Hard times are coming, when we’ll be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now, can see through our fear-stricken society and its obsessive technologies to other ways of being, and even imagine real grounds for hope. We’ll need writers who can remember freedom – poets, visionaries – realists of a larger reality.

Ursula K. Le Guin

Those of us who dare to dream, and to demand, a world of freedom, dignity, and ecological balance are often called fools. Well then, let us be foolish. Starting today, April Fools Day, we are launching a new project: Creating Utopias

At this moment—when the trifecta of late-stage capitalism, rising fascism and nationalism, and climate catastrophes is joined by a global pandemic—we call on artists, poets, writers, visionaries, to imagine “alternatives to how we live now,” and to articulate “real grounds for hope.” As we witness the ongoing disruption of our daily lives, we challenge ourselves and each other to create utopias, first in our imagination, then in our art, and finally in the world.

Throughout this month, we will share challenges, developments, ideas, inspiration, and updates around our project and our collective aspirations. We will be building more features and content and announcing more specific projects, such as a planned anthology, so stay in touch through your preferred medium(s) @creatingutopias. You can like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and join our mailing list (sign-up form can be found in the sidebar).

We invite you to dream with us.