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Category Archives: Call for Artists

Nia Centre for the Arts is Toronto’s first Black art centre

November 06, 2023 by Call for Artists

In the ongoing struggle to establish artistic spaces in North America, every accomplished endeavour feels like a tremendous victory. With the newly established location for the Nia Centre for the Arts in Toronto’s Little Jamaica, the city has a victory to celebrate for itself as well as for its Black artist community.

 

Nia Centre is the first Black centre for arts in Toronto, the not-for-profit behind it has been running since 2009. Originally geared toward addressing youth violence and disconnect, it soon veered toward fostering youth creativity. The Nia Centre itself aims to be a hub for connection, creation, and promotion, as evidenced by its website’s statement:

 

“The Nia Centre is a space built with purpose and dedicated to Black artists and young creatives. Designed to serve a wide array of multi and interdisciplinary arts, the Centre provides the community with a multi-purpose performance theatre, event space, a digital media lab, exhibition space and a dedicated youth hub.”

 

Executive Director Alicia Hall speaks to the difficulty of Black artists navigating historically white and barrier-laden institutions. Describing the new centre as “a vessel for our culture,” there is a clear passion and community strength at the heart of this latest endeavour.

 

Executive Director Alicia Hall; courtesy of the Nia Centre.

 

The first artist in residence at Nia Centre is Apanaki Temitayo Minerve, a multimedia fibre artist with a multi-disciplinary background originally from Trinidad. Her work with Nia will centre around art quilting with a Caribbean focus as she creates a quilt collection inspired by this cultural connection. Speaking to CBC, she stated, “To have a space like this, in Little Jamaica, to be run by mostly young Black women who are at the peak of their game, and engaging community is a dream come true literally.”

 

Courtesy of Nia Centre for the Arts.

 

Nia Centre has already had a busy year—their figures tout eighteen programs run, three hundred and seventy artists worked with, and one hundred and sixty-two mentor/mentee pairings. They also clearly maintain their focus on youth and student programming, with three hundred youth having been helped by their Creative Connect program and a November 9th-10th audition listed for their inaugural Youth Showcase at the new centre.

 

The Nia Centre is a clear victory for those behind it after almost a decade of work and holding a lease for the space since 2015. After three years of $12 million renovations, it’s a moment of celebration more than earned. With a bright future ahead of this space and its programs, this will certainly be a meaningful arts centre to keep an eye out for.

Littleton, New Hampshire: home of demonic rainbow portals

November 06, 2023 by Call for Artists

Littleton—a small town (who would’ve guessed?) in New Hampshire. Its intrinsically quaint name gives a sense of picturesque Americana and storybook suburbia. And in giving it a passing glance, it’s hard to think of much else from this town of just over six thousand residents. Given it is the definition of small-town USA, it’s maybe not surprising to know there’s a dispute happening over LGTBQ+ art. But you may be taken aback by the fact that this dispute has resulted in the proposed ban of all public art, at the behest of the follower of an apocalyptic evangelical would-be prophet who just so happens to be one of their councillors.

 

It all started when a local queer community and advocacy group, North Country Pride, had LGTBQ+-themed murals commissioned as part of a communal endeavour on the wall of a local business. Utilizing motifs of rainbow colours and nature, it’s a simple visual accent that is more or less what you’d expect of locally-driven public art. But this seemingly inoffensive act of cultural representation in a community project drew the ire of one far-right councillor in this purportedly middle-of-the-road town—Carrie Gendreau.

 

Gendreau is one of three city councillors for Littleton, and she took immediate issue with the presence of a queer-positive mural. This may seem obvious from a Pence-supported republican councillor, but Gendreau’s values veer further off the spectrum when you look at the exact influences that had her oppose this simple painting.

 

Jonathan Cahn is a New York novelist and Messianic Jewish rabbi who, since 2011, has produced a body of fiction revolving around his belief that America is descending into doomsday due to its divergence from biblical values. Espousing a dogmatic return to Judeo-Christian tenants, Cahn’s debut work The Harbinger paints the events of 9/11 as a mystically paralleled happening to the destruction of ancient Israel. He claims rainbows to be a symbol of demonic forces and has vocally derided Biden for lighting the White House in such colours for pride events, and believes that the Stonewall Riots opened a hellish portal for Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar to emerge into our world.

 

Courtesy of Beth Israel Worship Centre.L

 

Gendreau’s constituents state that she has spoken glowingly to them about the works of Cahn, and she herself states that her policies are guided by biblical scripture and told the Boston Globe “Homosexuality is an abomination.” Her complaint was carried up through official channels to town manager Jim Gleason. Contacting municipal lawyers on the matter of restricting certain public artworks, he was assured that if they were to have any form of ban on public artwork, it would have to be a complete one and not guided by prejudiced and bigoted aims. The town is now seriously considering a complete ban on public artworks thanks to Gendreau’s complaints and a seemingly shared sentiment of homophobia amongst town folks, evidenced in a citizen of Littleton telling Gleason, whose late son was gay, “I hope your son is happy in hell.”

 

Littleton’s bizarre doom spiral in many ways feels like a microcosm of the growing extremes at which the United States is attempting to erase LGBTQ+ presence. The contemplated ban has already begun to influence the arts in the town with local playhouse Theatre UP having their potential development funding turned down and their performance of the historical queer play La Cage Aux Folles called into question. Time will tell what will happen within the LGBTQ+ and arts communities in Littleton, but it seems like there are those who won’t rest until they bring their devilish policies to fruition.

“Creation with her Children” to be de-installed in protest

November 06, 2023 by Call for Artists

Protesting through the channels of high-profile arts institutions is a tricky feat. Whether it be via an act of visible disobedience a la Just Stop Oil or a work itself aimed towards protest, there’s a high likelihood that the intent will not reach the intended. But artists Nicholas Galanin and Merritt Johnson are taking the approach of an absence of art in order to express their protest, as they have called for the de-installation of their work Creation with her Children.

 

In an effort to express their solidarity with Palestine and decry the republican House of Representative’s bill to give $14.3 billion in support to Israel’s Iron Dome defence system, Galanin and Johnson have requested that Creation with her Children be taken down from display in the National Gallery of Art in Washington. Their work is part of the gallery’s first show of Indigenous art in 30 years (Galanin being a member of the Lingít/Unangax tribes) “The Land Carries Our Ancestors”, curated by artist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith.

 

The artists state on Instagram:

 

“We’re grateful to Jaune Quick-to-See Smith for curating the The Land Carries Our Ancestors, and for choosing to include our work, and to the National Gallery for supporting the exhibition and publication. The work we contributed to The Land Carries Our Ancestors, titled Creation with her children is a reflection on survival, resistance against colonization, the importance of continuum and connection to Land. The work we do as artists does not end in the studio or with our artist statements, it extends into the world.

We do not take the importance of this exhibition for granted. It is with deep regret that we must ask for our work be removed from the National Gallery due to US government funding of Israel’s military assault and genocide against the Palestinian people. We’re calling on the Federal Government to demand an immediate ceasefire, cut military aid to Israel, and lift the siege on Gaza.”

 

The National Gallery has agreed to take down Creation with her Children in accordance with the artists’ wishes. It’s a unique form of protest and one that perhaps may only have its desired impact if other artists choose to follow suit. Nevertheless, the bill that aims to support the continued violence is promised to be vetoed by Joe Biden.

New Resource: NEH Announces New Research Initiative: Humanities Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence

October 31, 2023 by Call for Artists
Submitted by Jaime Sharp on October 30, 2023

From National Endowment for the Humanities: Today, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is announcing a major new research initiative, Humanities Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence. Under this agency-wide initiative, NEH will support research projects that seek to understand and address the ethical, legal, and societal implications of artificial intelligence (AI). NEH is particularly interested in projects that explore the impacts of AI-related technologies on truth, trust, and democracy; safety and security; and privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.

NEH’s Humanities Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence initiative is in response to President Biden’s Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence, which establishes new standards for AI safety and security, protects Americans’ privacy, and advances equity and civil rights. NEH’s investment in AI research also aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities on research and development (R&D) on AI, as outlined in the White House’s National AI R&D Strategic Plan released earlier this year.

“The rapid development of artificial intelligence has far-reaching consequences for American society, culture, and democracy,” said NEH Chair Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo). “The humanities provide the ethical compass and historical context to help us understand the full implications of AI technologies, giving both creators and users of AI the necessary tools to navigate its risks and rewards responsibly, critically, and deliberately.”

Learn more about the initiative here.

ICYMI: It’s Open Season on Civil Rights. Philanthropy Must Not Retreat.

October 31, 2023 by Call for Artists
Submitted by Jaime Sharp on October 30, 2023

“With the stroke of a pen, the highest court in the land declared open season on the American Dream this summer when it effectively ended affirmative action in college admissions,” said Stacey Abrams and Julián Castro for The Chronicle of Philanthropy. “The ruling put a target on all policies and programs that seek to remediate and prevent race-based discrimination everywhere, including workplaces and polling places — potentially imperiling the 2024 elections and opening the floodgates for far-reaching attacks on civil rights.”

“As a new Supreme Court session begins today, philanthropy needs to ready its resources to fight back against a slew of court challenges that threaten the very notion of diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

“Since the affirmative-action ruling, lawsuits have been filed against a venture-capital firm for helping businesses led by women of color and against a law firm with diversity recruiting practices. Last month, a group that opposes affirmative action sued West Point, alleging it inappropriately uses race and ethnicity in making admissions decisions. (The court’s earlier ruling did not cover military academies.)”

“The legal and political landscape to defend and protect diversity and inclusion is fraught and uncertain. It’s clear that any organization fighting for equity and justice risks being targeted. Nonprofits are especially vulnerable.”

“In addition to our own extensive work in the social sector, we both currently serve on the Board of Trustees for the Marguerite Casey Foundation. We know first-hand, the impact that philanthropy has on grassroots movements. At a time when right-wing philanthropy is pouring money into organizations hell-bent on destroying our most basic rights, progressive and mainstream donors must do more than hold the line.”

“The tasks for philanthropy are clear. First, philanthropy must immediately halt its recent great retrenchment on racial-justice funding. Since 2022, too many companies and philanthropic institutions that asserted with one voice that “Black Lives Matter” and pledged support for the racial-justice movement have slashed resources and cowered in response to negative headlines attacking ‘woke’ philanthropy. This about-face only makes the work of the detractors easier.”

“The attacks on racial-equity efforts will work if too many of our colleagues respond tepidly or retreat. We should follow the lead of the Fearless Fund, which is aggressively fighting a lawsuit that would have prevented the organization from directing its funding to start-up businesses owned by Black women.”

“Second, we implore foundations not to remove language signaling a commitment to racial justice or specific communities of color from their websites, grant applications, and grant programming. The targeted affirmative-action decision applied solely to admissions to colleges and universities that receive federal funding — not to foundations, grant makers, or corporations investing in racial-justice work. This is a tried-and-true tactic: fearmongering versus fact-finding.”

Read the full piece here.

 

ICYMI: NEA and White House Domestic Policy Council Host Convening on Whole-of-Government Approach to Arts and Culture

October 31, 2023 by Call for Artists
Submitted by Jaime Sharp on October 30, 2023

From National Endowment for the Arts: On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, in recognition of National Arts and Humanities Month, the White House Domestic Policy Council and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) co-hosted a convening to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to arts and culture. 

This National Arts and Humanities Month, the Biden-Harris Administration highlights its commitment to supporting the arts, humanities, and museum and library services and integrating them into federal policies and programs, including major investments in the NEA, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Institute of Museum and Library Services. A year ago, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Arts and Humanities to spur investment and alignment of arts and culture across the federal government, make art more accessible to people from underserved communities, elevate new voices through the arts and humanities, and expand opportunities for artists and scholars. The Executive Order also re-established the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. 

In the meeting, Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden highlighted the anniversary of the 2022 Executive Order and discussed how arts and humanities are essential to a thriving democracy and should be integrated across federal agencies. NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson discussed current federal opportunities for the arts, including the administration’s focus on equity and justice, climate, the urgent need to repair our democracy, and challenges facing the arts sector in the wake of the pandemic. Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement Steve Benjamin spoke about the value of engaging artists directly and bringing communities together through the arts. HHS Secretary Becerra highlighted the intersection of arts and health and well-being as well as NEA and HHS collaboration such as the new interagency working group on Arts, Health, and Civic Infrastructure. Senior Advisor to the President and White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu discussed how we can connect artist workforce programs to the administration’s unprecedented bipartisan infrastructure law investments, ensuring infrastructure design is responsive to place and that it engages local communities. National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Chair Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo) discussed the importance of knowing our past to strive for a better future.

Learn more about the convening here.

What We’re Reading: How Ableism Plays Out in Philanthropy

October 17, 2023 by Call for Artists
Submitted by Jaime Sharp on October 17, 2023

From Disability and Philanthropy Forum: In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum’s Learning Series webinar “Grantmaking for Disability: Where Are the Dollars?”, Jen Bokoff, Director of Development for the Disability Rights Fund, provides three examples of where she’s seen ableism play out in philanthropy and how the exclusion of disabled perspectives creates a “marginalization gap.” Click here to view the full webinar.

Fellowship Announcement: ILI Year 6 APPLICATION OPEN!

October 17, 2023 by Call for Artists
Submitted by Jaime Sharp on October 17, 2023

From the Intercultural Leadership Institute: We are excited to announce the guidelines and application for the sixth cohort of the Intercultural Leadership Institute (ILI), a collaborative program of Alternate ROOTS, First Peoples Fund, National Association of Latino Arts & Cultures (NALAC) , PA’I Foundation, Sipp Culture, First Alaskans Institute, and The International Association of Blacks in Dance.

As leaders of these organizations, we have grown together, built trust with one another over time and developed a shared analysis of the need for a leadership program of, by and for the artists and culture bearers in our communities. ILI is the result of our collaborative effort and we invite you to spread the word and encourage great potential participants to submit interest for the Year 6 Cohort.

Learn more and apply.

ICYMI: Strengthening Artists’ Resilience: A 4-Step Action Plan for Preparedness

October 17, 2023 by Call for Artists
Submitted by Jaime Sharp on October 17, 2023

From A Collaborative Blog Presented by CERF+, NCAPER, and NYFA: The COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies, including severe storms, drought, wildfire, and theft, require us to change how we work and communicate. That makes preparedness more critical now than ever before for artists to protect their practice. But what exactly is preparedness? It’s taking steps NOW to help protect yourself and your assets before an emergency so you’re more resilient and able to bounce back quickly. Artists in ALL disciplines have assets to be protected!

Step One: List your assets
Think through everything that allows you to carry out your artistic practice.

Step Two: Assess your risks
While it is ideal to prepare for any type of emergency (known as all-hazards planning), start by considering the types of risks and potential effects that are most likely to occur depending on where you live and work. 

Step Three: Protect your assets and minimize risks
Brainstorm ways to protect or minimize the list made in Step One with the risks you identified in Step Two.

Step Four: Create your Emergency Plan
You may need to evacuate quickly, or you may need to shelter in place. Either way, you want to decide ahead of time what steps you’ll take, what items you need, and how you’ll communicate with important people.

In closing, remember that preparedness is not just about facing the unexpected; it’s about empowering yourself to protect what matters most in your artistic journey. By following these four steps and taking proactive measures, you’ll be better equipped to navigate any challenges that come your way. Your art is a valuable part of our world, and ensuring its resilience is a commitment to your craft and the community that cherishes it. So, let’s stand together, artists and allies alike, and fortify artists and arts organization’s creative practices for a brighter, more resilient future.

Read the full article here.

What We’re Reading: Cultural Policy and the Collective

October 17, 2023 by Call for Artists
Submitted by Jaime Sharp on October 17, 2023

From National Performance Network: During NPN’s annual Board of Directors meeting this month, Caitlin Strokosch, NPN’s President and CEO, shared reflections on three key topics shaping our organization’s operations: 

the financial crisis in the performing arts sector
the state of intermediaries and arts service organizations
and culture wars’ impact on artists, arts organizations, and our communities

At a recent Performing Arts Alliance gathering, organization leaders discussed the field’s crisis–while some face economic challenges, others are attracting new audiences and sustained funding. Conversations in Minneapolis, led by Pangea World Theater, prompted us to rethink and reorient ourselves around collective, community sustainability. We questioned how large, white organizations may define being in a state of “crisis” when faced with conditions that smaller organizations of color have always experienced. We considered if quickly proposed solutions might exacerbate inequities and how viewing arts spaces as interdependent with neighborhood wellbeing affects our assessment of organizational sustainability. 

Read the full article here.