#COP29 #BE OPEN #Switzerland #Lugano #Elena Baturina

BE OPEN's Vision for Sustainability

During the recent COP29 conference held in Lugano, Switzerland, BE OPEN, a foundation dedicated to supporting innovation and creativity, declared its commitment to integrating sustainability into all aspects of its operations starting in 2025. Founded by Elena Baturina, the organization aims to foster a better world through creative vision across various fields of human activity. Baturina expressed the foundation's recognition that a larger scale approach is necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within a foreseeable future.

Commitment to Artists and Sustainable Practices

As part of its renewed focus, BE OPEN will ensure that its initiatives prioritize sustainability, particularly through its online gallery, BE OPEN Art, which is set to continue championing emerging artists from around the globe. This initiative aims to enhance artists' visibility and foster their integration into the wider creative community.

The artistic committee of BE OPEN will specifically concentrate on promoting artworks that highlight social awareness and provide artistic solutions to address contemporary global issues. The foundation is planning to expand its regional competition to four additional regions by 2025, allowing a broader range of emerging artists to showcase their unique regional and ethnic identities.

Furthermore, BE OPEN will propel initiatives like “Artists for Artists” aimed at sharing useful and applicable content among artists, regardless of their economic status. This approach seeks to cultivate a nurturing and supportive creative community anchored in the ideals of BE OPEN Art.

Supporting Emerging Artists

In 2024, BE OPEN introduced the Community Support Fund, a non-profit initiative designed to create a mutual financial aid system. This fund awards monthly cash grants to selected artwork sales, helping to financially support emerging artists in their quest for successful careers in art. Additionally, BE OPEN encourages the public to invest in art, not only for collection purposes but also to contribute philanthropically to the future of new artists.

With the evolving landscape, BE OPEN is also adapting a new section of the gallery focused on sustainable and inclusive art and artists. This will be further supported by the online competition “Art Limitless,” featuring talks, masterclasses, and resources aimed at promoting sustainability within the arts.

The BE OPEN Academy

The BE OPEN Academy continues to offer a comprehensive overview of the creative education landscape for young aspirants aiming for professional careers in creative disciplines. The academy plans to expand its content to focus on foresight studies and sustainable education moving forward. Collaboration with educational institutions will work toward establishing a database of courses that cater to the needs of teachers and students alike. This aims to help integrate crucial topics such as climate change, poverty reduction, and biodiversity into various study programs using methods that encourage students to take sustainable actions.

For global design contests targeting students, BE OPEN remains committed to addressing youth engagement in solving urgent current issues as defined by the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Through the Designing Futures 2050 project, the foundation will continue supporting and rewarding young creators who propose solutions designed to transform systems and foster equitable, ecological prosperity.

With these initiatives, BE OPEN is paving the way for an impactful future where sustainability becomes an integral part of the artistic dialogue, ultimately contributing to a more compassionate and just world.