Institutional and cultural change is slow and doesn’t come easy. In my experience there are two art worlds. The one I have lived in for over a decade that is inclusive, creative, queer, DIY, and POC centered. In this world we support each other and produce interesting and challenging art exhibitions in creative, nontraditional spaces.

And then there is the other one, the white male dominated world that reinforces and creates reasons to bar entry to the rest of us.

I am tired of the being told that the western canon and lens is the standard and only one worth experiencing. I am tired of artists of color being marginalized and pigeon holed by race. And I know I am not alone. The world isn’t changing, it has changed. The country is divided by people who want true equity and people who are blind to inequity and are afraid of losing power. It is time for us as Americans to decide what kind of country, culture and art we want to for our children.

The time is now for the two art worlds to collide. The collectors, producers, artists and makers can’t look like they used to. The sector has to decide that art is for everyone and empower everyone to take part in policy decisions.

Community organizations have been on the ground doing this work and they are the model that AFTA and others should look to in creating a framework. What does this mean for the future of an institution like AFTA? It means that we have to have the hard conversations with staff and stakeholders and affirm that they are not alone and we share their values. The arts community will have to support AFTA and its board when it does the hard work of creating an inclusive cultural framework. AFTA committing to cultural equity will hopefully show many other government institutions that this work is possible and achievable.