The Museum of Drug Policy, a pop-up cultural hub coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly’s Special Session on the global drug problem, is scheduled to take place April 19-21.
Supported by the Open Society Foundations, the museum will feature art exhibitions highlighting the impact drug policies have on nations across the world.
“Through art, conversations and experiential events, the museum will showcase that the moment is now for drug policy reform and that damage caused by the war on drugs is evident across the world.”
Over the three-day event, visitors will be treated to more than 70 installations from artists all over the world, who will open up discussions on the impact drug policy has had on various communities.
Special guests such as Melissa Harris-Perry and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons are slated to make an appearance at the pop-up museum. Harris-Perry will perform a special live version of “Nerdland Forever” that will include other special guests.
Simmons is scheduled to be present for the spoken word poetry segment, “Beats, Rhymes and Reform,” that will share stories of the victims effected by the war on drugs.
“In the U.S., we are very aware of the impact of the war on drugs, particularly on our disadvantaged communities, but there is an international drug policy issue that has been going on for decades,” said Simmons.
Other special guests include Academy Award-nominated director Matthew Heineman, who will host a Q&A after the screening of his new documentary, “Cartel Land.” The film will “shed light on the Mexican drug war, with a focus on vigilante groups on both sides of the border to combat the cartels.”
Through art installations, performances and panel discussions, the museum will give a voice to those most affected by global drug policy. Individuals who have suffered at the hands of drugs personally, through the loss of a family member or friend, or even those incarcerated because of drugs, will all be uplifted by this pop-up museum.
“The Museum of Drug Policy is about bringing awareness to the global scale of the troubling approach to a health crisis,” said Simmons.
Special appearances by Javier Sicilia, Hank Willis Thomas, Dr. Carl Hart, DJ Beverly Bond and more are expected.
Taking place at 245 Park Ave., the event is free and open to the public.