Cultural Equity Statement
To support a full creative life for all, The Veterans Art Project aims to create a space that promotes cultural equity, supports all of our members and staff, and provide accessible facilities in which Veterans, family members, caregivers and Active duty from ALL nationalities can create Dignified Displays of Art. Definition of Cultural Equity
Cultural equity embodies th
e values, policies, and practices that ensure that all people – including but not limited to those who have been historically underrepresented based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, citizenship status, or religion – are represented in the development of VETART programming; the support of artists; the nurturing of accessible, thriving venues for expression; and the fair distribution of programmatic, financial, and informational resources. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & AFIIRMATIONS
• In the United States, there are systems of power that grant privilege and access, unequally such that inequity and injustice result, and that must be continuously addressed and changed.
• Cultural equity is critical to the long-term viability of the Arts sector.
• We must hold ourselves accountable, because acknowledging and challenging our inequities and working in partnership is how we will make changes happen.
• Everyone deserves equal access to a full, vibrant creative life, which is essential to a healthy and democratic society.
• The prominent presence of Artists challenges inequities and encourages alternatives. MODELING THROUGH ACTION
To provide informed, authentic leadership for for cultural equity, we strive to…
• Pursue cultural consciousness throughout our organization through substantive learning and formal, transparent policies.
• Acknowledge and dismantle any inequities within our policies, systems, programs, and services, and report organization progress.
• Commit time and resources to expand more diverse leadership within our board, staff, and advisory bodies.
