50 States, 50 Billboards: Artists Launch Political Billboard Campaign Across US

For Freedoms, an association founded in 2016 by artists Hank Willis Thomas and Eric Gottesman, is launching 50 States, 50 Billboards, a project installing 50 billboards across the United States to stimulate political discussion ahead of the November 2018 midterm elections. The initiative involves over 200 artists, museums, universities, and cultural organizations, including the University of Alabama, Detroit Institute of Art, and Brooklyn Museum. Each billboard costs $3,000 to install, funded through a crowdfunding campaign launched in early June. For Freedoms emphasizes broad participation, preferring many small donations over large ones. The billboards are the first phase of a series of events including debates, workshops, and special initiatives to engage local communities in political and social conversations. The project is nonpartisan, aiming to make everyone feel welcome in civic discourse.