Cameron Shaw, new executive director at the California African American Museum (CAAM) shares her perspective and strategy as the museum’s new leader, “she is committed to creating ‘a workplace that is safe and supportive where I show up with integrity, empathy, generosity, and clarity. And I’m a person in progress working toward those things.’”

The New York Times published a story on CAAM and Shaw’s bold vision for its future recently, noting the strong culture of ambition and experimentation amongst the growing team. “CAAM, with a broad purview in both Black art and African American history, was created in 1977 by the state of California and remains primarily state-funded and free to the public.” Taylor Renee Aldridge and Susan D. Anderson, CAAM’s visual arts curator and history curator, respectively, are both hires that Shaw made to rebuild the curatorial team as she takes the helm of the museum, according to the New York Times. “She also named Isabelle Lutterodt as deputy director, Essence Harden as a visual arts curator, and Alexsandra M. Mitchell as manager of education and programs, making for an all-Black, all-female leadership team.”

“Historically White-centered museums are asking themselves what it means to center Black artists, BIPOC artists,” Shaw told the Times. “CAAM has been doing that work for more than 40 years.”

Read the full story here.

“As the nation recognizes Black History Month, it is an opportunity to lift up the power of the arts while celebrating the contributions of Black artists to the collective tapestry of our nation,” writes National Endowment for the Arts Chair Dr. María Rosario Jackson in a statement this month following her confirmation. Jackson is the first African American and Mexican American woman to serve as chair of the NEA.

“During Black History Month and throughout the year, the NEA will highlight the accomplishments of Black artists as well as arts organizations, performances, and works that provide hope and well-being in our communities,” Jackson continues. “From NEA grantmaking that supports diverse communities to the students inspired by Poetry Out Loud to the honorees of the NEA Jazz Masters and National Heritage Fellowships, these efforts demonstrate that culture and creativity are core to us reaching our nation’s full potential.”

Read the full statement here.

A new program spearheaded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will provide guaranteed income and jobs for up to 2,700 artists living throughout New York State reports Hyperallergic. “The $125 million initiative, Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY), will issue monthly, no-strings-attached payments to up to 2,400 artists with financial need over the next three years.”

“New York’s arts sector was one of the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to a report by the state comptroller last February. Two-thirds of arts, entertainment, and recreation jobs in the city were suddenly lost in 2020, and across the state, about half were lost.

In another artist-focused report from Center for an Urban Future, for immigrant communities a deep crisis has manifested with significant diminished livelihood sources with little to no aid from local authorities. “Simply put, we must move beyond valuing the artistic product and begin to value the humanity of the artist,” CRNY’s website says. “Artists need and deserve to be paid predictable and regular incomes.”

Read more here.