SOZO MEANS to imagine & create
glad you’re here…
I’m Rika Iino (ee-no), Founder & CEO of SOZO, an international contemporary arts agency and incubator that makes sure artists can thrive, innovate and shape the world around us.
I’ve lived on three continents, and curiosity, compassion and wholeness guide how I move through life. I’m a mother, I box to stay sane, and I’m learning to do one thing at a time.
Keep scrolling if you’re curious about SOZO. Otherwise send me an email: rika[at]sozomedia.com (preferred) or find me via social!
What is sozo?
SOZO is an international contemporary arts agency and incubator at the intersection of social impact, innovation, and culture.
We believe that healing requires imagining a different world and creating it.
We explore how we, our artists, and our partners can show up as our fuller selves with creative agency.
OUR IMPACT
Since 2014…
1,000+ engagements
150+ new work commissions
300+ cities globally
$17M+ in artist payouts
100+ artists served
100% of SOZO projects are led by artists of the global majority
OUR WORK
SOZO is both a launchpad and long-term home for visionary artists and creative producers. We support their sustainability and amplify their impact, building the next generation of cultural infrastructure—artist-powered, systems-focused, and technology-integrated.
ARTISTS & PROJECTS
We curate a dynamic multicultural portfolio of artists and projects across dance, music, technology and immersive arts. Through touring, new work development, and partnerships across sectors, we strengthen artist livelihoods and reinvest both social and financial capital back into the ecosystem.
FELLOWSHIP
Through our proprietary framework, SOZO Fellowship redefines artist sustainability and cultural leadership by rewiring scarcity into sovereignty. Artists gain the entrepreneurial training, tools, networks, and resilience to thrive—not just for a project, but across a lifetime.
SOCIAL IMPACT
We embed artists in civic and community systems to drive change. Our flagship programs include: Earth.Speaks, an Indigenous-led public art initiative; and Empathy Labs, a national incubator combining social science, AI, and cultural leadership to cultivate trust and co-belonging.
DONATE
SOZO Impact, Inc. is a tax-exempt organization recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code in the United States, EIN 82-4956112. Your contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
PARTNERS
ANONYMOUS FUNDERS
