The United Arts Council of Catawba County continues to stand against systemic racism, injustice and violence.
We strongly believe that Black Lives Matter.
We are committed to listening, while promoting meaningful dialog, increased understanding, and positive change. We strengthen our resolve to support opportunities for Artists of Color to create, and for People of Color to participate fully in our shared cultural life.
PUTTING OUR WORDS INTO ACTION
We have been motivated to put our words into action as we strive for a better community and world. With that goal, we have teamed with Jackson Creative to provide a “Listening Wall” to share stories of how race and art have intersected in your life.
We welcome all stories, including those that highlight both the negative and the positive. From the negative, we will strive to better understand another person’s pain. From the positive, we hope to be encouraged by hearing the various ways that cultural experiences, including music, theatre, visual arts, history, or literature have created a better world, if only for a moment.
These stories may be something you have directly experienced, something you witnessed, or perhaps a story about your journey as an Artist of Color; however people of all colors are invited to participate. Please be honest, but also be kind, for the world needs more of both right now. We vow to listen and learn.
While some stories may make you uncomfortable, our hope is they will inspire you and demonstrate how the arts can be part of the pathway to justice and equality.
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
Using the hashtag #artscatawba on Twitter, YouTube, or Instagram, post your words, a photograph, a meme, a video, or some other expression of your experience you want to share. Your story will appear on the “listening wall” below. You can also post a photo, video, or story on the United Arts Council of Catawba County Facebook page with the hashtag #artscatawba to also have them featured on this wall. Updates will be added to the wall throughout each day, so please return to see new posts and stories.