We Choose Artistic Action
June 4, 2020
To Our Seattle Community,
On June 1, 2020 CoCA published our Statement Against Racism. Now we are transforming those words into direct, urgent action, and we implore you to join us. Seattle needs to recognize its Black artists and their impactful voices. Statements of support and allyship are no longer enough.
These are our five commitments:
CoCA continues to advance the racial and cultural diversity of our Leadership, Board, and Staff
CoCA allies with Onyx Fine Arts Collective’s intent to create the Seattle Black People’s Arts Initiative (SBPAI)
CoCA is reaching out directly to local government to release funding for our programs in support of African American artists
CoCA is taking intentional steps to diversify our artist member base
CoCA commits to amplifying the voices of underrepresented artists in our 2020 programming and beyond.
No longer is it enough to simply speak out against racism; we must act directly in response to the systematic oppression engendered by racism. At CoCA, we choose artistic action. We value the creative voices of artists from unserved, underserved, and underrepresented communities. We fight for a fully empowered creative life for all people.
This is CoCA’s call to disrupt and destroy racism. We move forward with clarity, compassion, and courage. Please join us in committing to real, actionable change in the arts. Collectively we can help heal the trauma imposed on the African American artistic communities.
We must create change, inclusion, and equity. Thriving is a human right.
With best regards,
Royal Alley-Barnes, MAT, CoCA Executive Director
Judith Rayl, MD PhD, Co-Chair Board of Directors
Ishi Malik, MBA, Co-Chair Board of Directors
Eddie Reed, Ed D, President, Board of Directors
Alison Post, Operations Manager
Nat Thornton, Curator
