While other elements of this toolkit are important for the overall change within the organization, engaging communities in an inclusive and empowering process is at the foundation of any movement forward. Having arts organization participate as one of many within the community, within a network of community-based services in education, childcare, immigrant settlement, and friendship houses and, further, working with community leaders in business and media, engaged arts organizations find themselves in the centre of various groups. And just as each of the other groups share and learn about each other, passing important information on to members of their communities, arts organizations can be a provider of information and a beneficiary of the benefits of increasing access to information about the arts and how to participate in them.
For this reason, following organizational leadership, community engagement is arguably the second most important value and activity arts organizations, particularly presenters, need to consider. Success in engaging diverse communities in participatory processes that value their experience and input is key to opening doors to other components of this toolkit.
The suggested activities below look at ways Aboriginal and ethno-racial communities might be enabled to participate in arts organizations in meaningful ways.
Involvement in Art’s Organization Activities
Arts organizations are usually run by a general manager, artistic director or programmer, and marketing/communications staff as well as committees that may be set up for specific purposes. It is important to engage communities in the decision-making of an arts organizations beyond being on the organization’s board of directors. Arts organizations can do this by:
Identifying Artists and Individuals from Diverse Communities to Work With- Making connections with and supporting the roles of ‘cultural ambassadors’, ‘community connectors’ who can assist the arts organizations in developing relationships with diverse communities;
- Establishing criteria and a recruitment process, including interviewing, to select community ‘connectors’, ‘ambassadors’ and artists from diverse communities;
- Promoting an accessible and transparent process in recruiting and selecting community ‘connectors’, ‘ambassadors’ and artists from diverse communities;
- Being clear regarding the desired roles and functions, (e.g., outreach, curatorial development, audience development) in the relationship between presenters, community ‘connectors’, ‘ambassadors’ and artists from diverse communities;
- Setting aside the time and resources needed to develop constructive, mutually beneficial relationships between presenters, community ‘connectors’, ‘ambassadors’ and artists from diverse communities
- Developing strategic alliances and partnerships with other like-minded arts organizations/artists and individuals from diverse communities to address common issues and look at ways of sharing resources, expertise, results;
- Connecting with diverse communities through their own organizations and networks to develop long-term relationships;
- Connecting directly with Aboriginal and ethno-racial media and businesses;
- Working with Aboriginal and ethno-racial artists to increase understanding of diverse cultural histories, traditions, ways of engaging in the arts, and contemporary expressions;
- Appointing artists and key individuals from diverse communities to the organization’s key committees;
- Engaging diverse communities in creating and promoting a season’s program;
- Working with diverse communities to support their interest in arts and cultural activities and enabling them to use the arts organization’s facilities during dark hours for rehearsals and performances;
- Setting up an advisory committee or group to work with the arts organization in its efforts to connect and build relationships with diverse communities.
Exchanging Knowledge and Skills – Presenting and Curatorial Development
Actions to exchange knowledge and skills provide opportunities for presenters, artists and community members to learn from an experienced presenter, artist and community activist. Presenters can impart what they know to artists and individuals from diverse communities as part of enhancing their knowledge of the presenting field and issues presenters work with on a daily basis. Artists from diverse communities can educate presenters regarding their form of expression, its history, traditions and contemporary modes of expression. Activists, community connectors and community ambassadors can engage with presenters and artists regarding ways to connect with diverse communities and to build relationships.
The learning relationship is critical to building long-term relationships between all parties and can be done by:
- Establishing a program that ensures supportive and nurturing relationships are provided to presenters, artists and individuals from diverse communities;
In working with a presenter, individuals and artists from diverse communities may need to know how to balance the differing values of the organization, its practices and their own communities’ culture and traditions. As noted earlier, arts organizations have both standard and hidden workplace norms and assumptions. Individuals and artists from diverse communities need to know what these are so that they can respect them and, also, influence their change. At the same time, presenters may need to learn the same from the artists, arts organizations and diverse communities they engage with. These activities can be done by:
- Including such education as part of the exchange of knowledge and skills;