Bill Shipsey

Who is Bill Shipsey?

Bill Shipsey is the founder of Art for Amnesty – Amnesty International´s global artist engagement programme.

He also initiated and has produced Amnesty's Ambassador of Conscience Award - an accolade that has been bestowed on such diverse activists as Nelson Mandela, Václav Havel, Aung San Suu Kyi, Malala Yousafzai, Peter Gabriel and U2.

Shipsey was Co-Executive Producer of "Instant Karma" - Amnesty's multi-star benefit album of John Lennon compositions. He devised and produced the Small Places Tour, a 2008 music concert project which partnered with over 800 concerts in some 40 countries worldwide. Shipsey first joined Amnesty in the late 1970s - inspired in part by the activism of entertainers, who performed at the Monty Python inspired „Secret Policeman's Ball“ benefit show.

From 2009-2011 he oversaw the participation of Amnesty on U2’s global 360°-tour of 110 concerts, which included the announcement of Aung San Suu Kyi as Ambassador of Conscience Award winner in 2009 by Bono from the stage at Croke Park in Dublin.

In October 2010 he met with German entrepreneur Jochen Wilms and their mutual musician friend Carl Carlton in Dublin. The idea for a commemorative song for Amnesty’s 50th Anniversary was born. This led to the ground breaking Art for Amnesty Band "Toast to Freedom" song with contributions of nearly 50 singers from all over the world. "Toast To Freedom" was launched worldwide on May 3rd, 2012.