Event Details
EPISODE FOUR: White Supremacy in Philanthropy
With Aamera Siddiqui, Valerie Oliveiro, and Walken Schweigert, with moderator Maria Asp
December 9 at 7pm on Facebook Live
Panelists will discuss the history of white supremacy in philanthropy in this country and its impacts on BIPOC artists and organizations today.
The story of philanthropy begins with wealth built through genocide, slavery, and stolen land. Philanthropy is one of the many arms that make up systemic racism, and therefore a very small percentage of foundation dollars are currently invested in communities of color.
Artists in the community have claimed that our local funders have demonstrated systemic racism in the ways in which they distribute funding. Panelists share their experience and address the following:
- Are foundations obsolete?
- How do funders reinforce the canon presented by the dominant institutions?
- Artists must beg for money acquired on the backs of Black, Brown and Indigenous people.
- The vast majority of people who decide how foundation money is disbursed are white.
- Why aren’t small theaters qualifying for multi-year operating grants?
The public is invited to participate in a Q&A following the discussion on Facebook Live.
Watch Episode Four:
Frankly Speaking Episode Four: White Supremacy in Philanthropy from Wendy Knox on Vimeo.
FRANKLY SPEAKING: What’s Up With That? will be on Facebook Live monthly with discussions between theatre artists about the critical issues facing the arts, culture, and society. Like Frank’s Facebook page and get notifications when we’re going live! FRANKLY SPEAKING episodes will be available after the live air date on Facebook, Vimeo, and the Frank Theatre website.
Part of Frank Theatre’s mission is to create work that “explores ideas and issues of social, political and/or cultural concern.” Although that mission cannot be accomplished on the stage during COVID, Frank Theatre believes in the importance of continuing to have conversations that question the world we live in. Taking the moniker from Frank’s regular newsletter, “FRANKLY SPEAKING: What’s Up With That?” invites the public to join in an exploration of the kinds of questions that drive and inform the work that Frank typically puts on stage.
