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 resignation 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 difficulties 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.

Malaysia's Gerimis

Gerimis works with Malaysia’s indigenous Orang Asli communities to showcase their histories and traditions through the lens of arts and culture. As a collective of primarily non–Orang Asli members, Gerimis uses five principles as guideposts:
* Building allyship
* Free, prior and informed consent
* Credit
* Compensation
* Accuracy and respect

Nurturing the Activist Heart of an Archival Organisation

Black Cultural Archives (BCA) is a national organisation based in London, and is one of the first national heritage organisations to prioritise a living archive of the story of Black people in British society.

“I want to see the UK’s heritage sector being welcoming to everyone and telling stories in an engaging and inclusive way.” - Lisa Anderson, Managing Director of Black Cultural Archives (BCA)

Preserving indigenous heritage and showcasing the arts of the Agta people

The Agtas are the aboriginal Filipinos who have been driven out of their lands to live on mountain tops and far-flung lakeshores. The Savage Mind Bookshop and its offshoot, Kamarin Art Gallery, have reached out to the Agta people of Lake Buhi to provide a means for them to create art, preserve their language and history, and ensure that their heritage and culture are not erased by the country’s rapid industrialisation.

Combining the traditions of Forest Theatre and Street Theatre

Brazil's Vivarte focuses on research and promotion of Amazonian traditional cultures. It works with the storytelling and mythology threaded through the daily life of indigenous communities and their environment.

“Forest Theatre is alive, because the forest is alive. Like the forest, it is in constant transformation.” - Dani Mirini, Director, Vivarte

Interweaving cultural traditions and artisan skills to build a better life

Shiro Meda in Addis Ababa is known as the epicentre of weavers, with many from the Gamo community in Southern Ethiopia. Many seek work in the Gundesh Meda Textile Production and Sales Centre, the government-built buildings that have brought hundreds of weavers, Gamos and others alike, together.

“…being in an association has allowed them to share experiences with other weavers, created job opportunities for them and provided them with a child-friendly work environment."

Re-reading Culture, Conversing with Land

The Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center in Ramallah brings traditional knowledge held by farming communities into the centre of the city. Intergenerational projects document and re-energise traditional culture around the focal point of the centre’s popular farmers’ market.