URBANA — A group of artists who identify as people of color is having its first meeting on Wednesday, December 13th. The newly formed CU BIPOC Artist Collective aims to help non-white artists connect with each other, network, and find emotional support.
The collective is a partnership between the City of Urbana’s Arts and Culture Program and the University of Illinois’ College of Fine and Applied Arts.
Carolyn Randolph-Kato, the Visiting Associate Director of FAA’s Arts Impact Initiative, and Vivian Krishnan, who serves on the Urbana Arts and Culture Commission, are two of the driving forces behind the group’s creation and will serve as hosts for the first meeting.
Though the group is specifically geared toward artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color, the focus isn’t on keeping anyone out but creating intentionally inclusive spaces, Randolph-Kato said.
“When you think about institutions that are trying to address harm, and to create equity,” Randolph-Kato said, “Sometimes the most radical form of inclusion is creating space for others that has nothing to do with you.”
The group is filling a gap that’s felt by non-white artists in the community, Krishnan said. The two had previously hosted a booth for people of color in the arts at the Independent Media Center and got very positive feedback.
“It was just really amazing,” Krishnan said. “Some of the artists who have been here for decades were like, ‘I’ve never experienced this before. I’ve never like had a space like this or like a table like this before.'”
“Just to see people’s light in their eye was really exciting for me,” Randolph-Kato said. “And it confirmed something that I think both Vivian and I had a hunch about.”
Krishnan is an artist herself and said her own experiences have shown her why a specific space for non-white artists is necessary.
“The first time I started sort of hanging out with other artists of color, I could have conversations that were super intense and deep about our shared experiences,” she said. “That’s just not going to happen outside of that type of space.”
In addition to creating space for artists to make business and interpersonal connections, the organizers said the collective will be a place for artists to find resources and learn about opportunities.
“Carolyn and I are definitely wanting to start working on entrepreneurial growth with artists and different possible workshops that can touch on grant writing or formulating business plans or using certain software to enhance your ability to sell or create artwork,” Krishnan said.
The CU BIPOC Artist Collective’s first meeting will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Gallery Art Bar in Urbana on Dec. 13.