Black and Indigenous communities and communities of color have not held equitable roles in shaping and deciding on our region's future. Across sectors, Black and Indigenous artists and artists of color, cultural workers and arts organizations led by people of color – and their allies – are increasingly being called upon to activate the social imagination to bring forth new ways to know, understand and change our complex world. This intersectionality is critical to engage communities in creative processes and social action, broadening the spectrum of community voices by offering connection points to those who have not previously been heard.
SVCF’s Arts and Culture: Community Action Grants Program aims to support arts organizations that are working to strengthen the social fabric of communities and deepen civic engagement to achieve key community goals. In this focus area, SVCF will support arts organizations whose leaders are Black, Indigenous or people of color, or their allies. These organizations should prioritize communities of color or Black or Indigenous communities and nurture artistic and cultural expressions, partner to create community-driven solutions and catalyze social change.