Art LOVES Fiji: Lights, Camera, Conservation

Lights, Camera, Conservation: Art LOVES Fiji Star-Studded Eco Mission

Fiji Islands | February 17, 2025

A groundbreaking volunteer initiative, Art LOVES Fiji, brought together a team of renowned creatives, philanthropists, and celebrities from the United States to the breathtaking Fiji Islands to raise awareness and give back. Produced by Art LOVES Earth in partnership with VRTU Studios, this unique project combined creativity, community support, and environmental conservation to form long-term local partnerships and make a lasting impact on the islands.

A Mission of Giving Back

Over 12 days, the Art LOVES Fiji team visited multiple Fijian islands, collaborating with local communities and organizations, including Heart Heroes e Corals for Conservation. The mission was clear: to experience Fiji from a new perspective, share its stories, and give back to the villages through donations and impactful storytelling.

Key Highlights:

Volunteer Team: A group of celebrity actresses, filmmakers, photographers, actors, models, and philanthropists dedicated their time and talents. Prominent participants included actresses Abbey Cowen, Olivia Holt, Rumer Willis, Tallulah Willis, and Miss Supermodel Fiji Alisha Idana.

Social Impact:

Advocating for Women in the Villages

• The team visited several of the most remote island villages, including Yasawa, Somo Somo, and Tamusua Villages, where they participated in women’s and children’s empowerment activities with the locals.
• Supported the Sustainable Nama Harvesting Program with local village women, a women’s empowerment feature showcasing a local partnership with Nama Fiji that supports the local women as their primary income source. The program was designed to create opportunities for the women of the Yasawa islands. It generates a new income source to complement that of the traditional village system and safeguard an important natural resource in a pristine environment.

• Art LOVES Earth donated new clothes, supplies and aqua shoes for the local women harvesters.

Empowering the Local Youth Through Art & Heart

• The team learned about the effects of Rheumatic Heart Disease, which is affecting one child in every classroom, and are launching a fundraising effort to help the kids in partnership with Heart Heroes Fiji
• Art LOVES Earth donated school supplies and toys to the local school children in multiple villages
• The team connected with the locals and participated in arts and crafts projects with the kids, including painting, making friendship bracelets, as well as singing and storytelling

Environmental Impact:

Raising Global Awareness About the Devastating effects of Coral Bleaching

Another centerpiece of our campaign was helping plant a new coral reef in Fiji as part of the UN-endorsed “Reefs of Hope” coral restoration program led by the NGO Corals for Conservation.

“BULA Reef” is strategically designed to form a breathtaking image visible from overhead and will greet passengers flying into the country, serving as a living symbol of our commitment to ocean conservation. It will be a powerful message of hope, inspiring action to protect our oceans. This immersive experience aims to cultivate empathy and inspire individuals to become active participants in protecting our coral reefs.

• The team visited the largest UN coral sanctuary in the world, where they learned about the impacts of coral bleaching with Reefs of Hope
• The team took part in coral plantings, including one spelling “Bula Reef” (meaning “life”) visible from outer space, in partnership with Corals for Conservation, a United Nations-sanctioned project, and is launching a fundraising effort to support Reefs of Hope
• Sustainable Nama harvesting with local village women, a women’s empowerment feature showcasing a local partnership with Nama Fiji that supports the local women as their primary income source
• Captured the Food Forest Reforestation project to teach the kids and local communities how to sustainably grow fruit and income-producing plants, fruits, and vegetables to improve air quality in the villages, provide healthy food options for families and schools, and additional opportunities for income from the locals selling surplus food back to the resorts.
• Our immersive Honeybee harvesting and a chef’s table experience at the Intercontinental Fiji Resorte educated our team about the importance of honeybees in our ecosystem and sustainable beekeeping practices.

 Creative Campaigns:

• Art LOVES Earth produced an underwater photo campaign to raise awareness about coral bleaching with a “Ghosts of the Reef” theme featuring Miss SuperModel Fiji, Alisha Idana, styled by New York fashion designer Kim Mesches e photographed by Ryan Hattaway

• Also produced a dramatic sunrise photo campaign with Miss SuperModel Fiji Alisha Idana at the Sigatoka Sand Dunes, evoking a “scorched earth” aesthetic to spotlight climate change.

Raising Awareness:

• The Art LOVES Fiji team documented their journey through films, photography, and social media posts shared with millions of followers, amplifying awareness of Fijian culture, environmental challenges, and the need for sustainable tourism.

Unwavering Support from Partners:

The initiative was made possible with support from over eight luxury hotels, including

Tokoriki Resort, Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, Nanuya Island Resort, Navutu Stars

The resort, First Landing Beach Resort & Villas, Yasawa Island Resort & Spa, and Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa. Title sponsors included VRTU Studios, Tourism Fiji, Fiji Airways, and Nama Fiji, with additional contributions from South Sea Cruises, Cloud 9, Likuri Island, Tewaka, Huggaplanet, and Kim Mesches Styling.

A Global Vision:

Art LOVES Fiji is part of a broader campaign by Art LOVES Earth, which plans similar initiatives in other countries in 2025. The organization is actively seeking partnerships with tourism boards, celebrities, brands, and donors aligned with its mission to combine art and environmental advocacy to create meaningful change.

About Art LOVES Earth:

Founded by Ryan Hattaway, Art LOVES Earth is a platform that leverages creativity to inspire environmental conservation and community support worldwide.

Past Art LOVES Earth projects include collaborating with Diane Von Furstenberg and Parsons School of Design students during New York Fashion Week to create a dress from DVF’s waste materials to raise awareness for sustainable fashion. The stunt featured Amanda Cerny, who appeared in Vogue’s “Best Looks of NYFW.”

Another project was a collaboration with Surfrider Foundation during Miami Swim Week, which included a beach cleanup featuring swimwear models called “Models Against Bottles” and a runway show with iShine Swimwear, showcasing a bikini line made from recycled plastic bottles. The event featured over 40 models in an aerial photograph and appeared in USA Today.

Additional initiatives include a collaboration with the Captain Planet Foundation and

Plastic Free Cayman, where Art LOVES Earth, brought a team of 12 celebrities to the Cayman Islands for beach cleanups. The collected plastic was transformed into art sculptures by local artists and schoolchildren. This effort supported Plastic Free Cayman’s successful ban on plastic straws in the Cayman Islands.

The project also included a lionfish underwater dive-and-dine collaboration with the Ritz-Carlton Cayman and their chef team, raising awareness about sustainable culinary solutions to invasive species like the lionfish and iguana

For more information on Art Loves Earth, please visit: www.artlovesearth.com