Respect self determination

First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts

Protocols For Using First Nations Cultural And Intellectual Property In The Arts. A guide endorsing the rights of Indigenous people to their cultural heritage and in support of Indigenous creative practice and self-determination.

The Decolonising of Aboriginal Representation on our Screens

Host Leila Gurruwiwi and panel discuss First Peoples' identity, how First Nations people want to be portrayed, and the Australian film and television industry.

“For All of Us”: An Interview with Philly-based Cultural Organizer Marángeli Mejía-Rabell

An interview with Marángeli Mejía-Rabell, the cultural organizer and festival director for the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival and founder of AFROTAINO. She discusses her work and how it bridges the divide between Puerto Rico and Philadelphia, Latinx and Latin America. One of her early mentors was a substantial influence and shaped her approach; she says “at the center of everything he did was the community.”

The film industry has a gatekeeping problem

Oluwaseun Babalola describes her experiences in the film industry: "I’ve found that when I’ve pitched work in the past that there’s a lot of emphasis on diversity and all this stuff about authenticity, but that same authenticity is based on what gatekeepers think is authentic. Usually, when it comes to Black and African stories they want things rooted in trauma – which isn’t necessarily a story you want to tell."

Illustration by Paola De La Cruz.

The Path to Liberation- how to walk the talk of equity rather than white supremacy in philanthropy

This blog introduces the “Shake the Foundations” network in the US, which provides peer-to-peer exchange for funders and movement partners aiming to move capital into community-based, democratic re-granting and investment vehicles that can support the economic power and self-determination of communities of colour.

Auckland gallery Māori arts curator calls out colonial institutions after resigning

An article reporting on leading Maori curator Nigel Borell's resigation from Auckland Art Gallery. "There were challenges when it came to allowing Māori to have authority over their works and for Borell being able to lead in decision-making [...] We want to do it ourselves."

Cultural Appropriation: Another Form of Extractivism of Indigenous Communities

Indigenous communities around the world face attacks on multiple levels, including extractivism in their territories, and appropriation of their cultural creations and knowledge. This article highlights the requirements of respect for ancestral knowledge and Informed consent.
Photo: Ayuujk weaver, by Luis Balbuena Gómez.

Participatory Grantmaking Aims to Dismantle Power Imbalances between Funders and Communities

An interview with Urban Institute fellow Jasmine Johnson about participatory grant making. It provides insights into some of these knowledge gaps through a qualitative study of 10 funders in small, midsize, and large cities across the USA. Johnson gives key takeaways from her study in this interview, three things to consider before adopting participatory grant making and the challenges of using this funding model.

Ethics and engagement in community art

A discussion of the diffculties of getting engagement right, particularly in rural communities. "An ethics of mutual learning and openness" must offer not just "representation, but also ownership". Shuvangi Khadka adds "outside artists must remain open to their own vision being radically changed via community critique."

How the Art of Social Practice Is Changing the World, One Row House at a Time

Artist Rick Lowe transformed derelict houses over 20 years into a thriving, African American cultural hub that preserves the community's roots. It is both a work of art and an act of community organising.