (Institute for Humane Education), a program on Humane Education and why it matters, in reflection on “The Fourth Trust: Teach Our Children to Respect and Love Nature.” Speakers include Kim Korona (HEART), Nora Kramer (YEA Camp), Kris Tucker (IHE) and Zoe Weil (IHE). This is a closed program & requires advance sign-up by November 14th to attend. Attendance is limited.
Thu 11/18	THE FIFTH TRUST EXHIBIT & ART OPENING: 7:00-8:30pm EST A virtual group exhibition and art opening event featuring fifteen women artists for animals, curated by Jane O’Hara and Janell O’Rourke, reflecting on “The Fifth Trust: Be Wise Stewards of Life on Earth.” Artists include Linda Brant, Lee Deigaard, Patrica Denys, Alise Eastgate, Kathryn Eddy, Karen Fiorito, Erica Gajewski, Suzy González, Isa Leshko, Jane O’Hara, Janell O’Rourke, Colleen Plumb, Linnea Ryshke, L.A. Watson, Gretchen Woodman. The art opening event is hosted by Carolyn Merino Mullin and the exhibit curators, and requires advance sign up by November 17th to attend.
Fri 11/19	PRESERVING NATURE’S SONG: 7:00-8:00pm EST A program on “The Sixth Trust: Value and Help Preserve the Sounds of Nature” featuring interviews, readings, meditation, artwork and photography with writer and publisher John Yunker, and healing arts facilitator and communicator Dawn Casteel-Lorick. The program is co-hosted by Marlene Narrow and Ellie Sarty.
Sat 11/20	WRITING LIKE AN ANIMAL: 2:00-4:00pm EST Gretchen Primack leads this unique virtual poetry workshop on writing poems from the perspective of animals, using the power of words, imagination, and compassion. This workshop is a closed program that requires advance sign-up by Nov 17th. Attendance is limited. Register here *.
Sat 11/20	THE ABSENCE OF UNNECESSARY HURTING: 7:00-8:00pm EST A poetry reading exploring “The Seventh Trust: Refrain from Harming Life In Order To Learn About It,” Gretchen Primack shares selections from her award-winning poetry collection KIND (Lantern Publishing), with special guest author Mandy-Suzanne Wong reading selections from her book Listen, we all bleed.
Sun 11/21	EIGHTH TRUST SYMPOSIUM: 7:00-8:30pm EST Hosted by poet and educator Donald Vincent, this program focuses on creativity and veganism as tools for advancing social change in exploring “The Eighth Trust: Having the Courage of Our Convictions.” Speakers include Aysha Akthar of Center for Contemporary Sciences, artists Jack & Alise Eastgate of Eastrand Studios, Ana Bradley of Sentient Media, Kami Komuhangi of Sentient Media’s Writer’s Collective, Ulara Nakagawa and Sharanya Krishna Prasad of After Animals podcast, and others.
Mon 11/22	LIFT UP ALL WHO CARE: 7:00-8:30pm EST Hosted by Marla Andrews, an exploration of “The Ninth Trust: Praise and Help Those Who Work with Animals and the Natural World,” looking at the ways we can support those who help animals, how to help animals directly with our lives, and how to understand and prevent compassion fatigue. Presenters include River’s Wish Sanctuary, readings from Allowed to Grow Old by author and photographer Isa Leshko, artist and advocate Cyrus Mejia of Best Friends Animal Society and more.
Tues 11/23	ACT WITH HOPE: 7:00-8:00pm EST Hosted by Martin Rowe (Lantern Publishing), a speaker’s roundtable on “The Tenth Trust: Act Knowing We Are Not Alone and Live with Hope” shares the work of groundbreaking advocates leading the way in positive action for animals, in discussions on new projects for advancing, inspiring, and including the many different creative voices and approaches to peaceful advocacy for animals and the earth, and positive social change. Speakers include Ayrenish Birdie of the Encompass Movement, Joanne Kong (Vegan Voices) and Jo-Anne McArthur (We Animals Media/ Unbound Project).
Wed 11/24	VEGANS OF NEW ENGLAND:: 2:00-3:30pm EST The festival closes with the launch of the Vegans of New England (VoNE), a co-partnered project of Compassion Arts Festival, New England Veg Fest and CompassionFest. A virtual event focusing on creativity for Gratitude in Action, the program is hosted by Eunice Wong and features sanctuaries, cooking demos, interviews, videos, recipes, music, art and examining ways to reflect on redefining the traditional Thanksgiving 'holiday' and all it represents, past and present, with respect for all. Presenters include JP Sanctuary, Peace Ridge Sanctuary, Vine Sanctuary, photographer Britt Bosse, dance project Backyard Terrestrials, sound artist Stephanie Kaplan, Vegan Nation radio host Marlene Narrow, documentarian and advocate Alfee West, vegan chef Rickie Biggz, cookbook authors Britt Janssen and Tricia Dillion, Manda Rose, and inspiration enough for everyone. All are welcome!