In NYC We've come to accept that beauty and perfection can be found in the most unexpected combinations. Diverse and spontaneous connections, combined to create something entirely new and inspirational. With that said, What happens when you pair an African/Caribbean British boy born to Jamaican migrants, raised in the 80's troubled and riot strewn streets of Handsworth, Birmingham, England and a white working class Londoner, A Cockney, born a bastard to a Jewish father and an agnostic mother? The answer is an explosive new partnership using the arts and artists as cultural resistance fighters for the 21st century. Mclean Initiative, based in England, (www.mcleaninitiative.com) or just MI takes no prisoners. They are innovative perpetrators of change. Bringing a fresh new perspective to a tired apolitical , apathetic world of wanna bees and has beens. Integrating artistic abilities and resources with vast experience in social care, cultural development and a passion to ignite change in current social issues we can all relate to. Sparse, organised and vocal, their ideas are imaginative, socially committed, and displayed on their website for all to comment on. MI represents a very new way of working as artists, 'We know we're organic says Steve, I mean really organic, rough and out of shape like carrots from your old mans allotment but we're better for you particularly times of austerity. We do what we do because we want to create a movement of ideas and critical dialogues, with concepts and a language that can be shared - not coveted and protected like saleable assets. We want to connect with those out there who really care about people on the ground. I've had 15 years working with everything distasteful about this country from poverty to substance abuse to children in the care. I am nowhere near desensitised. I still get angry about people not being open and honest about the failings in the system. In the UK we have Big Society now, and what does that really mean??? We've seen it happen 15 − 20 years ago with a little concept called 'Care in the Community' - which really put some very vulnerable citizens into the big wide world for the general public to look after. People with no skills or experience of managing the deep and sophisticated challenges linked to mental health.' Tony, with his raspy cockney accent explains his take on what they do - 'I’ve spent nearly 20 years working in public realm devising new methods of public engagement. My aim has been to improve the democratic shortfall through the use of arts & artists. I often make a joke of the fact that as a professional I have more letters after my name than I do in it. I started my professional life in the arts after a period of long term unemployment and living on a large council housing estate education did change my life. I went to university at 28 having spent most of my adult life unemployed. Education changed that for me and the vehicle that took me into education was art & design.' 'Existing between welfare payouts I never thought beyond that fortnightly cycle, I never thought about a future, my future was tied into that cycle which in turn eroded any concept of hope. A dark time? Maybe, but for many people it’s a reality. That’s why I am so passionate about the role of the arts and the artist in society today as a catalyst for change. When I walk onto a housing scheme I see a thousand artists, a thousand designers, its part of our language we just don’t always see it that way. But it’s a language that offers us a way in. Today artists can be communicators and mediators, they speak a language that bridges divides they speak a language of commonality. MI is an art product that cannot be packaged and sold, cannot be stifled and censored.' Artist Neil Fox contributes, In 1974 Hunter S Thompson made the statement; “‘Neither fame nor fortune is worth a shit these days, the only thing worth clinging to is a sense of humanity” That was in 1974! Ever since I read that, it has formed a central belief in my life. It’s almost a mantra, the Mclean Initiative puts the HST quote into action. It has to be active because passive has got us nowhere. Passive has seen us crushed into the dirt beneath the feet of the greedy and evil. The Mclean initiative grabs the boot of the greedy as they try and stomp on us, makes them look down and see us staring back saying this is what it’s all about. It’s time to let the angry, determined, smiling faces of the many greet the corrupt eyes of the few. Armed with paint, notes, ink and thought. Arm in arm. Tony is an award winning designer and public realm consultant. As the founder member and director of the Basildon Art & Design Initiative, he has won two national awards for cultural development. Steve is a documentary maker, former Social Care and Health outreach worker, and creative activist with no awards and a shit load of experience!