WE ARE THE BLACKSMITHS:

A coalition of artists, curators, culture producers, and organizers committed to using the arts to support direct action and civic engagement in the service of Black liberation and equity.

WE BELIEVE IN:

- The obliteration of systemic racism in the cultural infrastructure.
- Critical thinking informed by the totality of Black revolutionary thought.
- Equitable access for all Black people to human rights, quality of life, and cultural expression
- Pan-African solidarity
- Working with People of Color and people of conscience who are committed to Black liberation
- Building with Black-and POC-led institutions that lift up Black excellence
- Fair compensation for artists’ labor, anti-hatred.
- Voting rights as sacred,
- And the leadership of people across intersections of identity who are directly impacted by anti-Black racism and who uphold the humanity of Black people across the globe.

“The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.” - Toni Cade Bambara

WE CALL FOR:

Artists across disciplines to create and share community responsive work inspired by Black revolutionary history and the current protest movement.

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Cultural institutions and venues to responsibly and ethically present such work, and eliminate barriers to Black stewardship and leadership.