BE OPEN Art, an online non-profit gallery set up by Elena Baturina’s humanitarian think-tank BE OPEN, announces the winners of the 2nd stage in this year’s BE OPEN Regional Art, the competition for emerging artists aimed to support those whose art best represents their regional, cultural and ethnic identities, for the third year now.
BE OPEN Art is delighted to announce Omotoyosi Ogunlende, known artistically as theKraftzone, as its Artist of the Month for June 2025, selected by public vote from among the talented creatives featured in our online gallery.
Aidan McNeillage, a New Zealand-born artist, has been announced as BE OPEN Art’s Regional Artist of the Month for June in the Oceania stage of the 2025 competition. Aidan has recently completed his MFA at the Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland. His artistic practice is rooted in exploring themes of identity, memory, and the complexities of familial relationships. Aidan’s work has resonated with the visitors of the BE OPEN online gallery for its emotional depth and conceptual strength.
BE OPEN Art, an online gallery established by Elena Baturina’s humanitarian think-tank BE OPEN, continues its initiative BE OPEN Regional Art — a competition created to support emerging artists whose work reflects their regional, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. Now in its third year, the programme celebrates the diversity and richness of artistic expression across the globe. In 2025, the BE OPEN expert community continues to spotlight artists who authentically represent the artistic traditions of their regions. These selected artists are featured in the BE OPEN Art gallery, offering them greater visibility and recognition.
When it comes to creating inclusive learning experiences, visual accessibility often remains underexplored—especially for users who rely on audio cues to access content. In this focused session from the Summer of Access series, Marni Levett, Accessibility & L&D Specialist, guides designers, educators, and content creators through the essential principles and techniques of audio descriptions.
Inclusive Design: Design for the Whole Population by Jeremy Myerson and John Clarkson offers a comprehensive framework for designing products, services, and environments that accommodate the widest possible range of users. Drawing on case studies from companies like Royal Mail, Fiat, and Tesco, the authors explore how inclusive design can be a strategic asset, not just a social obligation. The book connects engineering, design, and user research to show how inclusive thinking benefits businesses, aging populations, and society at large, making a case for universal usability as both ethical and economically smart.
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