Statement for Building Equity 2021
Black Lives Matter. Trans Lives Matter. Indigenous Lives Matter. Asian-American Lives Matter. Latinx Lives Matter.
As so many are often overlooked in every current moment, to all those who are missing from this list:
We stand for the human dignity of all who are disenfranchised.
One aim of our arts residency is to continue to build space and accessibility for LGBTQIA+ artists from all walks of life and backgrounds within the natural landscapes and within the increasingly & historically exclusive beach communities of Fire Island, which have been a home for queer culture for decades.
While our past decisions have not always been in line with these goals, this statement is to clarify to ourselves and our community where we are now, and where we are going. It is due to the feedback from folks in our community who are committed to shaping the future of FIAR that we have a more dynamic and comprehensive outlook on what inclusivity, belonging, and accessibility mean in practice. We are aware that this is a work in progress, and we acknowledge that there is always work to be done.
The practices and benchmarks outlined here will be updated every year, as we continue to learn and grow as an organization. At the bottom of this document, you will find details on the most current update.
This is not a statement about where we’ve been, but where we are going. FIAR’s current outlook is due to the feedback from folks in our community who are committed to shaping the future of FIAR that we have a fresh view of both our successes and shortcomings--and guideposts toward repair. Deep listening to past residents (especially the 2014 and 2019 cohorts) has informed our future and current anti-bias work.
The wealth of our community is always our greatest asset as an arts organization. Racism, bias and transphobia in any form are unacceptable and we are committed to addressing these concerns head-on as they show up in our community. We are committed to holding ourselves accountable to the missteps of the past, in order to build the kind of equitable, inclusive organization that centers the needs and voices of our emerging Black, Indigenous & POC (people of color) LGBTQ+ artists and poets.
We are committed to creating a welcoming place for our residents to live and work. Through deep listening, open dialogue, incorporating critical feedback from alumnx, engaging with our communities, and partnering with like-minded organizations, we have taken actions to amplify queer, BIPOC voices, and create spaces for historically-excluded populations.
Additionally, FIAR has begun implementing anti-racist policies and protocols to hold our staff, Board of Directors, and stakeholders accountable, while creating supportive channels for our residents, through mandatory DEI training, incident reporting protocols, an organizational flowchart to guide recommendations and conflict resolution practices, and a new Alumnx Liaison Committee that focuses on the resident-experience.
We recognize this work is ongoing and we will continue to actively listen and evolve and welcome dialogue and feedback. FIAR’s staff and Board of Directors are committed to the achievement of these goals to galvanize the change we wish to see within our community.