Americans for the Arts believes that language and identity go hand-in-hand and are vital to how we name and organize any community.
We use the terms BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and ALAANA (African, Latine, Asian, Arab, Native American) to represent People of Color and Communities of Color. While these terms do not fully encompass or represent the complicated and multi-layered nature of indigeneity or ethnic and racial identities, they are commonly used terms in our work. We invite and encourage you to examine and explore the terms used in your community and that are important and valued by individuals you interact with, support, and engage. Americans for the Arts has a Language Bank that we use to organize terminology related to our work. In addition, Americans for the Arts endorses and is working to uphold the actions and principles set forth in the Cultural New Deal to improve conditions for and with the priority communities listed therein.
This guide aims to help our partners consider additional and effective approaches to building and maintaining authentic and mutually beneficial relationships with BIPOC and ALAANA organizations.
Hello, we’re Americans for the Arts. We are committed to championing policies and practices of cultural equity that empower and inclusive and equitable nation.
we address equity and inclusion by:
01.
Centering and representing the Global Majority (BIPOC and ALAANA) identifying communities — a portion of the nonprofit arts and culture sector that has been underrepresented in past studies. This change is more than simply responding to a priority.
02.
Continuing to build research and advocacy to support cultural equity in the arts and culture sector that reduce systemic bias and allow for new narratives to be formed.
MAINTAINING & STRENGTHENING COMMITTED COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Our digital workbook is part of a series of Americans for the Arts community engagement resources intended to help local and statewide research partners identify, connect with, and maintain relationships with BIPOC and ALAANA arts and culture organizations in their community. It is a result of research, practitioner experience, and community engagement with our local and statewide research partners.
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