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Dear Members,
We have work to do. We have been listening, learning and re-examining our responsibilities in response to the ongoing crisis of anti-Black racism. As a cultural organization that is mandated to support professional craft – to elevate the work and livelihoods of craft artists, we condemn anti-Black racism and choose to stand with racialized and marginalized communities in the arts.
We know that we hold power in resources, space and access to audiences, and that we are not neutral in the way that we operate – we are embedded in social, cultural and economic structures of systemic racism, and the choices that we make have impact.
Moving forward we commit to:
- Better understand craft practice in Ontario through collaboration and to connect with craft artists through the communities that they belong to, and at the same time, learn what is needed to support their work.
- Work to align with, and reflect craft communities across Ontario in our programs and services.
- Analyze and simplify our membership structure in order to address socio-economic and cultural barriers, and ensure equality of participation.
- Review and implement anti-racism policies and procedures in relation to positions of authority and processes of participation to ensure equitable outcomes.
- Work with community leaders and organizations, including CPAMO and OOAG, to learn about the difference between equity and diversity, and work to enact change accordingly.
- Fundraise to establish a financial award for BIPOC craft artists.
- Put concrete strategies, timelines and measurable results in place, to ensure the ongoing work of holding Craft Ontario accountable.
We will continue to update you on our work. We stand in solidarity against systemic and institutional racism, and we ask you to do the same. Choose to learn, listen and be otherwise.
Janna Hiemstra, Executive Director
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