ABOUT THIS WEBINAR
Edward Akrout reflects on the emotional demands of acting and how Transcendental Meditation supports him in managing stress, cultivating emotional clarity, and moving fluidly between inner experience and creative expression. He also discusses his visual art practice in contemporary abstraction, his lifelong fascination with texture and emotional presence in painting, and the ways creativity, spirituality, and psychological depth intersect in his work.
Mr. Akrout shares his humanitarian efforts, including founding ArtShield in 2022 to support artists in Ukraine—and now in other crisis regions—by protecting cultural voices and providing creative tools for resilience and healing. He speaks about how witnessing courage, humanity, and unwavering artistic expression in the midst of war profoundly reshaped his understanding of beauty, strength, and responsibility.
ABOUT EDWARD AKROUT
Edward Akrout was raised between France and England by a Franco-British Jewish mother and a Muslim Turkish Palestinian father—a rich multicultural background that continues to shape his artistic vision. A distinguished Franco-British actor and artist, he grew up navigating multiple cultures across Europe and beyond, including time in Romania and Latin America.
A graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (2008), Akrout has earned recognition for his compelling performances, notably as the Dauphin in the BBC’s The Hollow Crown and as Edward Steichen in Rodin, an Official Selection of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.
His visual art practice—encompassing painting, drawing, and sculpture—is rooted in contemporary abstraction. He has exhibited solo in London and participated in group exhibitions in Athens, London, and New York. His 2017 art film Quantum Political Feedback premiered at the Pompidou Centre and later opened at Berlin’s HKW (House of World Cultures).
In 2013, Mr. Akrout traveled to Ukraine to film Bitter Harvest, a poignant portrayal of Ukraine’s history. The ensuing conflict profoundly affected him, inspiring his return in 2022 to launch Art Shield, a foundation dedicated to protecting and amplifying artists in crisis, with a particular focus on supporting Ukrainian theatre and the arts.
Connect by phone: Dial (929) 205-6099 or (253) 215-8782, then enter Meeting ID 177 174 913#