Athens Arts Gallery Board of Directors

Statement of Diversity and Inclusion

Approved: July 2020

 

Athens Arts Gallery offers vibrant opportunities to engage the community in art. It was established to celebrate the creative life of this rural community in western Indiana.

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Cultural equity embodies the values, beliefs, policies and practices that all people are represented in the development of arts policy, in the support of artists, in the nurturing of accessible, thriving galleries for expression and in

the fair distribution of programs, financial and informational resources. This includes commitment to people who have historically been underrepresented based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, citizenship status or religion.

 

Athens Arts Gallery is committed to diversity in all aspects of its mission and activities and at all levels of the organization, including the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors highly values diversity and supports the

selection and appointment of diverse candidates to the Board. The Board believes that having directors of diverse gender, race, and ethnicity, along with varied skills, perspectives, and experiences, contributes to a balanced and effective Board. Such a Board is well-positioned to address the changing needs of the organization and of the community. The Board strives to search for and invite a diverse candidate pool for the selection process. 

 

The Board will strive to be intentional in its engagement with and support of a more diverse, equitable and inclusive arts community. The Board also supports diversity and inclusion in its teaching artists, its programming, and its staff. We value diversity in these areas of our organization as we work to better reflect the demographics of the community we serve, and provide services that are welcoming, inclusive, and culturally responsive to adults and children alike.

 

It is the policy of Athens Arts Gallery to engage teaching artists and to provide equal opportunities to individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, military status, sexual orientation, citizenship status or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.

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Athens Arts Gallery Member Artist

Statement on Cultural Diversity, Equity and Access

Approved: Member Artist, June 2020

Board of Directors, July 2020

 

Athens Arts Gallery offers vibrant opportunities to engage the community in art. The Gallery was established to celebrate the creative life of this rural western Indiana community. Cultural equity embodies the values, the beliefs, the policies, and the practices that all people are represented in the development of the arts. We will provide support to artists and promote accessibility to the Gallery. The venue may be used for the expression and the honest distribution of programmatic, financial, and informational resources. This includes specific commitment to those that are traditionally underrepresented based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic standing, citizenship, or religion.

 

The member artists at Athens Arts Gallery believe:

• Cultural equity is essential to the long-term viability of the humanities sector, significantly, given the changing demographics in our community and region.

• We must all hold ourselves accountable, because acknowledging and challenging our inequities and working in partnership is how we will make change happen.

• Everyone deserves equal access to a full, vibrant creative life, which is essential to a healthy and democratic society.

• The jurying process permits for a diverse artist selection for membership.

• Providing a safe work environment, professional working atmosphere and secure gallery experience is paramount to the opportunities for the community and artists

• The long journey to be inclusive, diversified and have equal equity and access is definitely worth the effort.