Bill Shipsey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Shipsey
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| Born | 22 June 1958 Waterford, Ireland
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| Education | Castleknock College, University College Dublin, Honourable Society of Kings Inns |
| Occupation | Barrister |
| Organisation | Founder of Art for Amnesty and Co-Founder of Art 19 |
Bill Shipsey was born on June 22, 1958. He is an Irish human rights activist. He used to be a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court. Bill Shipsey is also known for promoting and producing art events.
He started Art for Amnesty, which is a program by Amnesty International. This program helps artists around the world get involved in human rights work. In 2022, Art for Amnesty changed its name to Art for Human Rights. Bill Shipsey is still its Executive Director. This group brings artists together to support human rights organizations like Amnesty International through art. Since 2018, Bill Shipsey has lived in Paris, France.
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Art for Human Rights
Bill Shipsey joined Amnesty International in the late 1970s. He was inspired by entertainers who performed at benefit shows. As the founder of Art for Human Rights (formerly Art for Amnesty), he has worked with many famous artists. They create music, books, visual art, and other projects to help Amnesty International.
Music Projects
Bill Shipsey has helped create many music projects to support human rights:
- He was a co-producer for 'Instant Karma'. This was a special album of John Lennon songs. Many stars sang on it to benefit Amnesty. The album has raised over $6 million for human rights. It was very popular and was even nominated for Grammies. Bill Shipsey wanted the album to connect with young people who listen to music online.
- He also created the Small Places Tour in 2008. This project involved over 800 concerts in about 40 countries.
- From 2009 to 2019, he helped Amnesty International be part of U2's worldwide music tours.
- In 2010, he worked with friends to create a song for Amnesty's 50th Anniversary. This led to the 'Toast to Freedom' song. Nearly 50 singers from all over the world contributed to it. It was released globally in 2012.
- Bill Shipsey also promoted 'Electric Burma'. This was a concert held in 2012 to honor Aung San Suu Kyi, a leader from Myanmar. Famous artists like Bono and Bob Geldof performed.
- He helped produce 'Bringing Human Rights Home'. This concert was for Amnesty USA in New York in 2014.
- In 2015, he organized two concerts and other artist events in Mexico City. These events, called 'Desde Aqui', marked the opening of Amnesty International's office for the Americas.
- In 2017, he launched "Eleanor's Dream". This project celebrated the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It also honored Eleanor Roosevelt, who helped create it.
Ambassador of Conscience Award
Bill Shipsey came up with the idea for the Ambassador of Conscience Award. This award honors people who have shown great courage in fighting for human rights. The award ceremonies were part of Art for Amnesty events from 2003 to 2015.
Many important activists have received this award. These include Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Harry Belafonte, Václav Havel, Joan Baez, Ai Wei Wei, Peter Gabriel, U2, and Greta Thunberg. The award was inspired by Irish poet Seamus Heaney. He was a strong supporter of Amnesty International for over 30 years.
Memorial Projects
Bill Shipsey has also created special memorial projects using art.
Tapestries
Since 2012, Bill Shipsey has ordered fourteen large memorial tapestries. Tapestries are big, woven pictures. These tapestries were mostly paid for by artists who support Amnesty International. These artists include Bono and Edge from U2, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Yoko Ono, Paul Simon, and John Legend.
The tapestries honor people like Václav Havel, Seamus Heaney, Nelson Mandela, and John Lennon. They also honor the people of Colombia and Greece. These beautiful tapestries can be found in airports and museums around the world. Most of them were designed by Czech artist Peter Sís. Others were designed by artists like Fernando Botero and Sophia Vari. Most of these tapestries were made in France.
Bronze Statues
Since 2014, Bill Shipsey has ordered and promoted six bronze statues of Václav Havel. He also commissioned six statues of Eleanor Roosevelt and two of Chinese activist Liu Xiaobo. These statues are placed in cities and universities worldwide.
He has also helped place several 'Havel's Place' memorial benches. These benches were designed by his friend Bořek Šípek. They are in cities like Dublin, Barcelona, and Venice. They honor Václav Havel, who was a Czech president and writer.
Azulejo Murals
In 2018, Bill Shipsey started working with a company in Lisbon, Portugal. They create Azulejo murals. These are traditional Portuguese tiles that are painted and glazed.
Bill Shipsey and Peter Sis worked with the City of Lisbon to create a large Azulejo mural. It celebrates the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This mural was revealed on Human Rights Day in 2018.
In 2019, Peter Sis designed another Azulejo mural. It marks the 30th Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in Prague. This mural is very long and tall. In 2020, a mural designed by Ana Juan was ordered by Shipsey for Paris. It is called "Solidarity" and is waiting to be installed.
Book Projects
Anything Can Happen
Anything Can Happen: A Poem and an Essay is a special poetry book by Irish Poet Seamus Heaney. In this book, Heaney writes about how art is important in today's world. The book was translated into 23 languages. It was made with Art for Amnesty to support Amnesty International.
Windows On Elsewhere
This project, Windows on Elsewhere, 60 Refugees, 60 views, started in 2018. It was a team effort between Art for Amnesty and artist Matteo Pericoli. It features drawings of window views from 60 refugees from around the world. It also includes their short stories about their journeys.
This project was finished and launched in Italy in 2021. It includes a book and a special box set of drawings and stories. The drawings and stories have been shown in exhibitions in Italy, Switzerland, and Mexico City.
Art 19
In 2018, Bill Shipsey co-founded Art 19 GmbH with some German friends. This group raises money for Amnesty International. They do this by selling artwork from leading modern artists.
The name 'Art 19' is a clever reference to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This article states that "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression."
The first Art 19 collection, called Box One, was launched in 2019. It has been shown in art galleries in Berlin, Geneva, Prague, and Paris.
Education
Bill Shipsey went to National School in Dunmore East, Ireland. He then attended Castleknock College in Dublin for his secondary education. He earned his Bachelor of Civil Law degree from University College Dublin (1976–79). He then got his Barrister at Law degree from King's Inns Dublin (1979–80).
In 2022, Bill Shipsey received the UCD Alumni Award in Law.
Professional Life
Memberships
Bill Shipsey has been a member of several legal groups:
- Bar of Ireland, since 1981
- Bar of England & Wales, since 1987
- Bar of Northern Ireland, since 1989
Experience
Bill Shipsey worked as a Junior Counsel at the Irish Bar from 1980 to 1994. He then became a Senior Counsel at the Irish Bar from 1994 until 2018. As a barrister, he represented Amnesty International in the Court of Justice of the European Union. He has also advised other human rights organizations around the world. He helps them work with artists to promote human rights campaigns.
Organizations Bill Shipsey Works With
- Art for Amnesty: Founder (2002) and Director (2003 - 2022)
- Art for Human Rights (formerly Art for Amnesty): Director (November 2022 - present)
- Art 19: Co-Founder (2018)
- Amnesty International Irish Section: Board member & chair (1984 – 1987)
- Amnesty International: International Executive Committee board member (1987 – 1989)
- Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran: Board member
- Centre Culturel Irlandais (Paris): Strategy Committee board member
- Free Legal Advice Centres: Board member & chair (1978 – 1980)
- Irish Hospice Foundation: Board member & chair (2001 – 2004)
- Narrative4 Ireland: Board Member
- Poetry Ireland: Board member (2016 — 2020)
- Rights and Security International (U.K.): Patron
- The Estate of Seamus Heaney: Board member (2016 - 2021)
- The Václav Havel Center: Board member
- Tutaj/Here - Memorial Movement: Board Member
