Greetings,

Here is the weekly roundup of Black Lives Matter, protests and equity-centered news.

Best,

Jerelle Jenkins

Local Arts Services Coordinator

Americans for the Arts

202.371.2830 x2086

Pronouns: she/her/hers

From: Ruby Lopez Harper <rharper@artsusa.org>
Subject: August 12, Black Lives Matter, protests and equity-centered weekly news roundup

Hello/hola, esteemed colleagues:

In response to requests for information, national context and what is happening in other communities, we are compiling this digest to support you in navigating current events and in your commitment to equity in the long term. We will circulate this news digest weekly, every Wednesday. While this is certainly not a comprehensive or exhaustive list, we hope it boosts you in your exploration, knowledge and awareness building.

We are looking at additional ways to support your equity work and welcome resources, ideas, examples and opportunities to share with the field. Please send them to services@artsusa.org.

We invite you to share this news roundup with your networks and colleagues.

Thank you for your continued work.

PROGRAMMING/RESOURCES

(We will feature new offerings here – free to low-cost opportunities. Previous listings have been moved down to below the signature)

• Aug 20, 3:00p ET: Diversity + Leadership Affinity Group

Hosted by Alliance for Artists Communities. BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and people with disabilities working in the residency field and the arts at large are invited to join this regular discussion, with the one intention: to build community. Open to staff of AAC member organizations + non-member organizations

• Sep 15, 2:00p ET: Responding to Movements: Narrative change and policy

Narrative drives policy. When we think about the ways philanthropy has and continues to play a big role is this process of perpetuating, shifting, debunking, or changing narratives, it is important to turn to those who work relentlessly and consistently as examples of how the field can look in the present and future. This discussion at GIA is foregrounded by our narrative change series in 2019, where we featured funders and guests including Akonadi Foundation, Rinku Sen, Doris Duke, Jeff Chang, Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundations, Ford Foundation, and others. 

• On YouTube: Introduction | Episode 1 | DISABILITY EQUALITY AND MUSEUMS

MoMA works to remove physical, programmatic, and attitudinal barriers within the Museum. At the core of this work are disability equality workshops, where staff reflect on their own lived experiences, and learn to identify and transform language, attitudes, and behaviors that negatively impact visitors with disabilities. Through this series of interviews, hear first-hand from New Yorkers with disabilities who share a passion for art.

• On YouTube: In Conversation: Isabel Wilkerson and Jacqueline Woodson

On August 10, 2020 Pulitzer Prize-winner Isabel Wilkerson, the acclaimed author of "The Warmth of Other Suns," discussed her latest book, "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents," with 2020 Hans Christian Andersen Award-winning and New York Times best-selling author Jacqueline Woodson. Wilkerson’s new immersive narrative examines how America has been shaped by an unspoken caste system and the impacts of this rigid hierarchy of human divisions on our lives today. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, she explores eight pillars that underlie these systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more.

• On YouTube: Race and Gender Representation in Theatre for Young Audiences
• Gov.UK Accessibility: Dos and don'ts on designing for accessibility
• Race to Lead: RACE TO LEAD REVISITED: OBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN ADDRESSING THE NONPROFIT RACIAL LEADERSHIP GAP This report presents findings from our 2019 survey of more than 5,000 nonprofit staff on their experiences of race and leadership in nonprofit settings. It is informed by the findings of the original report and explores new insights around the financial circumstances of respondents and their experiences of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the workplace.
• Freedom Maps. THE SOUTH IS A PLACE OF GREAT OPPORTUNITY. But the region’s artists and cultural organizations are often overlooked and receive little institutional support. We hope this project will illuminate the incredible ways that Southern artists and cultural workers have found to create and share work, shape movements, sustain ourselves and our communities, and ultimately save lives. In response to our analysis, which shows stark divestment in Southern arts and culture when compared to the rest of the nation, we want to inspire funders and other resourced institutions to move more resources to grassroots efforts throughout the region.
• The Art & Science of Gender Justice. Story at Scale is a year-long collaboration of researchers, data scientists, artists, advocates, and organizers to develop and test a new cultural strategy to advance gender justice. Using big data and a collaborative, creative process, Story at Scale delivers audience research and a narrative foundation to guide artists and campaigners in telling stories that reflect the world we seek: a joy-filled life in a gender-just future. Story at Scale’s tools are designed for practical use by those working on issues ranging from reproductive justice to sex- and gender-based violence to LGBTQ+ rights and more.
• City of Boston. CONFRONTING COLONIAL MYTHS IN BOSTON'S PUBLIC SPACE

As part of her residency, Erin led a virtual panel series called "Confronting Colonial Myths in Boston's Public Space". In this two-part series, Indigenous leaders and artists speak about their work in the public realm, and address how symbols perpetuating colonial myths affect the lives of Indigenous people in the city and contribute to the public health emergency of racism.

• Stanford D.School: Equity-Centered Design Framework

The presentation captures the design thinking process re-imagined to promote equity. This new framework was created in May 2016 to hold the vulnerability and courage needed to develop one’s self-awareness as a equity-centered designer. We added two new design modes to the existing hexagonal d.school design thinking visual: Notice and Reflect.

• The Kinswomen Podcast. A place to break down the gaps between white women and women of color from a place of love and compassion.
• Accenture. THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY’S BEST AMENITY? Diversity. An authentic commitment to inclusion and diversity drives loyalty and growth. Travel, it’s said, is the only thing we can buy that makes us richer. That richness comes in large part from interacting with people who are different from us; who have fresh perspectives on life. That’s why it’s particularly disappointing when lodging, airline or cruising providers don’t cultivate diversity among their employees and clientele. To open up the world to travelers, regardless of their gender, age, abilities, ethnicity or sexual orientation, the industry must make all travelers feel welcome and accepted.
• Management Assistance Group: White Dominance and Inclusion: Spectrums of Organizational Characteristics

The characteristics outlined in this document depict those of white dominant culture that show up in our organizations formal and informal, big and small, as well as characteristics of culture that can allow space for inclusion of multiple talents, perspectives, and life experiences. Culture is powerful precisely because it is so present and at the same time so very difficult to name or identify. Many of the characteristics listed below are damaging because they are habits and are used as norms and standards without being pro-actively named or consciously chosen by the group. They are damaging because, sometimes as stand alone habits and frequently when experienced together, they promote experiences of white supremacy. They are damaging to both people of color and to white people. Organizations that are people of color-led or a majority of people of color can also demonstrate many characteristics of white dominant culture in damaging ways.

• Racial Equity Tools: Organizational Change Processes

There are many components to organizational change. Each of them can be considered from a lens that considers diversity, inclusion and racial equity, with a goal of aligning them with what is known about how to reduce white culture and achieve racial equity goals. Internal operations need to be aligned with an organization’s commitment and values for legitimacy and credibility externally. 

FIELD NEWS

• NewRep Theatre: Anti-Racism & IDEA
• ArtsBlog: Reimagine our schools as a school-to-museum pipeline for Black students
• Datebook: Bay Area theaters look to collective models to promote diverse crop of new leaders San Francisco Mime Troupe, Cal Shakes and Hope Mohr Dance are moving away from top-down structures.
• Life as a Modern Dancer: Compassionate Labor Deserves Intentional Rest
• The Shepherd. Coalition of BIPOC Artists in Milwaukee Writes Letter to Milwaukee Theater Community
• Hyperallergic: Venture Out to See Seven Queer Public Artworks Across NYC Looking for safe ways to see art? We compiled a list of beloved public artworks that celebrate LGBTQ makers and lives.

NEWS

• CNN: How George Floyd's death ignited a racial reckoning that shows no signs of slowing down
• Fast Company: I’m a Black leader. Here’s how I keep making D&I a priority when I feel like my life doesn’t matter The VP of diversity and communications at a creative agency says she uses these personal strategies as a Black woman to become a leader and continue her work in the corporate world.
• Nonprofit Quarterly. What Does an Equitable Executive Leadership Transition Look Like?
• Grantmakers in the Arts. Black August: How cultural grantmakers can reflect, learn, and connect with Black social justice

ART/ARTIST RESPONSE

• WTHR13: Artists who worked on Indy's Black Lives Matter mural set out to cover up vandalism Despite the vandalism, the artists remain steadfast, ready to restore with even more people showing up to help.
• Art News: ‘There Should Be Greater Transparency’: Public Art Becomes a Political Battleground

TAKE ACTION

• In the July 29 email, we credited a resource incorrectly. The correct credit should be Peter Kuo: Theatre, Covid-19, and White Supremacy
• Observer: National Museum of Women in the Arts to Host Wiki Edit-a-thon Focused on Women of Color

• Intersectional Feminism-Desi Style: Infographic: What Is Tone Policing And Why Is It Wrong?
• HuffPost: Instead Of Saying 'Hey, Guys!' At Work, Try These Gender-Neutral Alternatives Raise your awareness of gendered language on the job.

Thanks for reading. We hope you find this news digest to be a helpful tool to support your equity work, and welcome feedback at services@artsusa.org. If you were forwarded this and want to sign up for the Local Arts Network listserv to receive it directly, click here.

____________________

Ruby Lopez Harper

Senior Director of Local Arts Advancement

Americans for the Arts

Pronouns: she/her/hers

FIELD PROGRAMMING

• Aug 18, 2:00p ET: Part I: What is Spatial Justice? Principles of Planning for Welcoming Public Spaces; Aug 23, 2:00p ET: Part II: Making It Public: Activating Public Spaces for Creativity, Connection, and Celebration; Sep 1, 2:00p ET: Part III: Public Works: Planning and Designing Public Spaces for Spatial Justice

Presented by the New England Foundation for the Arts. This mini-series is part of an ongoing “Public Art, Public Places”, an ongoing collaboration between the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the New England Foundation for the Arts that hosts cross-sector conversations for planners, artists, culture bearers, and community leaders.

• Aug 19, 6:30p ET: Livestreaming Anti-Racism And The Arts. Marketing Leaders Respond!

Hosted by Reynaldi Lindner Lolong, the Director of Digital Engagement for The Public Theater and founder of the unofficial group BAMF (BIPOC Arts Marketing Folks). In a time where many arts organizations only exist online through websites, digital content, and social media channels, combined with a growing public accountability for social justice and institutional transparency, the role of the marketing and communications director is uniquely poised to bring about change. At the same time, these roles often sit within traditional white supremacist power structures designed to reinforce the industry norms. This conversation will bring together four leaders in theater, music, dance, and opera for a frank discussion on the industry, anti-racism, and their aspirations for the future of the field.

• Aug 20, 1:00p ET: Affinity Space on Third Thursdays: Black Mamas

Hosted by Performing Artist Advocacy League. A Black Mama-led zoom community for BIPOC* Mamas** in the performing arts and media. Feel free to invite other BIPOC mamas you know to the group so they can RSVP here and receive the link! It's a free, community-based space built for connection.    *PAAL is committed to anti-racism in every action, space, and interaction. Please only RSVP to this event if you identify as a Black Mother. We will be sharing a zoom community for BIPOC Parents and Indigenous Mamas, specifically, soon as well. **PAAL is a trans and non-binary affirming organization. The term "mama" and any derivative is used for any and all who identify with the term in their parenting/caregiving.