We strive to practice anti-racism and recognize our own need to do better. The first step is unequivocally affirming our stance against racism and inequality. ArtPride supports those protesting the structural racism that plagues our country, and stands in solidarity with our Black artists, audiences, colleagues, and partners. As we work to elevate and empower creativity, we do so because the arts give voice to the marginalized and bring people together to celebrate our differences. The arts are a powerful tool for social justice and education, and we will continue to listen and learn.
Objectives
A key part of ArtPride’s board-approved strategic plan for fiscal years 2018-2020 is a commitment to advance EDI efforts.
- Increase diversity within ArtPride’s staff, board, and membership in order to better reflect New Jersey’s demographics
- Determine how ArtPride can best support its members to address this priority, and begin to pilot initiatives to advance this effort
- Determine strategies in three arenas:
- Improving the approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion in ArtPride’s own board, staff, and membership
- Providing leadership and support to our member organizations that activates change within the field
- Incorporating ArtPride’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its management practices, products, and services
Commitment
ArtPride Trustees also established a standing committee focused on EDI work, which now includes a smaller EDI Working Group charged with selecting and working with an outside professional consultant with cross sector experience in equity, diversity, and inclusion strategies, as well as an understanding of arts service organizations. Our partnership with — Tangible Development, LLC — started on April 3, 2020.
The consultant is currently beginning its work with ArtPride to:
- Establish a common foundation and shared language
- Create a statement of intent
- Implement systemic changes to programs, practices, and protocols
- Identifying tactics to diversify the Board of Trustees
- Participate in conversations with ArtPride and other New Jersey arts service organizations regarding the collective responsibility to the field
As a service organization, it is ArtPride’s responsibility to lead the charge and to identify necessary steps to best serve our members around these important issues. However, before we can serve our members, ArtPride must demonstrate that EDI policies and practices guide all facets of its own governance and programs.
Link to RFP Committee Members Internal Assessment Report Community Survey
Resources
- 65 Resources for Racial and Health Equity: Racial Equity Toolkits for Government Agencies and Other Groups
- New Jersey Arts and Culture Administrators of Color (NJACAC) A network of professional arts administrators of color dedicated to advancing efforts related to equity, diversity, and inclusion within New Jersey’s arts community. This initiative is a partnership between New Jersey Theatre Alliance (NJTA), the state’s service organization for professional producing theatre companies; ArtPride New Jersey, the state’s largest arts service and advocacy organization; and New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
- Taneshia Nash Laird: Your 3-Step, Uncomplicated Formula For a More Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Workplace
- Hire Black Creatives: Resource featuring Black creatives in advertising, fashion and film — hire them, pay them, support them.
- NJTA Antiracism Resources: Foundational resources about diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism, in theatre and beyond.
- Good Good Good Antiracism Resources: These resources are intended to deepen our anti-racism work.
- Fighting Anti-Blackness Resource List: This resource list, compiled by HarvardWIT+, covers some of the ways in which non-black folks can support the current #BlackLivesMatter movement.
Funders
ArtPride New Jersey would like to extend their gratitude to the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation for their specific support of the organization’s work in equity, diversity and inclusion.
