2025 Year in Review

December 30, 2025 – Los Angeles: Artists For A Better World International (AFABW Int) is concluding another year and over a quarter century of serving artists. Throughout 2025, we continued to celebrate those who inspire improved conditions in their environment. Further, we offered insights into the historical relevance of arts shaping our world.

Mail Art: A Global Connection

Mail Art remains one of our most cherished traditions (begun in 2001), and 2025 was a standout year for this participatory art form. This past April 15th—World Art Day—marked the deadline for our “2025 Call for Mail Art,” which saw a diverse array of submissions from around the world.

To highlight these contributors, we produced and broadcast TV spots that showcased selected works that embody the AFABW Int spirit and this year’s theme.

2025 Featured Mail Art Selections:

Throughout 2025, five 60-second cable TV spots were broadcast on Our Ventura TV, featuring this year’s global Mail Art selections.

This year’s theme was “Aesthetics,” in recognition of the power of art to shape our lives and communities, as well as foster a deeper appreciation for beauty.

Exploring Art History: The “Crash Course” Series

Another 2025 highlight was our exploration of the Crash Course Art History series. Throughout the year, we featured monthly segments that delved into ways art intersects with culture, belief, and history.

  • Crash Course Art History Preview (February): An introductory look at the upcoming series and the educational journey of exploring global artistic heritage.
  • Why Does Art Matter? (February): Investigating the essential role of creativity in human development and the lasting impact of visual expression.
  • How to Look at Art (March): A guide to developing the “art of seeing,” focusing on formal analysis and the emotional resonance of a piece.
  • The History of Museums (April): Tracing the evolution of art galleries from private cabinets of curiosity to accessible public institutions for all.
  • Are Artists Geniuses? (May): Deconstructing the myth of the “lone genius” and exploring the balance of skill, persistence, and inspiration.
  • Should We Separate Art from the Artist? (June): A thoughtful discussion on the ethical relationship between a creator’s personal life and their creative output.
  • What Is Good Art? (July): An exploration of the subjective nature of aesthetics and what defines “quality” in art.
  • How Does Art Tell Stories? (August): Examining art as a medium for record-keeping and personal narrative, from cave paintings to the Harlem Renaissance.
  • How Do Religions Use Art? (September): A look at the instructional and ritualistic power of religious art across different faiths.
  • The Hidden Stories in Nature Art (October): Uncovering the political and social messages embedded in landscapes and seascapes.
  • Origins of Color (November): Investigating how trade, exchange, and history are intertwined with the pigments we use.
  • Who Gets to Be a “Real” Artist? (December): A year-end reflection on inclusivity and the evolving definition of the artist in the modern world.

Looking Forward to 2026

The 2026 Call for Mail Art is already underway! We invite all artists to submit their work before the next World Art Day on April 15, 2026.

As we close another year, we remain dedicated to our three core beliefs:

  1. We believe in a world where good morals are valued.
  2. We favor art that inspires and helps make the world a better place.
  3. We support artistic and social improvement programs that are making positive changes in society.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Visit our About page to learn more and keep creating!