FIND RESOURCES
Here all of our resources are collected together. Find a resource based on a geography, issue, cultural practice, or impact by using the map and menus below.
Storytelling in Crisis
The virtual dialogue, Storytelling in Crisis, presented by Storyline, Arts & Democracy, The Laundromat Project, Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY (NOCD-NY) and US Department of Arts and Culture (USDAC) explored strategies for crafting storytelling responses that center care and connection, amplify resistance, and support resiliency. We heard from storytellers who have learned from their experience of making work grappling with pandemics; epidemics; and natural, social, political and economic disasters. Michael Premo (Storyline) facilitated a discussion with Steven Thrasher (Northwestern University), Nick Slie (Mondo Bizarro, Cry You One, I -10 Witness Project), and Regina Campbell (Rikers Public memory Project).
Midwest , Northeast , Southeast , Criminal Justice , Health , Human Rights / Social Justice , Film / Video / Audio / Digital , Theater / Performance / Spoken Word , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Community Engagement , Political Engagement , Policy / Law Change
Program
Activating the Cultural Power of a Movement
On Oct 9, 2020, Arts & Democracy, The U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, and NOCD-NY convened Activating the Cultural Power of a Movement, an event that showcased inspiring, movement based organizations across the country. The webinar featured presentations by leaders from racial justice, environmental justice, immigrant rights, and economic justice groups including Michelle Ramos (Executive Director, Alternate ROOTS), Angeles Solis (Director of Worker Organizing, Make the Road Action), Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson (a member of Movement for Black Lives’ policy table leadership team), Charon Hribar (Revivals Coordinator, Poor People's Campaign), and Nina Eichner (Creative Projects Manager, Sunrise Movement).
Artwork by Melanie Cervantes, Dignidad Rebelde
We Decide: Arts, Culture, and Voting Power
Arts & Democracy joined with The US Department of Arts and Culture to convene We Decide: Arts, Culture, and Voting Power to learn how arts, culture, and creative media can reimagine our democracy and revitalize civic participation, with a focus on historically disenfranchised communities. We heard from artists and cultural organizers working in Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin as well as those working nationally. Presenters included Andrea Assaf, Dr. Rob “Biko” Baker, Trupania “Trap” Bonner, amalia deloney, and Savannah Romero and call participants shared their work as well.
Artwork by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya
National , Midwest , Southeast , Southwest , Cultural / Media Policy , Democracy , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building
Program
Staying In It With You
A 2020 Bridge Conversation by Ron Ragin and Judi Jennings
Creative Housing Activism and Engagement
Story Circle on the Right to Belong
Internet and Social Change: Building Culturally, Politically, and Technologically Connected Communities
Internet + Social Change, Building Culturally, Polically, and Technologically Connected Communities interactive workshop. National sponsors were Arts & Democracy and Media Democracy Fund. Local partners included Behailu Academy, PowerUp NC, QC Family Tree, and The Tribe. Special guests included Center for Media Justice, Color of Change, Coworker.org, and Media Mobilizing Project.
2015 KY Cultural Organizing Learning Exchange
Art Meets Activism: A Cultural Organizing Workshop in Charlotte, North Carolina
October 18, 2014, Behailu Academy, Charlotte, NC
Over thirty artists, activists, neighborhood leaders & youth from Charlotte gathered for a Cultural Organizing workshop, produced by Arts & Democracy in collaboration with the UNCC’s College of Art + Architecture and the Charlotte Action Research Project (CHARP).
Just Economies: Part 1
just and democratic economies Part 1, July 10, 2014
In the face of growing economic inequity, people around the country are coming together to reimagine and rebuild their economies and communities based on the values of equity, democracy, cooperation, self-determination and sustainability. This nationally focused call highlighted examples from Jackson Mississippi, Eastern Kentucky, and from Native communities across the country.
National , Southeast , Economic Justice / Labor , Traditional Cultural and Spiritual , Community Engagement
Program
Culture, Planning, and Community Engagement
This experiential mini-course investigated arts and culture, broadly defined, as a critical part of envisioning and building an equitable and sustainable Atlanta. Through site visits, tours, cultural events, and conversations with practitioners and policymakers representing multiple perspectives, we explored the intersection between arts and culture and participatory planning.
Rural Art and Culture Yields Big Impact
Judi Jennings, Kentucky Foundation for Women and Savannah Barrett, Art of the Rural discuss Feminist Art: Advancing Social Change in Rural Kentucky, an innovative digital mapping project documenting the powerful and transformative work taking place across rural Kentucky.
Rural , Southeast , Cultural / Media Policy , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building
Program
Creative Engagement and a Moral Economy for All
Stories & Places
Cultural practice and artistic expression breathe life into communities.They create opportunities for individuals and institutions to transform their sense of self and relationships with one another, and share their local traditions and ways of being.
This conference call looks at the power of place-based culture to create community narratives, advance racial and economic equity, promote participatory democracy, and foster self-determination and inclusion in rural communities. We will hear from five presenters about culturally-based work in a diverse range of contexts addressing themes that include traditional practice, opportunities for young people as emerging leaders, cultural economies, ecological and cultural stewardship and cross-sector partnerships.
Cultural Organizing Weekend in New Orleans, Louisiana
Civil Rights, Human Rights, and A Moral Economy for All
SEIU artist residencies
National , Midwest , Southeast , Southwest , Economic Justice / Labor , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building
Program
Cultural Organizing for Community Recovery
Aesthetics and Mathematics of Social Change
Dee Davis and Michelle Miller discuss the art of strategic communications.
By Michelle Miller
Quilt at Hopscotch House
Kentucky Foundation for Women Workshop
Cultural Organizing for Community Recovery, New Orleans
Creative Recovery: Culture, Planning, and Community Engagement course
State of the Nation Gathering
Highlander 75th Anniversary Celebration Gathering
This gathering took place as part of the Highlander Center’s 75th Anniversary and followed a one-day institute on cultural organizing that was also part of the celebration. The goal of Highlander was and is to provide education and support to poor and working people fighting economic injustice, poverty, prejudice, and environmental destruction. Presenters at the gathering included: co-facilitators Anasa Trautman, Highlander Center; Caron Atlas and Javiera Benavente, Arts & Democracy Project; Amelia Kirby, Appalshop; Carlton Turner, Alternate Roots; Michelle Miller, SEIU; Mathew Jones, SNCC Freedom Singers; and Baldemar Velazquez, Farm Labor Organizer Committee.
Report on Latino Culture & Traditional Arts in TN
Tennessee Arts Commission hired Norma E. Cantú, Ph.D., to carry out a fact finding mission in West, Middle and East Tennessee to meet with representative members of Latino communities and learn about Latino culture and traditional arts in the state. This is the report that resulted from this inquiry.
Southeast
Appalshop and Robert Salyer
Urban Bush Women
Working Films
Planning the Revolution over Collards
Tufara Waller Muhammad and Javiera Benavente talk about arts and culture in Southern organizing and the danger of spotlighting individuals.
By Javiera Benavente
Regional , Southeast , Civil rights , Community / Regional Development , Economic Justice / Labor , Environment , Human Rights / Social Justice , Music , Theater / Performance / Spoken Word , Traditional Cultural and Spiritual , Education / Awareness Raising , Community Engagement , Political Engagement
Program
Who Will Carry the Work Forward?
An intergenerational conversation at the State of the Nation festival and a tribute to Nayo Watkins.
By Caron Atlas, R. Lena Richardson, and Carlton Turner