The Cultural Equity Learning Community (CELC), an initiative of Arts Connect International, presented To the arts & beyond: What does it mean to support Black Lives Matter livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 10 September 2020.
The panel discussion started off with original music by Precious Perez, followed by a discussion with national arts leaders Sadada Jackson, Martin Henson, and Dr. Marta Moreno Vega, moderated by Michael Bobbit. Discussions centered on the Black Lives Matter national movement, anti-racism practices within the arts and culture sector, and the role of art and artists as equity catalysts and cultural preservers.
The CELC is made possible through partnership with: the Anti-Racism Collaborative, ArtsBoston, Creative Generation, Boston Art Review, MassHumanities, The Boston Foundation, Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture, Artists Thrive, an initiative of the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, Cambridge Community Foundation, Cambridge Arts Council, New England Foundation for the Arts, Foley Hoag Foundation, Deidra Montgomery Consulting, Alyssa Liles-Amponsah Consulting, Meena Malik Consulting, Quisol Consulting, and Marian Taylor Brown Consulting.
Viewers can tune in via HowlRound or Arts Connect International’s Facebook page.
Speaker Bios
Sadada Jackson (she/her/hers) is an embodied justice educator, and artist, who facilitates, mentors and advises leadership teams, leaders, educators, and healing professionals. Sadada engages in research, praxis, and theory to help people, individually and in teams/communities, work effectively and with integrity. At the intersection of identity and ethical practice, Sadada works with practitioners to build opportunities, communities, and experiences of authentic learning and development.
Martin Henson (he/him/his) is an activist, organizer, and mental health counselor. Martin's interests include alternative community structures, dismantling white supremacy, intersectional dialogue, and coalition building. Martin's work includes being an organizer for Black Lives Matter - Boston, and he often speaks to various groups about the importance of BLM's presence in the narrative of America's history and current political debate.
Dr. Marta Moreno Vega (she/her/hers) has grounded her life's work in the powerful experiences of people of African descent, developing cultural institutions that affirm their impact on the world stage. She has created a legacy of international advocacy and institution-building. Dr. Vega is recognized globally for her contributions as a respected scholar, producer, activist, educator, author, professor, and Yoruba priestess.
Michael J. Bobbitt (he/him/his) joined New Repertory Theatre as an arts leader, director, choreographer, and playwright in 2019. Michael J. Bobbitt served as Artistic Director for Adventure Theatre-MTC in Maryland since 2007, where he led the organization to be a respected theatre/training company in the DC region, as well as a nationally influential professional Theatre for Young Audiences. Bobbit is well known for his laser-sharp focus on anti-racism practices in theater, and beyond.
About the Cultural Equity Learning Community
The Cultural Equity Learning Community (CELC) is open to arts and culture sector leaders committed to building racial equity and justice in the arts. The CELC includes a go-at-your-own pace learning course with 2 units and complimentary wrap-around learning support. The CELC was launched by Arts Connect International in partnership with: the Anti-Racism Collaborative, ArtsBoston, Creative Generation, Boston Art Review, the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture, The Boston Foundation, MassHumanities, Artists Thrive, an initiative supported by the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, the Cambridge Community Foundation, the Cambridge Arts Council, Foley Hoag Foundation and the New England Foundation for the Arts.
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