ITAC is delighted to announce the new date for the Anti-Racist Practice for Teaching Artists Think Tank! Join 2022-2023 ITAC Innovators Rachael Dwyer (Australia), Karla Estela Rivera (USA), and Rachael Jacobs (Australia) on Wednesday, July 26 at 9:30am Australian Eastern Standard Time. The Think Tank will be introduced by Moema Gregorzewski, Research Fellow at the Centre for Arts and Social Transformation (representing the ITAC New Zealand Hub).
The three ITAC Innovator hosts will lead a session focused on Anti-Racist Practice for Teaching Artists
This session will invite teaching artists to reflect on the ways that their work creates spaces that are joyful, equitable and welcoming for those from marginalised communities. The Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 prompted an outpouring of solidarity, with many arts organisations pledging their commitments to racial justice. Only a few years later, we see very little evidence of those commitments being honoured, and in some cases, we see them being walked back.
This Think Tank session seeks to create a ‘brave space’ for conversations about anti-racist teaching artistry. The session will begin with land acknowledgements and their role in First Nations justice and the expressions of First Nations sovereignty through the arts. Examples of lived experiences of marginalisation in the arts will be shared, illustrated by artworks, and in some cases, attendees will have the opportunity to reflect and respond. A collaborative poetry writing exercise will also capture some of the intentions of anti-racist teaching artistry that are explored in the session.
The session will also introduce a resource that guides teaching artists to ask critical questions of themselves and their practice. This resource provides a process for individuals and organisations to move beyond ‘statements of solidarity,’ unearthing ways to move towards creating artistic spaces that are equitable places of belonging for all.
Suggested reading and viewing in advance of the Think Tank session
The Working Group:
Following the Think Tank, the hosts will invite teaching artists to join them to pilot a supported, guided process towards anti-racist practice. This will include reading, creative responses, responding to critical prompt questions, sharing and reflection. There will be options for synchronous and asynchronous participation, accommodating a range of time zones. Feedback from the working group will be used to refine the process, and with permission, examples will be included in the resources.
More Details:
Hosts: Rachael Dwyer (Australia), Karla Estela Rivera (USA), and Rachael Jacobs (Australia)
Introduced by Moema Gregorzewski, Research Fellow at the Centre for Arts and Social Transformation (representing the ITAC New Zealand Hub and convener for ITAC7, September 5-7, 2024).
When: Wednesday, July 26 at 9:30am Australian Eastern Standard Time
Not on AEST? Confirm the Think Tank's start time based on your location here. Some helpful reminders:
July 25 at 7:30pm New York, USA time
July 25 at 8:30pm Buenos Aires, Argentina time
July 25 at 11:30pm Accra, Ghana time
July 26 at 12:30am London, UK time
July 26 at 5:00am New Delhi, India time
July 26 at 7:30am Shanghai, China time
July 26 at 8:30am Seoul, South Korea time
July 26 at 11:30am Auckland/Wellington, NZ time
July 26 at 1:30am Oslo, Norway time
Where: Zoom (registration is FREE)
Register: Reserve your spot below!
Pre-Reading Materials: The Think Tank hosts have curated a collection of materials to help prepare for the conversation. They encourage you to engage with them prior to the session.