Black Lives Matter
Dear VCP Members & Friends,
Following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery – and too many others – we, like you, have seen an outpouring of concern and protest over racially motivated police violence. These events have lifted up, again, our long national history of racial injustice and put us on a positive path, fueled by widespread outrage, toward addressing our racial ills.
As an arts organization, we believe that the arts have a responsibility to be present in this significant public discussion. We are aware that arts organizations, like ours, neither draw from nor serve all races of our community at all times. We believe this poses a particular responsibility to us and the arts community as important parts of our communities to speak as well as to listen. We speak by what we put on our walls, by
what we teach, and to whom we reach out. We listen by hearing the messages of our artists in their work that speak from and to issues of social and racial justice. It is incumbent on us to do both as effectively as we can.
The VCP board and staff will set ourselves the tasks of adjusting our programs, exhibitions, offerings, and outreach to reach all parts of the community, local and national, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We have to learn how to do this effectively; this is our task in the months and years ahead.
Sincerely,
The Vermont Center for Photography Board of Directors
and
Joshua Farr, Executive Director
***
P.S… We would like to acknowledge the organizations below for the important work they do towards amplifying marginalized voices through creative means. Though we don’t have the answers, we encourage you to join us in supporting these important organizations, by donating if possible, or by taking a few moments to learn more about racism, social injustice, and the work we all have to do to lift up and support those who are protesting racist violence.
Black Art Futures Fund
Arts Administrators of Color
Center for Photography at Woodstock, Residencies
Black Archivist
Black Artist Fund
Asuna’s Color Darkroom