Written by Audrey Seraphin
For 45 years, ArtsBoston has been working to advance the arts and culture sector, and the establishment of the Network for Arts Administrators of Color (NAACBoston) in 2016 was the next chapter in that ongoing work. ArtsBoston believes that the arts are essential to daily life, integral to who we are as a region, and spur economic vitality for all. It works to unite, strengthen, promote and celebrate the diversity of arts and cultural organizations in Greater Boston because they each represent not only a creative vision, but also provide jobs, inspiration, education and community to the people who live, work and play here. ArtsBoston advocates for a more fair and inclusive arts community working to dismantle systems of oppression and eliminate biases in our culture – and within itself. As a sector, ArtsBoston believes we must create spaces that focus on stories by and for people of color, young people, and working-class people. We want to see equitable support given to organizations led by people of color, women, disabled people, nonbinary people. We believe in arts workers' rights with fair compensation, where working in any job in the arts is lucrative and respected. We want the arts and cultural sector to be recognized as the economic force it is, with innovative strategies around consumer engagement, data collection, and community building.
ArtsBoston works to create a shift in the culture through our programs to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). In response to the strategic planning process, ArtsBoston is looking to advance its EDI work beyond a few programs and trainings by more fully integrating an anti-oppression lens into its organizational strategy and core values. It is currently developing an EDI plan that serves as a foundation for infusing these values in all its initiatives, and establishes priorities and process for the work moving forward to best meet the needs of the sector. It also offers workshops for arts organizations on eliminating implicit bias, deconstructing white supremacy, and making all feel truly included and welcome through audience development.
ArtsBoston is also home to the Network for Arts Administrators of Color (NAAC) Boston, the only group made for and by self-identifying people of color (POC) to empower, elevate, and engage POC workers in the arts sector. Founded in July 2016, NAAC is now over 350 members strong, and is led by a POC volunteer steering committee and ArtsBoston staff members. Connected through an active list serve, NAAC Boston serves as a job board, resource share, social club and skill builder for its members. NAAC Boston specifically aims to offer safe spaces for POC arts administrators to unwind, create community, open doors, reduce sector burnout, and keep talented professionals in the industry. Workshops offered include seminars in salary negotiation, personal finance, personal branding and networking. NAAC Boston also provides public programming to showcase the talent and knowledge of our members with panel series like our Conversations with Leader of Color in the Arts, and organizes outings to both support artists of color and to take up space in traditionally white spaces.
In an effort to responsibly curate community and activation during the COVID-19 pandemic, ACI is making #AES2020 virtual! We are still curating three days of art and conversation exploring issues of equity in and through the arts, and we hope to see you there.
Tickets are free and donations based, and you can register for VirtualAES2020 HERE.