Artists from Maine, New York and beyond are taking collaborative action to confront human trafficking using art as activism. The event is called ACT: Artists Confront Trafficking and takes place this Friday, April 11, at the Frontier Cinema and Café in Brunswick. The artists have chosen to use their collective talents to create a complete evening of Art, Music, Film and more in support of the Not-Here Justice in Action Program.

ACT, like Not Here is a grassroots effort, started in Maine, to facilitate collaboration in our communities to address the threat of human trafficking and exploitation.  Both are especially concerned about the impact this has on vulnerable children globally and domestically.

The event will begin with an open art Gallery at 5:15 p.m. presenting sculpture, paintings and photography. Features of the event following include: excerpts from “Soul Cry” a modern dance work with oration performed by the Accendo Dance Company of New York, music by singer/songwriter Jud Caswell, The Maine Premier of the documentary film on Human Trafficking #standwithme, followed by a Q & A with film director Grant Peele and cast member Stephanie Henry finishing with a concert and World Premier of a new song, “Now is the Time” to be performed by Hollow Body Eclectic accompanied by members of Vox Nova (arguably Maine's finest choral group) and Kirsten Monke, violist for the Daponte String Quartet.

“ACT, is the first artists’ lead and organized event of its kind addressing human trafficking and exploitation in Maine. It may possibly be the first in New England,” said Dennis St. Pierre, the event organizer and one of the artists presenting at the event. “We could no longer stand idle while world reports confirm more people are enslaved today throughout the world than there were at the height of the United States slave trade.” Human trafficking and exploitation is closer to home than most Mainers realize as it has been recently reported by local news agencies, that local law enforcement has been encountering it in several areas throughout the state.

All works on display or to be performed are based upon a simple premise; as individuals and as a community we must advocate and act to stop oppression and human trafficking through the use of the talents we have been blessed with. Works of art will be presented by artists; Chris Cart, Johanna Harkness, Becky Havens, Susan Smith, Carol St. Pierre and Dennis St. Pierre. All artists have offered to donate a portion of the proceeds from sales of their work to the Not-Here.me, Justice in Action program.

Please join artists in this call to action raising awareness and combating trafficking around the world and here at home. For more information, visit: www.art-con-traf.com.