Ai Weiwei unveils flag on Universal Declaration of Human Rights 70th Anniversary

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to design a flag for the 70th anniversary for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As we all come to learn, human rights are the precious result from generation after generation's understanding of the human struggle. I am proud to be a part of this force.” — Ai Weiwei

On the morning of 10 December, Fly The Flag launched at Forest Gate Community School in London, unveiling a new flag created by Ai Weiwei to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Commissioned to raise awareness of human rights across the UK, this grassroots moment of creative awareness and activism has been led – jointly and uniquely – by arts organisations and human rights charities.

Arts organisations and human rights charities invite you to Fly The Flag for human rights on 24 — 30 June 2019.

From 24 - 30 June 2019, towns and villages across the UK, from the Highlands of Scotland to the coast of Cornwall, galleries and theatres, shopping centres and offices, schools and libraries, will fly the flag both physically and online, coming together to celebrate that human rights are for everyone, every day. Ai Weiwei encourages everyone to Fly the Flag, or create their own flag, to represent the shared ideal of human rights.

Fly The Flag is co-produced by Fuel (Lead Producer), Amnesty International, Donmar Warehouse, Human Rights Watch, Liberty, National Theatre, Sadler’s Wells and Tate Art Galleries. Additional co-commissioners include the Coventry City of Culture Trust. Education packs have been produced, by the Donmar Warehouse in collaboration with Liberty, to creatively explore Fly The Flag. Designed to support the Citizenship and PSHE curriculum for Key Stages 1-5, the education packs support teachers and young people to engage with human rights issues. The packs are available to download at flytheflag.org.uk.

Ai Weiwei recently spoke about the importance of human rights at the European Parliament in Brussels - you can read his speech here. You can also read an interview with Ai Weiwei in The Guardian, discussing this new project, here. And a video, produced by Fly the Flag with Ai Weiwei, can be seen here.