For the project Connect the Dots, Illegal Art asks participants to use a colored pencil or marker, all starting from the same circle, marked “Me,” and make a continuous line through a number of choices, indicated by vertically organized circles, such as age, languages spoken, political leanings, dietary preferences or whether they like beverages with ice or at room temperature. This will create a multi-colored stream of lines that will all end up in the same circle, marked “Us.”

Illegal Art, founded in the summer of 2001, is a collective of artists whose goal is to create participatory-based public art to inspire self-reflection, thought and human connection. Each piece is presented or distributed in a method in which participation is simple and encouraged. Their projects have been installed throughout the United States and South America, The Middle East, Europe and Asia. In 2016, Illegal Art was selected by the Obama Administration as an exhibitor at South by South Lawn: A White House Festival of Ideas, Art, and Action with their project, TO DO. Illegal Art partners with museums, municipalities, non for profits and privately owned organizations, educational institutions, festivals and more, continuing to prioritize art with access to all. And as they always have, they still install their projects on the street, in public.

For your safety, we strongly encourage but will not require FestGoers to follow the UMD Athletics bag policy for events at The Clarice. All bags will be searched by security personnel upon festival entry, and FestGoers who travel light will be able to enter the festival more quickly and easily. Only empty water bottles will be permitted; there will be free water stations and opportunities to purchase beverages inside the festival.

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This event is part of NextNOW Fest 2022. NextNOW Fest is a signature event in University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative, which leverages the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to address the grand challenges of our time. In addition to the festival's student, academic and touring artists lineup at The Clarice, NextNOW Fest will continue partnerships with student-led groups, academic departments and community organizations to hold the festival at sites throughout campus and into College Park!

VIEW FULL 2022 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE