As we get settled into the new year, the Artist Impact Coalition (of which Common Folk is a part) invites attendees old and new to join them in reflecting on 2020 and what it taught us about white supremacy, racism, and good ally/accompliceship in the Northern Berkshires. We will then collectively plan for how to further concrete change in the North Berkshires in 2021.
Help us design the next year of AIC’s antiracism efforts.
The event will include 2 break-out sessions, where participants can dig deep into two of six areas of focus AIC’s antiracism committee has identified from a participant survey as initiatives for all of us to engage in.
We will conclude the event with a debrief of all initiative next steps, after which all participants will be able to sign up to join one or more of those initiatives and commit to concrete antiracism work in 2021.
2021 potential focus falls into the following 6 categories:
**Accomplice work: developing a structure of action + accountability, and identifying white supremacy in our current practices (personal + institutional)
**Mutual Aid structure for BIPOC MCLA students: cultivating a caring climate and building a structure for sharing monetary + non-monetary resources
**Restorative practices / BIPOC-only affinity group: providing space for centering care and identifying needs for accessing restorative practices (BIPOC only)
**Monthly Public Community Conversations on Antiracism in the Arts: continuing monthly events and designing engaging public programming
**Mentorship program for high school / college students: fostering intergenerational relationships to engage youth in this work
**Other: Suggesting other important areas of focus you would like to facilitate within AIC’s antiracism work
A recording of this conversation (omitting the break-out group discussions) will be uploaded to AIC’s YouTube channel for those unable to attend.
The North Adams Artist Impact Coalition (AIC) recognizes that racism and racial inequality still pervade the cultural sector and our community of the Northern Berkshires. By collectively committing 1-1.5 hours a month to productive conversation around this topic, we work towards racial justice in our community, we build trust and understanding within our arts community, and we work toward concrete goals within our institutions, our arts practices, and ourselves.
Artists and arts administrators in the Northern Berkshires are encouraged to attend, although anyone is welcome to join, whether from the Berkshires or beyond. We especially want to call in our white colleagues and those in positions of power. We are here to do the work. We hope you are, too.
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: