As artists we look to our communities to both inspire new ideas and to teach how the arts can be used as the most powerful communicative tool to advance the civic conversation. Every quarter we choose a different theme or topic to guide our regular programs. Curators decides how this theme will be explored in their own platforms. These conversations develop relationships between artists and communities, and generate some of our best ideas for long term arts projects. WHAT IS CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT? Facilitate artistic conversation in sometimes unlikely places where opportunity and inspiration will lead to innovative new ideas. Connect creatives of all kinds with individuals and organizations that work directly with communities in all areas of civic life. Create new work that is reflective of those conversations and relationships and challenges perceptions and inspires action. OUR VALUES
The people who offer their time and energy to coLAB Arts in strong volunteer capacities are called Collaborators. Collaborators come together monthly to help guide coLAB Arts events, projects, and platforms. coLAB arts Collaborators describe themselves as being:
Frustrated with the status quo
Searching for personal meaning
Believe that art should be local and accessible
Know that art has the power to transform hearts and minds
Eager to create and use artistry to serve communities
Seek fulfillment and challenge
Believe in new models of collaboration
OUR EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY - KNOWLEDGE PUT INTO PRACTICE
All of our programs (a) teach and promote a specific knowledge and technique of a particular form or craft and (b) use that specific knowledge with the freedom of interdisciplinary experimentation to create reflective projects and programs. ANTI-RACISM STATEMENT
coLAB Arts is only as strong as the advocacy partners, artists, and community members who choose to bring us into their spaces and tell their stories. Thank you for making us strong. Strong enough to know that the small gains we make towards forwarding our anti-racist mission aren’t summits but steps. Strong enough to recognize that we are a senior staff of two white men, with an all white board, and a primarily white volunteer base. Strong enough to confront the fact that we’re based in a politically blue city, in a blue county, in a blue state, which makes it inexcusable for us to settle for performative or empty gestures. This is our Action Statement. A reaffirmation of our anti-racist mission and a new commitment to dismantle white supremacy. We will be transparent and we will stumble. And we invite you to join us in holding our organization accountable. Black Lives Matter. coLAB Arts' storytelling is defined by the individual experiences comprised in its work. We've invited members of the coLAB Arts community to share their personal anti-racist statements so serve as part of our collective response. If you'd like to add your statement, all are welcome and can be shared here: http://www.colab-arts.org/anti-racist-statement-form.
