Equity is Doable, Part 7: Art as a path to healing – A Blog Series by Ryan Adcock

At Cradle Cincinnati, we believe that if Cincinnati’s employers and service providers are more equitable, our birth outcomes will be more equitable too. Conversations about racial equity are often filled with academic jargon and can feel more philosophical than practical. This is the seventh in a series of posts where we will outline real life decisions leading to positive change.

Over the past 18 months, ArtsWave has invested more than $1 Million Dollars in Greater Cincinnati’s BIPOC artists.  We asked Janice Liebenberg, Director of Corporate Giving and Equitable Arts Advancement, why equity in the arts matters now.

Why are the arts important when it comes to equity?

Equity in the Arts is important because, by its nature, the Arts does not discriminate. Instead, the arts unify people and our communities regardless of age, gender, race, religion, and ethnicity.

At ArtsWave we believe that an inclusive arts community should reflect the entire population of the region it serves. Our region’s population is increasingly diverse, so it is imperative that arts organizations have a broad range of voices at all levels – employees and board members – which is essential to driving authentic, inclusive, and sustainable community impact through the arts. 

This aligns with greater emphasis on the diversity of art presented, so it is representative of all backgrounds and experiences. This variety contributes to the dynamic environment necessary to be a welcoming, relevant and globally competitive region.

Furthermore, it is simply good business. Cultural equity is critical to the long-term viability of the arts sector. As the demographic makeup of our population continues to evolve, we must make these changes to attract new audiences, donors, employees, and other key stakeholders.

What’s working at ArtsWave when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion?

ArtsWave is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access. We have acknowledged the inequities in our society and we are committed to accelerating and expanding programs and investments that will support the elimination of systemic racism and bridge cultural divides.

In fact, bridging cultural divides is a pillar of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action which we launched in 2015. Our investment strategy demonstrates our commitment. 

We created an African American arts series, Flow, which premiered in February of 2020, the culmination of two years of planning with many community leaders. Flow will feature quarterly performances by renowned Black artists and ensembles from across the country, working in various disciplines. The goal of the series is to grow demand and appreciation for expressions of Black arts and culture. Flow premiered with two sold-out performances at the Aronoff and it is our hope to resume the series later this year.

Last year, on Juneteenth, ArtsWave awarded 18 grants to projects led by African American artists or serve African American communities. ArtsWave also recruited and funded the work of 70-plus Black and Brown artists who worked on the Black Lives Matter mural. 

And we partnered with the City of Cincinnati, Duke Energy, Fifth Third Bank and Greater Cincinnati Foundation to create the Black and Brown Artist Project Grants. Individual artists were invited to propose projects on the theme of “Truth & Reconciliation” and we awarded grants to 27 Black and Brown artists.  

All these outcomes are part of our larger strategy to elevate and celebrate BIPOC arts and artists.

Any recommendations for what to check out in Cincinnati when it comes to Black art right now?

Absolutely! The Black & Brown Faces exhibit which was organized by Paloozanoire and presented in partnership with the Cincinnati Art Museum as a guest exhibition last year will now be available at Rico Grant’s new Gallery at Gumbo. The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is streaming a show called “Harriet Tubman: Straight Up Outta’ the Underground” now through June 30. A past exhibition at the Cincinnati Art Museum, Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal. . ., continues to have a virtual presence narrated by Hank Willis Thomas.  And, of course, Cradle Cincinnati is recently partnered with the Contemporary Arts Center to tell stories of Black motherhood with FIERCE: A Black MotHER Story.

What advice do you have for arts organizations starting their equity journey?

There is so much we cannot control but focus on what you can control. Do you have a diverse team? Does your board have representation from a wide range of lived experiences? Are you intentional with your vendors and business partners? Are you in this for the long haul? Investment in inclusion and equity makes our organizations and our work better.