BUILDING WEALTH AND REPARATIONS FOR ARTISTS

Presenters: Celeste Smith, The Pittsburgh Foundation and Grantmakers in the Arts Support for Individual Artist Committee Co-Chair; Jessica Gaynelle Moss, artist, independent curator, art collector, and arts consultant; Mahoganëë Amiger, vocalist, recording artist, songwriter and youth educator-mentor; Lillian Osei-Boateng, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Support for Individual Artist Committee Member; Alicia Bell, Borealis Philanthropy; Allen Kwabena Frimpong, ZEAL; Meena Malik, New England Foundation for the Arts; Quita Sullivan, New England Foundation for the Arts, Grantmakers in the Arts Board Member; Tiffany Wilhelm, Opportunity Fund; Ce Scott-Fitts, South Carolina Arts Commission and Grantmakers in the Arts Support for Individual Artist Committee Co-chair

The National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA) defines reparations as “A process of repairing, healing, and restoring a people injured because of their group identity and in violation of their fundamental human rights by governments, corporations, institutions and families. Those groups that have been injured have the right to obtain from the government, corporation, institution, or family responsible for the injuries that which is needed to repair and heal themselves. In addition to being a demand for justice, it is a principle of international human rights law.” With this in mind, how should arts and culture funders respond to the needs and debts that are owed to artists? What does this process of repairing, healing, and restoring look like when funders face the realities of “swimming with the current” and institutional best practice? How can funders leverage power to be a mover and shaker within the institution? Join the individual artist virtual preconference workshop to explore how funders can be advocates for artists in reconciliation from systemic harm in the form of wealth building and reparations. Let’s explore and discuss the possibilities.

The Support for Individual Artist Committee will join the GIA team in the development of the day’s agenda.

Grantmakers in the Arts is a national association of public and private arts funders - providing members with resources and leadership to support artists and arts organizations.