The controversy exploded into a national and international story, with historians, politicians, educators, artists and others arguing that the board was whitewashing an important artwork, and history itself. In the last few days, the local branch of the N.A.A.C.P. joined the opposition. – The New York Times
Tag: sj
Funding Data Reveals Problematic Diversity Funding At Arts Council England
“Diversity data is not considered when applications are checked for eligibility, so we do not think unconscious bias is playing a role. However, as an organisation we recognise the importance of tackling unconscious bias – this is particularly important to consider when eligible applications are being reviewed by panels – and have rolled out training on this for all staff.” – Arts Professional
As Plantation Museums Turn Their Focus To Enslaved People, Certain Tourists Are Not Happy
“‘It was just not what we expected.’ ‘I was depressed by the time I left.’ ‘… the tour was more of a scolding of the old South.’ ‘The brief mentions of the former owners were defamatory.’ ‘Would not recommend.’ These are a few of the apparently negative reviews posted online about guided tours of Southern plantations.” – The Washington Post
How Can Arts Organizations Trying To Lead On Equity Issues Oppose Paying Overtime For Their Own Workers?
That’s what most of Seattle’s major arts organizations are doing, writing to protest Washington State proposals that would dramatically increase the number of workers eligible for overtime pay. “It’s illuminating that the argument Seattle’s arts organizations are making isn’t about whether paying overtime is fair, but whether it’s affordable.” – Post Alley Seattle
The Arts World Still Isn’t Good At Making Accessible Spaces For Art
“In 2019, inclusive spaces that are comprised of voices from the neurodiverse and disabled community are still extremely rare. Despite the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 29 years ago, neurodiverse and disabled communities continue to face collective discrimination from failures to accommodate in access, transportation, employment, education, and many other arenas. Unfortunately, the art world is no exception.” – Hyperallergic
Using Theatre Games To Teach Police Officers And Civilians To Communicate With Each Other
Brooklyn director Terry Greiss worked with the NYPD to develop a program called To Serve, to Protect, and to Understand, which brings officers and civilians together with meals and acting games and ultimately gets them to tell and act out each other’s stories. In New Jersey, a similar program called Walking the Beat involves police with high school students. – American Theatre
Dance-As-Job-Creator
In Nigeria, 65 percent of the population is under the age of 18. Unemployment is endemic. One community organization created a jobs program through dance. “At the end of the day, dance is a business.” – BBC
Here’s A Place Where Prescribing The Arts As Medical Treatment Seems To Be Working
Four cities in Denmark are running pilot versions of a program called Kulturvitaminer (culture vitamins), partly funded by the national health ministry, that gets people on long-term sickness/disability leave or unemployment involved in cultural activities — as both viewers and participants. – The Guardian
A San Francisco Ballet Principal Makes Connections By Cutting The Hair Of Unhoused People In His City
Benjamin Freemantle started cutting his own, and his friends’, hair out of necessity when they were all lowly, and low-paid, dance students. Then he grew into both dance and haircutting, and eventually, after extending that skill to a guy who slept in his alley, “‘I had the idea—it was a little scary—to go into the Tenderloin, which is our homeless district,”‘he says. He brought a stool, his haircutting set—basic shears from Amazon, combs, a brush and a spray bottle—and a sign that read ‘Need a Haircut?'” – Dance Magazine
Even In 2019, More Than Four-Fifths Of All Ballets Performed In America Were By Men
“A new report released by the Dance Data Project — a nonprofit launched earlier this year to assess gender inequity in ballet — looks at the 2018-2019 seasons of America’s 50 largest ballet companies [by budget]. … 81 percent of works last season were choreographed by men … Looking at just full-length ballets the number grows worse: 88 percent were choreographed by men.” – Dance Magazine