At a time when the world feels increasingly shaped by fear and division, ACRUX has been created to offer something different: a reminder of our shared humanity.
ACRUX is Amnesty International Australia’s newly established National Youth Collective. Named after one of the brightest stars in the Australian night sky, it brings together young leaders across fashion, film, art, music and journalism to move human rights conversations beyond political silos.
The unprecedented collective will launch at Carriageworks, Sydney on Saturday 16 May with A Night of Light- the largest cultural Amnesty event ever held in Australia.
What: A Night of Light – A global Amnesty International youth launch event
When: 16 May 2026
Where: Carriageworks, Sydney
Tickets: Available now. All proceeds donated.
Held simultaneously with Amnesty youth collectives across continents— from Argentina to Mongolia, Peru, Belgium and beyond, A Night of Light will be part of a historic coordinated event creating a new global story people can belong to, built on humanity instead of opposition.
Through live performance, art, fashion, and film, A Night of Light will illuminate the stories of children in detention centres and active conflict zones- and transform these distant issues into human stories people can feel.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Amnesty International hosted Human Rights Concerts alongside artists like Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Sting that reached tens of millions by taking human rights onto the world’s biggest stages. From 16 May, ACRUX plans to honour this tradition for a new generation.
Amnesty Australia’s National Youth Representative, Thurkka Jeyakumar explains: “Narratives built on fear and hatred are powerful because they are emotionally clear. They offer certainty and identity and someone to blame. Human rights conversations, on the other hand, have been confined to statistics and legalities that have made us lose sight of a simple truth: the only qualification we need to be a part of them is to be human.”
Earlier this year, ACRUX piloted its first major activation at one of the country’s largest music festivals, Lost Paradise, where attendees customised thrifted clothing using stencils designed by children living in active crisis. The workshop generated overwhelming demand and demonstrated the power of meeting young people where they are.
A Night of Light takes ACRUX’s vision further. The evening will feature live performances and panel conversations with leading Australian voices in human rights such as Vanessa Turnbull Roberts and Australia UN Youth Representative Satara Uthayakumaran, alongside major Australian artists and cultural voices including Flex Mami, refugee artists, fashion designers, spoken word performers, short film screenings in partnership with Australian Film Television and Radio School, and immersive art installations.
“Somehow, even under the darkest skies, there are children continuing to create light. Protecting their childhoods, including by holding onto our own capacity for childlike hope and action, has become one of the most urgent human rights causes of our time.”
Amnesty Australia’s National Youth Representative, Thurkka Jeyakumar
A landmark exhibition curated by Vogue-featured artist Abed Al Kadiri will showcase original artworks created by children displaced in Lebanon, while global works by people in detention and prison systems will be presented in partnership with Paper Chained, works by recently settled refugee artists in partnership with Settlement Services International, and works by Palestine Australia Relief and Action artists.
Guests will also experience non-alcoholic bar creations by world-class Wiradjuri cocktail maker Tom Opie and award-winning bartender Andie Bulley, inspired by Dreamtime stories of the stars. A letter-writing activation advocating for Indigenous children in detention will support the launch of Amnesty Australia’s youth justice campaign.
But, for ACRUX, the evening is not only about hardship, it is about the essence of childhood that is surviving despite it: love, play, wonder, and hope.
As Ms Jeyakumar says, “Somehow, even under the darkest skies, there are children continuing to create light. Protecting their childhoods, including by holding onto our own capacity for childlike hope and action, has become one of the most urgent human rights causes of our time.”
Amnesty International was founded on a simple belief: that it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
On 16 May 2026, the next generation of Amnesty youth across the world plan to come together to light the entire night sky. And for ACRUX, it is only the beginning.
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.
Act now or learn more about our human rights work.
