Looking to the Future
We asked five artists what they feel is missing within our Black art communities and what they think the next generation should work towards establishing. Here is what they had to say:
The most important thing that is missing in the Black art communities are free and public artist resources and financial literacy programs on how to navigate contracts, exhibitions, selling work and shipping. As an Black artists we are only ever shown one side of the trade and when exposed to all the other details of what it takes to be truly successful in this trade we often fall short due to lack of knowledge and personal error. Having more public resources and funding provided and/or supported by large platforms/ businesses would help artists in all stages have a longer consistent trajectory. I would love to see the next generation continue to branch out into all art spaces. Continue to confidently present all their ideas no matter how big, small or out of the box they may be!
Now, more than ever, our art world requires Black leadership. Not only artists, but curators, gallery owners, directors, holding high positions within institutions. Amplifying Black voices from the inside out!
I would love to see more diversity within competitive art residences and in academia. I would love to see young Black art students have the opportunity to express themselves in a way that is authentically Black and original without the approval or validation of a European influenced audience. Buying art and visiting galleries and museums in this country has historically been something for the elite. I can see this changing, but I want us to see that art which celebrates our culture and tells the story of our history is valued especially when it’s art by us and for us. We must understand that collecting the art of Black artists is an investment in ourselves and our legacy.
Number one thing I thought I’m missing in the Black community is unity. The Black artist is isolated and unwilling to help another artist.
The arts are always being cut from Inner city schools and underserved communities around the country. As an artist who has a history of working as an art educator for these communities and beyond, I would like to see a concerted effort by our community leaders and representatives to bring the visual arts back in the schools and build more after school programing and art centers where the arts are taught and encouraged. We need to do this for the next generation of artists.
The next generation should have an understanding of Black art history as well as art history in general. As they create, they should remember that the more personal they make their art, the more universal it becomes.
MORE FROM BAM!