ARTIVISM: Our Responsibility in this Critical Moment

ARTIVISM: A series authored by Jordan Campbell that highlights projects at the intersection of youth, the arts, and activism, and how these elements relate to the larger vision of Campaign 2020: Arts and Cultural Education as a Fundamental, Civil, and Human Right.. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have learned a lot about America’s values. We have discovered areas where we have room for serious improvement--ranging from police brutality and unemployment insurance to medical supply chains and equitable distance learning. 

RISING TO THE OCCASION

One outlet youth have used to cope with trauma, express frustration, and demand justice in this time has been art. Even in a time of national turmoil, young people have turned to the arts to reclaim their identity, change the narrative, and speak out when witnessing injustice. That is why it is troubling to see potential COVID-related budget cuts to many of the arts programs on which students rely. College students are forking over full tuition for performing arts courses held online. We want to provide safe, effective arts programming during the pandemic, but in this moment, is it enough? Who falls through the cracks? 

We can do more. After all, Arts and cultural education is a fundamental, civil, and human right. As schools go back online and in hybrid settings, arts and cultural education have proven more crucial than ever. They are therapy. They are social action. They are connection, expression, and freedom. In short, they are essential. We want to provide safe programming during the pandemic, but at this moment, is it enough? Who falls through the cracks? How can we be intentional about art as activism with students? We can do more. The time is now to be more creative, innovative, and proactive. And yes, we must be actively antiracist. 

In the U.S., many school districts and arts organizations have taken substantive action past the empty gesture of the “black square” instagram post; they are diversifying boards, introducing culturally-sensitive education practices, and embedding antiracist principles into their work. These are a step in the right direction. Even spreading the word about this work to legislators, principals, and friends helps the cause. 

I am interested to know: What are you doing to ensure this essential outlet to students, in a time of global unrest and collective trauma? 

DOING THE WORK

In each ARTIVISM blog post, highlights of work happening that addresses the key issue will be shared. In this entry, we look at groups using their art to speak to the #BlackLivesMatter movement and issues of injustice. 

Prompted by the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and the continued push for racial equity, many youth-driven projects have taken to the streets with #ARTIVISM, contributing beautifully powerful tributes in various art forms. 

In Annapolis, Maryland student volunteers joined artists with Future History Now to paint a 7,000 square foot Breonna Taylor mural on a basketball court. 

Students are making their voices heard in all areas--during the summer, students in Breonna Taylor’s home state enrolled in Kentucky’s Governor’s School for the Arts used their poetry slam to speak to racial injustice. The sessions were inspired by summer protests for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. 

In Orlando, Florida,, 22 year old artist Sabrina Dessalines was commissioned to design a downtown mural that honors Jennifer Desire, a Black social justice leader in the city. “We wanted to commemorate someone doing great for the community to bring hope,” Dessalines said. “We wanted (the mural) to signify unity.”


In Washington, DC, a group of young artists have created the Reclamation Project, which creates five-day residencies with area theatres, allowing BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and Disabled artists to heal and reclaim physical spaces through creative means. The residencies, which document their process via livestream and educational posts, culminate in multidisciplinary performances and a ritual of restoration.