From The Government Alliance on Race and Equity, September 17, 2020
The Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) is proud to have selected a series of GARE members to provide funding for projects that encourage government partnerships with local arts organizations focused on eliminating structural racism. The goals of the Innovation and Implementation Fund, Summer 2020 cycle are:
- To develop the government's capacity to build racial equity within the arts and culture sector
- To encourage government to utilize arts and culture as strategies to build racial justice in areas outside of the arts
Along with each project, selected grantees will participate in the GARE Arts and Culture Work Group where they will collaborate with other members to produce an issue paper and coordinate a convening taking place in early 2021, both of which are informed by the stated goals above. In the spirit of cultivating a member led, member driven experience, we are excited to leverage participants' insights, expertise, and knowledge in service of advancing racial justice nationwide in, through, and beyond the arts.
We look forward to highlighting more in-depth profiles of some, but until that time, please join us in congratulating our grantees:
The California Arts Council will develop a statewide learning community co-created by BIPOC artists using an intersectional, creative approach to racial equity. Project goals include uplifting BIPOC artists as first-time mentors and facilitators in government as well as centering authentic narratives in both traditional and futurist cultural expression.
The City of Dallas Texas' Office of Arts and Culture (DOAC) will mobilize a coalition (including Code Compliance and Groundwork Dallas) to reimagine community space - turning vacant and blighted lots into sculpture parks, thus creating a place of representation, enjoyment, and belonging that will contribute to enriching and broadening the narrative about the area.
The City of Dubuque Iowa's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs (DuOAC) will elevate the voices of Dubuque's Black artists and culture makers by facilitating the development of collaborations and programs among arts organizations, educational institutions, and nonprofits. The combined effort will support programs taking place at venues throughout the community.
The City of San Jose California's Office of Cultural Affairs and the School of Arts and Culture, Mexican Heritage Plaza, are partnering to provide a model of professional development training that includes workshops and peer-to-peer mentorships to foster leadership opportunities in the local arts sector for San Jose BIPOC artists, art educators, and emerging and established arts leaders.
The City of Seattle Washington's Office of Arts and Culture will work with local Black artists, BIPOC arts leaders, and performing arts accountability groups to create a Code of Conduct Toolkit. The Toolkit, using a structural analysis of racism in the performing arts, will offer strategies and approaches to dismantle the systems that have created white supremacy culture in the field.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will implement artist-led community engagement strategies to advance cultural equity on two mobility corridor projects: the LA River Bike Path Project and the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor. The effort will use culturally-specific engagement tactics to draw in artists from the southern river cities and the Rio Hondo Confluence area, giving agency and leadership roles to those most impacted by the work.
GARE appreciates the support of the California Endowment, the San Francisco Foundation, and the Surdna Foundation for funding that provides flexible resources for local government to seed projects that are focused on eliminating structural racism.
Read about the grant and selection criteria here.
Questions should be directed to GARE Gulf/Delta Regional Manager Juan Serrano at innovation@raceforward.org with subject line: Arts and Culture Innovation.
*Photo credit to Central District Forum for Arts and Ideas
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