Dear friends and arts supporters,

Artstra recognizes historical and structural barriers for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and is committed to addressing disparities in artist funding, resources, and leadership opportunities within the scope of our organization’s activities. We take direct action within that scope to dismantle barriers and create new structures where BIPOC can thrive by looking at our practices through a racial equity lens.

Our aim is to foster a culture where every artist and member of our community feels valued, supported and inspired to achieve their individual and common goals. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are important, interdependent components of everyday life in the creative industry and are critical to Artstra’s mission to elevate the arts, build greater arts awareness, reward creative excellence, and expand arts accessibility.

DIVERSITY includes providing opportunity and access for all people across differences of race, age, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, migratory status, disability/abilities, political affiliation, veteran status and socioeconomic background. We appreciate the strength in our differences, and strive to involve and reflect the communities we serve.

EQUITY requires providing justice, fairness and access to opportunities and resources for all members of the arts community. In creating and sustaining a climate where equity and mutual respect are intrinsic, we nurture a cooperative and caring atmosphere where we attract and retain board members, volunteers , and potential employees who will thrive in a space where they are comfortable contributing their unique perspectives.

INCLUSION means respecting everyone, valuing differences, and capitalizing on those differences by drawing on the intellectual strength that produces innovative solutions from the synergy of diverse people. Our aim is to create an environment in which everyone feels represented, valued and respected.

We believe a fair and just society ensures artists of all backgrounds and identities are part of its cultural narratives. In our leadership, programming, and policies we seek to be conscious of and address the deeply entrenched practices, cultural norms, and decision-making structures that perpetuate inequalities. That is why we especially invite BIPOC artists and other artists of historically marginalized backgrounds and identities to join us in conversation around advancing equity. Our team will always welcome feedback, thoughtful dialogue, and ideas that will move this work forward. As we continue to learn and grow as an organization, we invite you to join us as we embark on cultivating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive space for our community of incredible artists.

Sincerely,
The Artstra Team

Contact us at info@arstra.org