Some of the TED Prize winners of the past. Could you be the next?

Chances are, you’ve heard Ghandi’s famous words: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Now, you have an opportunity to bring this famous adage to life by dreaming up a high-impact collaborative action for the global community. The TED Prize is an annual $1 million grant given to a bold leader with an idea for a large-scale project, organization or campaign that has the potential to inspire the world. With the TED Prize nominations deadline on the horizon — all nominations must be received June 16 at midnight — there’s still time for you to nominate yourself and share your ambitious wish for the world.

Is a little nagging voice in your head discouraging you from stepping into the ring? Take TED speaker Adora Svitak’s wisdom to heart: “In order to make anything a reality you have to dream about it first. In many ways our audacity to imagine helps push the boundaries of possibility.” While humility is a valued trait for any TED Prize winning hopeful, it is key for nominees to be daring enough to envision a world-changing idea and bold enough to execute it.

If you’ve ever had a notion that one of your grand dreams could transform the world, here are 5 reasons why you should nominate yourself for the TED Prize.

1. Because if not you, then who? Ask yourself: What if the world is waiting for a bright idea that only you can offer? You’re the best storyteller about your own experiences and the imaginings of your mind. While being recommended by someone else is an honor and carries the same weight as self-nomination, nominating yourself gives you an opportunity to share your unique, authentic and nuanced perspective.
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2. To build awareness for the issue you’re most passionate about. Do you ever wish that the issue you care about filled more headlines? If you apply for the Prize and win, the story of change you want the world to hear will be received in a multiplicity of ways. Plus, the next TED Prize winner will reveal their wish with their very own talk from the TED2014 stage. Winning the TED Prize will allow you to be even more of a cultural force, capable of moving hearts and minds across the globe to help make your wish come true.
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3. Because you’d get to inspire a collaborative action. How amazing would it be if your wish ended up inspiring folks in the TEDx community and beyond to commit their time and support toward making your brainchild a reality? If your bid for the TED Prize is successful, you’ll be able to leverage the community’s resources and potentially engage and mobilize thousands of TEDx organizers and catalysts.
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4. Because the prize will enable you to dream bigger. The prospect of getting $1 million to bring your idea into fruition provides you with a chance to consider how to take your existing vision to greater heights. Look at your current goals and inspirations and think about what you’d create with the help of significant seed funding plus strategic support. You will be able to expand your view about what’s possible.
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5. To diversify the landscape: Think about it — are voices like yours being adequately recognized for what you’re doing in your community or globally? If you ever feel like an unsung hero whose ideas and leadership have yet to receive the right platform to make the biggest impact, share your powerful idea for the world. What’s more, if you win, your audacity and ambition will serve as an inspiring model to future nominees.

Convinced? It’s time to own your expertise and consider the impact your unique ideas could have worldwide. Nominate yourself by June 16^th at midnight EST.

By Courtney E. Martin

What do sperm donation, marathon runners, disabled rockstars, and yacht racing have in common? They’ve all been subjects of the careful eye and artistic vision of British director Jerry Rothwell, the winner of the first annual Sundance Institute | TED Prize Filmmaker Award, who has received $125,000 to spend the next 18 months documenting TED Prize winner Sugata Mitra as he builds a School in the Cloud.

Rothwell is a documentary filmmaker whose work includes the award-winning feature docs Donor Unknown, about a sperm donor and his many offspring; Heavy Load, about a group of people with learning disabilities who form a punk band; and Deep Water (co-directed with Louise Osmond), about Donald Crowhurst’s ill-fated voyage in the 1968 round-the-world yacht race. His latest film is Town of Runners, about young runners from Bekoji, an Ethiopian highland town that has produced some of the world’s greatest distance athletes.

Rothwell is a pioneer in participatory production, working with people to tell their own stories on film. He played a lead role in developing Hi8us Projects’ improvised dramas with young people for Channel 4, in establishing First Light, the UK Film Council’s scheme for young filmmakers, and in setting up digital storytelling exchanges among marginalized communities across Europe.

We caught up with Rothwell to ask a few questions about his vision for the project ahead.

What attracted you to the project?

From the beginning of my filmmaking career, I did a lot of work with communities and in schools with kids on making films about themselves. That kind of educational methodology has always really interested me. As I’ve moved into more traditional forms of filmmaking, I’ve tried to keep that participatory element in what I do. For that reason, I found Sugata’s TED talk very inspirational.

What was your own experience of education?

When Sugata talks about Britain’s “empire education,” that’s me. I didn’t get on badly in that system, but I am really aware — from my own work in schools — how the institutional structure of the school system fails some kids. My view is that the English education system, in particular, fails boys between the ages of about 8-13. It tries to work with them in a way that they are not very adapted to working.

It seems like there is a big trend in documentary films being intentionally tied to action campaigns (like Girls Rising, Waiting for Superman etc.). What are your thoughts about the role of films in this regard?

In general, my feeling is that films that directly campaign don’t make the best films. The best films are complex, nuanced, and engage the viewer in a thought process rather than hitting them with a message. At the same time, films are a powerful catalyst for action.

It’s a mistake to force the film to carry the message; instead you want to develop empathy in the viewer through a human story. If people are engaged in that process for an hour, or even 25 minutes, they will desire to do something, especially if it’s emotionally engaging. The task of making a film is about, first and foremost, making the film, but also to account for the power of filmmaking to galvanize people around a certain issue.

Filmmaker Jerry Rothwell (center) with (from left) TED Prize Director Lara Stein, producer Daniel Demissie, TED Prize winner Sugata Mitra and TED Curator Chris Anderson.

Will Sugata’s theories influence, not just the subject matter, but the actual making of the film in any way?

There is potential to make the film a counterpart of the methods that Sugata uses — take that notion that children may be able to self-organize and see if they can self-shoot and tell the story through the Schools in the Cloud.

Do you see any thematic threads from your past work to this project?

A lot of work that I’ve done in the past focuses on the subject matter in a unique way. Whether I’m looking at sperm donation or runners in Ethiopia, the common theme is about how you build empathy between audiences and people they may never encounter, how you get them to walk in the shoes of someone else for 90 minutes and come out with a totally different idea about what they knew.

What do you anticipate will be your biggest challenges?

I wonder, is a year enough time to show the real potential of the method and the project? It’s also hard to make films remotely. I’m going to try to work with Indian filmmakers and local kids. I also don’t want to make a film that’s promotional. I want to make a film that is true to the experience.

You’ve just met Sugata here at TEDGlobal. What is your first impression of him as a subject?

He’s all you’d hope for as a filmmaker. He’s funny. He’s very engaging. He’s humble, despite the enormous amount of attention that is thrust upon him, which would turn anyone’s head. He’s very grounded and able to keep things in perspective. Every talk we have gives a slightly different dimension and makes me realize a new possibility for the project.

How can the TED community, and those reading this, support you in this effort?

I would love help from the tech community here to think about how we embed ways of shooting in the communities. Any ideas they have about how to break the conventional ways of documentary using remote technologies would be great. We want to keep it personal and keep it owned by the kids.

Courtney E. Martin is the author multiple books, including Do It Anyway. She is also a member of the TED Prize team and co-lead of The City 2.0, the 2012 TED Prize focused on the future of cities.

Sugata Mitra won the 2013 TED Prize, and received $1 million to build a School in the Cloud. Could you nominate the 2014 Prize winner? Photo: James Duncan Davidson

With less than a week to go until nominations for the 2014 TED Prize close on June 16, we would like to ask you a question: Is there someone in your life who’s inspired you with a large-scale vision to change the world? To put it another way: Do you know a capable leader – perhaps a teacher, mentor or colleague you’ve worked with — who would do great things with a $1 million?

We bet that there is, but in case you aren’t convinced — here are five reasons to nominate someone you know for the 2014 TED Prize.

1. Because they just might win! Perhaps it’s an obvious thing to point out, but how proud would you feel if someone you admired professionally got the chance to embark on the project of a lifetime — one with the potential to inspire people and change lives across the globe — all because you took 10 minutes to fill out a nomination form?
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2. To mobilize the unique TED community. As you may have noticed, TED brings together people like no other. The TED Prize is an opportunity to spread an inspired project to the extensive community of TED attendees, TEDx organizers, TED translators and other contributors — plus the millions who visit TED.com every day. The TED Prize isn’t just seed money toward a wish to inspire the world, it’s a chance to work with the very special people already involved in TED.
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3. Because TED Prize wishes can have a ripple effect. Even the biggest dreamers can’t predict all the changes that their work may bring about. For every carefully planned action taken to realize a TED Prize wish, there’s an unexpected reaction. This story about José Abreu’s wish shows how the Prize can set off a chain reaction. Who knows what your nominee’s wish could do?
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4. Because a million dollars can go a long way. In today’s world of billions and trillions, one million dollars can feel like small change in the face of big global problems. But with the TED Prize, that million goes a long way — thanks to the resources and support of the TED community. Coupled with a naturally motivated, enthusiastic Prize winner, our resources help take that one million to even greater heights.
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5. Because even if they don’t win, you’ll help inform future Prize wishes. TED Prize wishes of yore have assumed the imaginative goals of contacting extraterrestrials, starting a food revolution, and making the world a more compassionate place. If you nominate someone, at a minimum, you’ll be showing the TED Prize team what type of wish matters to you and what type of thinker, leader or doer you think should be honored  – and help this community decide who to add to this impressive list.

Head to http://www.tedprize.org by June 16 to nominate the person floating in the back of your mind as you read this post.

British director Jerry Rothwell has received the first annual Sundance Institute | TED Prize Filmmaker Award, and with it $125K to make a documentary about Sugata Mitra. Photo: Courtesy of Mitra

Sugata Mitra’s TED Prize story may soon be coming to a theater near you. Today during the TEDGlobal 2013 session “Exquisite, Enigmatic Us,” curator Chris Anderson named British director Jerry Rothwell as the winner of the first annual Sundance Institute | TED Prize Filmmaker Award. Rothwell earned a $125,000 grant to follow Sugata Mitra over the next 18 months as he builds his School in the Cloud and to craft a documentary about Mitra’s $1 million wish.

TED and the Sundance Institute launched this collaboration at TED2013 to increase public consciousness about the TED Prize winner’s wish and work. In addition to telling the winner’s story, the award was established to build resources for creative non-fiction storytelling.

“We are thrilled to award Jerry Rothwell the first ever Sundance Institute | TED Prize Filmmaker Award, and are eager to see the vision he brings to document Sugata Mitra’s TED Prize wish,” said Lara Stein, director of the TED Prize. “The Sundance Institute | TED Prize award unites artists, innovators, and thought leaders with a vision for spurring global change. Sugata’s wish to build a School in the Cloud will have an important impact, and Jerry Rothwell’s work will ensure his story is told beautifully, originally and authentically.”

Following a global call for submissions and a competitive selection process, Rothwell and his producers Al Morrow and Dan Demissie’s proposal was chosen by Sundance Institute and TED in partnership with advisory committee members. Their projected film, Like Whirlwinds, will explore the development of the School in the Cloud from the perspectives of underprivileged children in India with limited access to education, a retired teacher in the UK who serves as a virtual mentor for kids in India’s slums, and working class youth in England.

The film will also look at how technology interplays with children’s inherent curiosity and dares to pose a question Mitra himself asks: is the traditional way of “knowing” obsolete in the Google age?

Slated for release in 2015, Like Whirlwinds will follow Rothwell’s latest film, Town of Runners, and previous award-winning features including Donor Unknown, Heavy Load, and Deep Water.

Inspired? Become a part of the story. Help Sugata Mitra design the future of learning by participating in his wish.

Does this sound like you or someone you know?

This morning, we’re sharing eight motivating talks to stir your soul, pull your heartstrings, and move you to take courageous action. Why? Because the deadline to nominate for the 2014 TED Prize is approaching on June 16. Whether you’re compelled by Brené Brown to be “powerfully vulnerable” and nominate yourself, or if you follow Barry Schwartz’s advice and surface another person’s “practical wisdom” by nominating a mentor or co-worker, it’s time to take a step toward a transformative wish for the world.

Elizabeth Gilbert: Your elusive creative geniusElizabeth Gilbert: Your elusive creative genius Elizabeth Gilbert’s talk from TED2009 inspires you to tap into your inherent creative genius. This, naturally, begs the question: is there the seed of a TED Prize wish in the work you already feel passionate about?

David Kelley: How to build your creative confidenceDavid Kelley: How to build your creative confidence In spite of the messages we may receive, creativity is accessible to all of us. Turn to David Kelley’s advice from TED2012 to build creative confidence if you encounter any blocks as you develop a possible TED Prize wish.

Derek Sivers: How to start a movementDerek Sivers: How to start a movement In this talk from TED2010, Derek Sivers uses humor to illustrate how movements begin — and the necessity of collaboration. Reminding us of the power of a movement’s courageous “first follower,” he speaks to the humility and team-building skills a TED Prize winner needs to make an impact.

Brené Brown: The power of vulnerabilityBrene Brown: The power of vulnerability A scholar of love, empathy and compassion, Brené Brown found that her research led her to a profound knowledge about the power of vulnerability. If you’re apprehensive about putting yourself out there and applying, watch Brown’s talk for some refreshing perspective.

Barry Schwartz: Our loss of wisdomBarry Schwartz: Our loss of wisdom In a passionate argument about the limitations of bureaucracy and impractical rules, Barry Schwartz advises us to “appeal to virtue” as we work to improve the world. Schwartz’s talk from TED2009  speaks to what makes a good TED Prize winner — audacity, resilience and the ability to improvise based on practical knowledge.

Seth Godin: How to get your ideas to spreadSeth Godin: How to get your ideas to spread In his TED2003 talk, Seth Godin explains why some of the ideas we might write off as odd or awful have more value than we give them credit for — because they just might stick with people. Watch this talk as you shape your TED Prize wish.

Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire actionSimon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action Simon Simek illustrates how true leaders inspire action in this talk from TEDxPugetSound. What helps the world’s greatest leaders stand out? Working, thinking and speaking from “the inside out.” Consider this lesson as you imagine  nominating yourself for the TED Prize. Ask yourself the question at the center of his talk: “Why?”

Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kidsAdora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids Adora Svitak, then 12, gives a provocative talk that suggests adults should adopt “childish” thinking to improve the world. Defining “childish” thinking as imaginative, hopeful and courageous, Svitak calls for adults to respect the power of young people’s ideas. So maybe ask yourself: What’s the wish for the world that your 10-year-old self would make?

An artist’s rendering of TED Prize winners past. Could you or someone you know receive the 2014 TED Prize?

The $1 million TED Prize is a way for a passionate, motivated dreamer to put a world-changing plan into action. With nominations for the prize open through June 16, so many great ideas are circulating around the TED community — and one of them could become the 2014 winner.

We want you — yes, you — to nominate a dynamic, passionate leader for the prize. It could be yourself, someone you know or someone whose work you admire. Need some inspiration? We started a TED Conversation, “What’s your million-dollar idea to change the world?” to get TEDsters’ brainstorming out in the open about the kinds of wishes they’d like to see enacted. Below are some of our favorite wishes that users offered on TED.com and through Facebook:

“With one million dollars, I would endow a scholarship in perpetuity to introduce arts education to underserved communities. The arts are a powerful way to communicate complex feelings, reactions and emotions. They are also a means of relieving stress.” —Patrij Baroch

“Inexpensive sleep pods in downtown areas to get homeless out of the elements.” —Capers Hammond

“Require all members of the United Nations to donate an amount equal to what they spend annually on military budgets to a worldwide relief fund, to be administered publically on the web, with 100 percent clarity and accountability of how all funds are spent. Goal of the fund will be to foster health and education worldwide on an as needed basis.” — Ron Bouffard

“To stop corruptions in my country Nigeria and make the citizens believe in democracy.” —Jude Ben

“The way we choose employment is largely based on herd mentality. Someone posts a job vacancy, puts up a bunch of ‘skills’ necessary for the job. A few hundred respond with padded resumes that are keyword-rich to ensure HR finds them suitable. I find this system terribly outdated and broken. We need a better way to measure ourselves and measure what a job requires. A more comprehensive match between employer and employee and one that scales up so we can spot work that fits us like a glove without getting lost in the maze.” – Arun Jose

“Select positive statements only from all religious texts and combine them into one bible for one purely positive religion for all Earthlings.” — Rhona Pavis

“Make all schools teach a class on business. A class on how the core subjects relate to the current world today.” —Thaddea Thompson

“Stop human trafficking. Period. No one’s life has a price tag.” —Jennifer Valenti

“End homelessness and poverty by opening up unused fed and state lands for building small off-grid homesteads that include garden space and space for raising animals, and link it to a homestead education program.” — LaMar Alexander

Do you know someone who’s right for the 2014 TED Prize? Or do you have a wish idea that you would like to be considered? Make sure to fill out an official nomination form by June 16 »

Get lots more information at Tedprize.org »

TED wishes have ranged from a global art project that lets anyone paste up meaningful portraits to a network of math and science schools in Africa looking to inspire and find the next Einstein. Below, a list of past TED Prize winners who offered great wishes to inspire the world.

Sugata Mitra: Build a School in the CloudSugata Mitra’s TED Prize wish: Build a School in the Cloud Education as we know it was developed under the British Empire, to instill a sense of order. But kids can learn in other ways, too! In this fiery talk from TED2013, Sugata Mitra shares the results of his “Hole in the Wall” experiments, where he placed computers in remote parts of India and watched as kids taught themselves to use them. He calls for a new model — self-organized learning — where kids ask big questions, investigate on their own and teach each other. His wish: the School in the Cloud, a learning lab in India, where children take control of their own learning.

JR's TED Prize wish: Use art to turn the world inside outJR’s TED Prize wish: Use art to turn the world inside out Artist JR makes human faces part of urban landscapes, pasting oversized posters in visually arresting ways. His projects always have a social purpose — to introduce posh neighborhoods to those living in nearby slums, to underline the similarities between Israelis and Palestinians, and to bring attention the quiet power of the world’s women. In this talk from TED2011, JR kicks off Inside Out, a worldwide participatory art project which, to date, has shipped 130,000 posters for pasting across the globe. The project is the subject of a documentary which just aired on HBO.

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about foodJamie Oliver’s TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food Chef Jamie Oliver explains how he can improve the health of young people and extend their lifespans — not with medicine, but with information. In this talk from TED2010, Oliver assaults our ignorance about food and calls for a revolution. His wish: to teach every child about nutrition and the joy of food in school, and to generally inspire people everywhere to cook again.

Sylvia Earle's TED Prize wish to protect our oceansSylvia Earle’s TED prize wish: To protect our oceans Sylvia Earle has spent her life exploring the deep seas. And she’s scared by the depletion she’s seen to them over the span of just a few decades – 90 percent of the fish in the ocean have been eaten and Arctic ice has eroded unspeakably. In this moving talk from TED2009, Earle asks us to turn our attention to the “blue heart” of the planet and use all the resources at our disposal to support a global network of protected marine areas.

Jill Tarter's call to join the SETI searchJill Tarter’s TED Prize wish: Join the SETI search The director of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Jill Tarter poses a classic question: are we alone in the universe? In this talk from TED2009, she explains why she sees Earth as a “fragile island of life, in a universe of possibility,” and shares the growing array of tools that she and her team are using to search for signs of intelligence elsewhere in the universe. In this talk, she asks everyday Earthlings to join the search, by building a system through which data could be stored, accessed and analyzed in new ways.

Jose Antonio Abreu: The El Sistema music revolutionJose Antonio Abreu’s TED Prize wish: The El Sistema music revolution Jose Antonio Abreu is still amazed that his family and community supported his dream to be a musician. And so he created El Sistema, a national network of youth orchestras and choirs in Venezuela. El Sistema has changed the course of thousands of young lives. And at TED2009, he shared his TED prize wish: to bring El Sistema to other regions, including low-income areas of the United States, by training 50 young musicians. Read about the ripple effect this wish has had so far.

Karen Armstrong: Let's revive the Golden RuleKaren Armstrong’s TED Prize wish: Let’s revive the Golden Rule There is one thing that underlies all major world faiths: compassion. And thus, religious historian Karen Armstrong came up with the idea for the Charter for Compassion — a pledge to unite those of different faiths, rather than divide them, in the pursuit of the common good. In this talk from TEDGlobal 2009, she shares her wish: to draft the charter and spread it widely — online and in physical form — to showcase in both religious and secular spaces around the world.

Neil Turok makes his TED Prize wishNeil Turok’s TED Prize wish: Unlock Africa’s creative potential Neil Turok was raised in villages in Kenya and Tanzania. Later, as a theoretical physicist, he wondered what became of the brilliant students he learned alongside as a kid. So he had an idea to set up an African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, bringing students across the continent to receive training in these fields. At TED2008, he shares his wish: to create out 15 more AIMS centers in hope that the next Einstein be African.

Jehane Noujaim wishes for a global day of filmJehane Noujaim’s TED Prize wish: A global day of film Jehane Noujaim, who made the documentary Control Room and more recently The Square, has always been amazed by the power of film to bring people together. And so at TED2006, she offered a simple TED Prize wish: to create a day for people in towns, villages and cities around the world to have a shared cinema experience. Pangea Cinema Day was held on May 10 of the same year, with millions gathering around screens to partake in a 4-hour program of films.

Cameron Sinclair: A call for open-source architectureCameron Sinclair’s TED Prize wish: A call for open-source architecture Architects have the potential to influence change on some of the world’s most pressing problems. In this talk from TED2006, Cameron Sinclair shares his work helping refugees returning to Kosovo to find shelter, creating mobile health clinics in sub-Saharan Africa and helping with housing solutions in disaster-hit areas of the United States. His wish: to create an open-source network to be a conduit between architects and the humanitarian world, and allow for the sharing of design solutions.

“We use images like a weapon to fight for social causes,” says a man in the trailer for INSIDE OUT: The People’s Art Project, a new documentary that airs on HBO tonight. The doc tells the story of JR’s INSIDE OUT, a global art project in which anyone, anywhere, can send the artist a portrait and have a poster-sized version sent back to them for pasting in public spaces. JR's TED Prize wish: Use art to turn the world inside outSince the project’s launch in 2011, when JR received the TED Prize, these oversized black-and portraits with a faded polka dot motif in the background have become a fixture on the walls, fences and sidewalks all around the world. To date, more than 130,000 INSIDE OUT posters have been pasted in more than 100 countries.

INSIDE OUT: The People’s Art Project, directed by Alastair Siddons, isn’t about untangling the identity of JR  – who always appears in public wearing Ray Bans and fedora. Instead, it aims to show how people around the globe have made this fascinating project their own. Yes, cameras show JR in his Paris studio but, from there, they travel to Haiti, where photographer Benoit has pasted up dozens of images of those living in tent cities following the devastating earthquake of 2010. The message: that while hardship continues in the country, people remain infused with hope.

The film goes on to bring viewers to North Dakota and the West Bank, where major INSIDE OUT actions have been launched, as well as to Tunisia, where portraits of everyday people are revolutionary in and of themselves. “We were always seeing pictures of the dictators,” says an INSIDE OUT artist in the country. “Now it’s people—Tunisians.”

INSIDE OUT: The People’s Art Project premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in April. And tonight, the film makes its television debut on HBO at 9pm ET/PT. The documentary will also be available on demand through June 30. Find out more about the film and its airdates at HBO’s website »

See JR interviewed about the documentary by Christiane Amanpour last Friday »

Are you or someone you know interested in launching a worldwide project on the scale of INSIDE OUT? Nominations for the 2014 TED Prize are open, from now until June 16 »

Jamie Oliver, who won the TED Prize in 2010, has declared May 17 as Food Revolution Day. Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about foodHis vision: that people gather in homes, schools, workplaces and social spaces to share their culinary knowledge, cook together and simply enjoy each other’s company as they chow down and discuss the centrality of food in life. Anyone is invited to host a Food Revolution Day activity — Oliver recommends organizing a potluck dinner, leading a farmers market tour, planting a community garden or throwing a street party. There’s a downloadable activity guide for those interested in hosting an event, and a search engine for those interested in joining one in their area. Anyone is also welcome to get involved by sharing a treasured recipe.

Why Food Revolution Day? Because Oliver has been on a many-year mission to change the way people relate to food. As he explains on the holiday’s website, “Cooking skills used to be passed down from generation to generation, but now millions of people lack even the most basic cooking skills. We need to get back to basics: to cook and eat fresh local produce; to share cooking skills and food knowledge; to join forces within communities and get as many people involved as possible. Food Revolution Day is our opportunity to get the world to focus on the importance of good food and essential cooking skills.”

In an unexpected TED Prize synergy, Oliver has teamed up with fellow prize-winner JR, who launched the global art initiative Inside Out, to get the word out about Food Revolution Day. Oliver visited JR’s studio and shared a snapshot of himself holding his portrait on Instagram. He also posted an image of JR pasting the poster in Times Square, along with thousands of other portraits.

“Me laid out!! My TED brother @jr pasting the paper & glue in Time Square NYC for his incredible ‘Inside Out project,’” Oliver wrote. “FOOD REVOLUTION DAY is coming this Friday thank you. @jr Can’t wait to do a massive wall for the #insideoutproject.”

Oliver is planning on doing an Inside Out group action, around his message of getting people to eat healthier. Stay tuned for more information.

Are you or someone you know interested in launching a worldwide project on the scale of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution? Nominations for the 2014 TED Prize are open, from now until June 16 »

Oliver with his Inside Out poster.

JR pastes Oliver’s image in Times Square.

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JR, the man behind the participatory global art project INSIDE OUT, has parked a photobooth truck in Times Square, from now until May 10. Photo: Instagram/newyorkermag

On an unseasonably chilly Monday evening in Manhattan, hundreds stood in line in Times Square for up to two hours. As a city-dweller for seven years, I’ve seen queues this long for big Broadway openings or on New Year’s Eve. But this line was formed for a very different purpose — for people to have their faces and stories featured in what JR describes as “the biggest art gallery in the world.”

JR's TED Prize wish: Use art to turn the world inside outIt’s been three years since TED Prize winner JR made the wish to turn the world INSIDE OUT with a global collaborative art project. As a documentary about the project premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last weekend, JR decided to use his time in New York productively. He hatched the plan to park a truck with a photobooth on-board in the middle of Times Square, as he’s done in other cities before. As soon as I heard about this project, I knew that I wanted to be one of the volunteers for the truck’s inaugural night in my hometown.

When I arrived in Duffy Square (the northern triangle of Times Square), stunning rows of freshly pasted black and white portraits covered the ground. Smiling, smirking and winking visages of passersbys — with homes as diverse as the Bronx and Tokyo — replaced the usual bareness of the concrete. Throughout my shift, elders, painters, skateboarders, toddlers and even NYC’s infamous Naked Cowboy posed for INSIDE OUT’s camera, adding their photos to the street-side quilt of images that breathed life and humanity into the street.

As an INSIDE OUT volunteer, I learned how to capture and distribute large-scale portraits and make and apply wheat-paste. Over and over again, commuters interrupted their busy and purposeful strides and stopped to behold “the people’s art project.” Since I was adorned in INSIDE OUT’s trademark black and white spotted t-shirt, I was repeatedly asked about the origins of the project, how people could get involved, and how much it would cost to buy the portraits. Almost everyone eagerly jumped in line after learning that they could participate by giving their time, image and elbow-grease to help paste pictures.

Placing the faces of strangers side-by-side in a collective masterpiece created a powerful sense of community. People marveled at the process of taking their pictures in the speckled black and white photobooth and watched in awe as their likeness printed from the side of the truck. I spoke to one man who was so addicted to the practice of snapping and pasting his photo, that he has followed JR’s installation to three cities around the world, including Tokyo and New York.

As I walked away from Times Square, I thought of the thousands of people who have contributed 120,000 portraits to city walls, streets and countless other surfaces from Tunisia to South Dakota. I wondered if volunteers in the each of the 110 countries INSIDE OUT has touched experienced what I did. Did they see giggling children who were shorter than the portraits of their likeness dance blissfully with images of themselves? Did they witness a bride and groom take photos in their wedding finery and paste their pictures next to each other to symbolize their bond? Or, did they see what I repeatedly witnessed, a sense of recognition, pride and purpose in the eyes of folks who were given a moment to be truly seen – with big, bold, authentic, and honest emotion.

“The people’s art project” gave New Yorkers a chance to choose to remain anonymous while also being visible. By providing us with an opportunity to pause and be present together, INSIDE OUT created a humbling a sense of intimacy in the most populous city in the United States.

Help INSIDE OUT transform the city! If you live in New York City or will be visiting between now and May 10, email nyc@insideoutproject.net to volunteer by yourself or with a group.

Are you or someone you know interested in launching a worldwide project on the scale of Inside Out? Nominations for the 2014 TED Prize are open, from now until June 16 »

The artist himself examines the portraits tiled in Times Square. Photo: Anna Verghese

Pasting in progress. Photo: Instagram/JR

A bride and groom make their portraits kiss at the INSIDE OUT photo truck. Image: Instagram/JR

The bride snaps her portrait. Photo: Instagram/NewYorkerMag

A closer look at a section of portraits. Image: Anna Verghese

A view of the truck itself. Photo: Instagram/NewYorkerMag

Musician Pharrell Williams takes a moment to add his image to the mosaic. Photo: Instagram/JR