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, born on June 22, 1958, is an Irish human rights activist. He used to be a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court. He is also known for promoting and producing events for artists.
Bill is the person who started Art for Amnesty. This is a special program by Amnesty International that works with artists worldwide. In November 2022, Art for Amnesty changed its name to Art for Human Rights. Bill Shipsey is still its Executive Director. Art for Human Rights brings artists together to support groups like Amnesty International. They use art to help promote human rights.
Since 2018, Bill Shipsey has lived in Paris, France.
Contents
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 Amnesty (now Art for Human Rights), Bill has brought many famous artists together. They work on music, writing, and visual art 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's songs. Many stars sang on it to help Amnesty. The album has raised over $6 million for Amnesty. It was very popular and was nominated for several Grammies. Bill wanted the album to connect with young people who listen to music online.
- He created and produced the Small Places Tour in 2008. This project involved over 800 concerts in about 40 countries.
- From 2009 to 2019, he helped Amnesty be part of U2's worldwide music tours.
- In 2010, he worked with Jochen Wilms and Carl Carlton to make a song for Amnesty's 50th Anniversary. This led to the 'Toast to Freedom' song, which featured almost 50 singers from around the world. It was released on May 3, 2012.
- Bill also promoted 'Electric Burma'. This was a concert held on June 18, 2012. It honored Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Famous artists like Bono and Bob Geldof performed.
- He helped produce 'Bringing Human Rights Home'. This concert for Amnesty USA was held on February 5, 2014, in Brooklyn, New York.
- In May 2015, he produced 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 started "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 are great human rights activists. 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 supported Amnesty for over 30 years and wrote a poem for them called "From the Republic of Conscience."
Memorial Projects
Bill Shipsey has also worked on projects to remember important people and events.
Tapestries
Since 2012, Bill Shipsey has ordered and helped create fourteen large memorial tapestries. Tapestries are big, woven pictures. Artists who support Amnesty International, like Bono, Edge of U2, Sting, and Yoko Ono, have helped pay for them.
These tapestries honor people like Václav Havel, Seamus Heaney, Nelson Mandela, and John Lennon. They also honor the people of Colombia and Greece. You can find these tapestries in airports and museums around the world. Many of them were designed by Czech artist Peter Sís. Others were designed by Fernando Botero, Sophia Vari, and Manuel Rodríguez Lozano. Most were made by weavers in France.
Bronze Statues
Since 2014, Bill Shipsey has also helped create and place bronze statues. He has commissioned six bronze busts of Václav Havel. He also commissioned six of Eleanor Roosevelt and two of Chinese activist Liu Xiaobo. These statues are 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 started working with Viuva Lamego in Lisbon. They make Azulejo murals, which are traditional Portuguese glazed tiles.
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 15-square-meter mural was revealed on December 10, 2018, which is Human Rights Day.
In February 2019, Peter Sis designed another Azulejo mural. This one marks the 30th Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic. This very long mural is now finished and will be put up in Prague.
In 2020, a 10-square-meter Azulejo mural designed by Ana Juan was ordered by Shipsey for Paris. It is called "Solidarity" and is waiting to be installed in Paris.
Book Projects
Bill Shipsey has also been involved in creating special books.
Anything Can Happen: A Poem and an Essay
This is a unique poetry book by Irish Poet Seamus Heaney. It talks 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: 60 Refugees, 60 Views
This project started in March 2018. It was a team effort between Art for Amnesty and artist Matteo Pericoli. The project created a unique book called Windows on Elsewhere, 60 Refugees, 60 Views. It features drawings of window views from 60 refugees around the world. It also includes their short stories about their journeys.
This project was finished and launched in Turin, Italy, in May 2021. It includes a book in Italian and a special box set of drawings and stories. The drawings and stories have been shown in Turin (2021), Lugano, Switzerland (2022), and Mexico City (since February 2023).
Art 19
In 2018, Bill Shipsey co-founded Art 19 GmbH with some German friends. This company raises money for Amnesty International by selling artwork from famous modern artists.
The name ‘Art 19’ is a clever reference to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This article says that "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression."
The first Art 19 collection, "Art 19 Box One," was launched in November 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 high school. He earned his Bachelor of Civil Law degree from University College Dublin (1976–79). He then became a barrister after studying at King's Inns Dublin (1979–80).
Bill Shipsey received the 2022 UCD Alumni Award in Law.
Professional Experience
Bill Shipsey worked as a barrister for many years. He was a Junior Counsel at the Irish Bar from 1980 to 1994. He then became a Senior Counsel from 1994 to 2018.
As a barrister, Bill Shipsey represented Amnesty International in court. He has also advised other human rights groups around the world. He helped them work with artists to promote human rights campaigns.
Organizations
Bill Shipsey has been involved with many organizations:
- 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 and 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 and chair (1978 – 1980)
- Irish Hospice Foundation: Board member and 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
