Open to Change

Mentorship Sessions
Open Calls
dazed 100

Over the last year, it's become clearer than ever that the creative industries are in need of radical change. That's why Dazed and Converse are launching the Open To Change partnership to support, empower, and platform the next generation.

With a focus on creating visibility for underrepresented communities, Open To Change will deliver tangible opportunities for the changemakers of tomorrow and look at what's next for the Creative Industry.

From the Dazed 100 to a Mentorship series with A-COLD-WALL* founder Samuel Ross, as well as educational resources, paid creative commissions, a series of events and more - everyone’s invited to get involved.

Samuel Ross
Mentorship Sessions

Samuel Ross' inaugural Open To Change mentorship session, the second of four sessions spanning a year-long programme, centres around how to expand reach and success within creative businesses.

Ross is joined by Matthew Sleep, Design Director of Footwear at Converse who has partnered with Ross on his ongoing collaboration with the footwear brand. With the All Star team, they offer critical analysis within a show-and-tell format as well as problem-solving, development tips and more.

The Converse All Stars deliver a manifesto for change in creative spaces

At the final Open to Change mentorship session, the All Stars reflected on Samuel Ross’s Manifesto for Change, laying out the impact they want to make through their work

Making a difference through creativity with Samuel Ross & All Stars

The Converse All Stars joined Samuel Ross, Yi Ng, and filmmaker Bafic at Dazed for the last instalment in the Open to Change series, this time IRL

Samuel Ross on how to problem-solve and progress your creative business

In the second session of Dazed and Converse’s Open To Change initiative, the A-Cold-Wall* founder shares tips for how to expand the reach and success of your work

How to turn your creativity into a business, according to Samuel Ross

As part of the Open To Change initiative in partnership with Converse, young designers, artists, creatives, and filmmakers are mentored to make their creative ideas a sustainable business reality – watch the first session here

Meet 8 Converse All Stars being mentored by Samuel Ross

As part of the 2021 Open to Change initiative, young designers, artists, filmmakers, creators, and creatives are being taken under the wing of the A-Cold-Wall* founder

Dazed and Converse launch far-reaching plan for next-gen creatives

Open to Change is a resource for young creatives offering mentorship from those at the top of the industry, paid creative commissions and a series of events over the next 12 months

Open Calls

Open Calls is the next chapter in Open To Change, 2021’s landmark partnership between Dazed and Converse to support, empower, and platform the next generation of creatives.

With the dual aims of spotlighting the work of undiscovered creatives, as well as taking genuine tangible action for worthy causes, Open Calls opens the floor to the audience with an invitation to join the conversation through creative expression.

Check out the winning artists from Arlo Parks’ art therapy project

Three artists will have their work showcased across the UK with Parks’ mammoth mental health-championing project, as part of Dazed and Converse’s Open To Change programme

Here’s how to get involved in Arlo’s Art Therapy

The musician is launching an Open Call to anyone who finds catharsis through creativity

Arlo Parks is launching an art therapy project

The musician is on a quest to unleash the healing power of creativity with Arlo’s Art Therapy as part of Dazed and Converse’s Open To Change programme

This year’s Dazed 100 is a celebration of change, and the nex-gen names leading that change in their communities and creative fields. Running as part of Dazed and Convere’s Open to Change initiative, each entrant on this year’s line up was asked, “How will you shape the future?”. The winner of this year’s Dazed 100 will see their idea come to life through mentoring and a $30,000 grant, funded by Converse. The public voting has now closed! Keep an eye out for the winner, who Dazed and Converse will announce in July, after selecting out of the 10 finalists. In the meantime, look back at this year's list below.

Explore the Dazed 100