PHASES OF DIVERSITY!

Question: What are the different phases of DIVERSITY, EQUALITY and MULTI-CULTURAL INCLUSION IN THE FINE ARTS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE?

Diversity has many different meanings but in the context of this blogpost it is being used to include more artists from other ethnicities into the mainstream fine arts scene, especially those of African descent. Many times Black artists have been pressured to make fine art that shows only one side of the African-American experience centered around the slave trade/civil rights and black power movement. 

Although this is a very, very important part of world history, there are many more accomplishments and topics that artists of African descent have to share with the world through their artistry that are just as real and true in their world right now.

For so many centuries our historical past, intellectual ideas and daily observations have been reinterpreted through another person's perception based upon the assumption of their "superior" intelligence. That is often biased according to their internal prejudices or a devaluation of its creative significance.

As a result there have been numerous movies, theatre productions and "non-fiction" books written without the proper facts, sequence of events or cultural context. However, when an artists is able to articulate their own form of creativity through any of the Fine Arts categories, the audience will usually receive a better adaptation of the actual events or real experiences displayed in an a variety  of fine art forms.

Answer:

PHASE-1 

The realization, acknowledgement and understanding that "people of color" have different viewpoints based upon their personal cultural experiences that should be reflected in more fine arts education programs.

PHASE-2 

The ability and determination to create specific opportunities in the fine arts that are inclusive of different social, cultural and religious beliefs. In an effort to educate the audience beyond their preconceived or stereotypical assumptions.

Why is this topic important?

The topic of including Diversity in more Fine Arts Education and Performances is important because it gives more people from different places the opportunity to express there creative talents to a wider audience.

This also allows the artists to establish themselves and brand, as they become more famous to prevent being duplicated or manufactured into a stereotypical image of something or someone else.

When an artists can express their own brand of originality to present through song, dance, painting and poetry it gives their individual art projects validation and credibility. This is an important process for those who want to have an authentic presence in the Fine Arts World.

This blog was written in response to a community sponsored workshop I attended about Creating Change, in Fine Arts Education and Performance.