95580
A Statement on a Statement
Statement: a definite or clear expression of something in speech or writing.
I am a mother of three beautiful bi-racial children; what that also means is that I am a woman and I am Mexican. I am a Libra. I am an employee of Americans for the Arts. I am a warrior. And I get a little scared sometimes. Once I got over the initial shock of being asked to write a blog about the newly released Statement on Cultural Equity—I panicked—full anxiety attack panic. Then I took a breath and I said yes. I was honored and humbled and terrified. What if I felt the "wrong" thing? What if I said the wrong thing? What if I didn't believe in or resonate with the statement despite knowing what was going into the writing of it and why it was happening? After getting the invitation to write a blog, I read the statement over and over—reflected on it and about it—spoke with friends and family about my struggles with inequity—workshopped phrasing and concepts and ideas...then on a flight to New Mexico—I opened my laptop to write…
95578
Getting Beyond Fairness
I grew up as a white kid in the middle class—and rather racially homogenous—suburbs. My father is a minister (as were his father and his grandfather), and the lessons embedded in the biblical teachings of “love thy neighbor” were taken to heart in our house. My values were shaped to include service, fairness, and the responsibility to help others, particularly those in need. From an early age, I also was aware of the inequities that existed between races, and I sensed that people of color hadn’t gotten a fair shake. But I truly believed that, if I loved my neighbor as myself, and if I ensured that my neighbor was given an equal chance to succeed, things would change.
95582
The Community Arts Movement Is (Still) Flourishing
A new report from Intermedia Arts provides evidence of the burgeoning community arts movement. Its author, William Cleveland, provides thoughts on some of the report’s findings and what it means for the future. Read more about the full report here.
Once upon a time, in the summer of 1993, I joined High Performance Magazine as a contributing editor. The magazine, then in its 14th year, was being published by artist, Steve Durland, and journalist, Linda Burnham out of the 18th St. Arts Complex in Los Angeles. At the time, High Performance was covering an art scene that the mainstream arts community was going out of its way to ignore. Nevertheless, the magazine established itself as the voice of the burgeoning community arts movement in the U.S., providing a first hand, first voice window on artists and arts organizations making art at the crossroads of social change, and community development.
95576
A Beginning...
In regards to the America for the Arts Statement on Cultural Equity, I have no problem with the statement. It's earnest. I give it a passing grade with room for improvement assessment. My question, however: where's the muscle in the statement that may inspire the cultural field to take on it biggest challenge, racial equity in our sector?
Some contextual information that informs my assessment:
95575
How Can I Use My Privilege to Make Change?
I’m a white person who is consistently grappling with my assumptions and privilege. For those of us who hold power, making institutional change is a humbling, confusing, unbelievably nuanced, and sometimes it’s even a scary process. It aggravates my Imposter Syndrome and I would be lying if I said I’m doing anything more than fumbling my way through this.
And yet, working toward racial equity feels like the most important thing I can do.
I believe that equity statements are vital tools for beginning this work. Publicly stating the intentions to which your organization wants to be held accountable is a brave thing. But it’s each individual’s personal commitment that turns the statement into action; that makes it real.
95557
Avoiding the Cultural Equity Blob
The topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion have gained momentum and are now positioned at the forefront of many conversations among organizations and arts administrators. From research reports to Twitter chats, from conference workshops to inter-office training sessions, members of the field have accepted the challenge of adapting to our country’s demographic changes and to adopting the language to improve how we engage diverse communities—as audiences and as employees.
However, despite these progressive and much needed efforts of equity and inclusion of diverse communities I am concerned. As a person of color, I am excited to see these topics become organizational priorities, but in many instances these efforts seem more suited as the step-sibling of “outreach” and “community engagement” rather than a conscious shift in organizational culture.
95556
Art + Culture EQUALS the Lakota Way of Life
When we talk about cultural equity in the arts, it's natural to think of the word "inclusiveness." Of course we want to pursue increased diversity, and we want to provide marginalized populations with better access to the tools and opportunities they need to fully live their best creative lives.
Inclusiveness is great. But we also need to remember that, for meaningful cultural equity, we're talking about far more than art. We're talking about the reclamation of culture itself.
95555
How Will You Live Cultural Equity?
When I was asked to write a response to the Americans for the Arts Statement on Cultural Equity, my immediate reaction was that I know so many other artists and activists whose thoughts I would rather see in this space than mine. I still feel that way. But I also know that people with a significant amount of historical, societal privilege (mine happen to be that I’m white, cisgender, currently non-disabled, a U.S. citizen, grad-level educated, etc.) need to speak up in support of equity and justice. Silence supports the way things are, and I’m deeply committed to helping change that.
It’s essential that I acknowledge that my views below have formed over time by learning from many people whose words I’ve encountered at gatherings and meetings, in books, on screen, online, over email, over a shared meal, or mixed with late-night drinks. I’m deeply indebted to you all.
95554
Equity for Culture is a Moral Responsibility
Americans for the Arts understands the value proposition of all Americans having access to the arts. After all, "to increase access to the arts for all Americans" is coded in its mission. Americans for the Arts also knows that our nation's arts and cultural sector nurtures the same purpose. The mission and vision statements that guide our field embrace this collective idea, which is also embedded through our policies and practices.
Mission statements are meant to inspire and frame the services that are provided by organizations. They also help to establish an outline for grant makers that can influence the decisions of their investment. In this context, we know that the research in our field has revealed that equitable access is not balanced and is affecting a great number of small to mid-size arts groups. America continues to be a place with mounting social and economic divide y con mucho political drama.
95553
The Humble Step
The pursuit of cultural equity is a journey of mountains and valleys, someone once told me. It is a series of hard climbs, brief moments of celebration, if you’re lucky, and then the progression begins again. It is the type of work we do against our comfort, because it is necessary.
The pursuit of cultural equity for someone like me—someone who had the luck and privilege of not being confronted by the inequities of this country for the first two decades of my life, and then did—is a series of moments of confronting parts of myself that go against the idealized person I strive to be (and sometimes the person I see myself as). There is irony, and a disappointment, in catching myself using the term “pow wow” when leading a session on issues of equity. There is irony, and a disappointment, in catching myself exerting my positional power in a conversation where I am in a disagreement with someone else about whether positional power is a thing. The irony, there, comes tinged with the pain of recognizing a part of me that is less-good than I want it to be.
95551
Navigating Big Transitions with a Creative Practice
Life is about change. In less than 3 months, the youth arts organization I co-founded ten years ago will be merging into a larger organization, and my role will change dramatically. As much as this has been a thoughtful and deep process of exploring, analyzing, and talking through all the parts of this merger, there are moments when I get nervous and rely on my creative practice to help me stay grounded. At this point in my career as an arts leader, I am certain that the tools I use as an artist are critical for any leadership role.
