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Open Dialogue IXSan Jose, California
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Keeper Of The $/Co-Opted Arts Administrators
Conveners:
Gayle Waden, Sheila Austin
Participants:
Victoria Moreland, Bob Lynch, Eden Hansen, Shirley Sneve, Sheila Austin, Betty Switzer, Yolanda Alameda, Alice E Valdez, Lisa Chang, Doreen Mitchum
Notes:
Concern that sometimes constituents think people of color working in arts organization are being co-opted.
Concern that people of color are not at the policy decision-making table to make sure there is equity.
Expectations of communities of color that when a person of color gets in there, they will deliver better equity in distribution of funding.
What does equitable mean? Sometimes one smaller organization is a more worthy recipient than a big, large-staff operation.
Look at rules that prohibit equity.
For example, there are arts councils or few 501(c)3's on reservations, but funding rules may require such mechanisms.
So, in one case the funder went around the rules funding churches and schools and not requiring 501(c)3s.
Cooperatives are an example of a different structure to get money to many smaller organizations.
Arts Extension Service has some tools on its Web site, www.umass.edu/aes —information on Learning Partnerships Collaboration Toolkit.
How do we learn about people who we are supposed to serve but know nothing about?
Seattle Museum is doing a survey to measure change in diversity and perception of diversity in:
- Audience
- Programs
- Board
- Staff
Ask, "How has this organization changed how you view and participate in art?"
In one city assistance scholarships were established for organizations of color for learning opportunities.
Needs to be constant advocacy and vigilance—and taking stands.
Corporations are getting a new generation of staff of color who are not as knowledgeable about the struggle and pioneering efforts and needs.
Observation of the group is when you get people (new staff) involved and to see what is going on, they often get excited about what they learn about.
Another important part of the process is to find ways to get decision makers out in the field.
Making the pot of money, the categories, equitable needs to be a key goal.
Beware of funding sources that use people of color to create the appearance of equity but are really using it as a way to divide up the pot inequitably.
Collective action can affect the policy level.
Major organizations getting all the money won't change until there is an overall values change.
Make links to funders that show personal connections—that you shop with them, patronize them, and are their customers and in return they have an obligation to you.
Go up the power chain until you can find the decision maker who can help.