All City Art Club

I would use the funding to expand our public art projects and art events to reach more of the city and give more opportunities to rising artists to showcase their work.

I strongly believe in art as a catalyst for change and unifier of people. Through graffiti and street art, I've seen firsthand how art & representation in the arts improves the morale of a community and its residents pride in their home. Often this art form is coopted as a precursor to gentrification and artists of color are excluded from the discussion. All City Art Club was birthed from a desire to bring the joy of art to underserved and neglected communities, to create a platform for marginalized creatives, promote reinvestment in the arts as a community asset, and recognize the importance of the role art plays in our society. 

Structural racism and chronic disinvestment in Black & PoC neighborhoods. Redlining and other racist policies have long affected the viability of marginalized communities. Disinvestment often spills over into green space and the arts. 

We address the problem by undertaking projects and partnering with other grassroots & community led organizations to create public art that not only beautifies the community but also draws attention to the inequity around it, to reclaim vacant lots for green spaces, and to broaden participation in the civic agenda.

Being inclusive of graffiti and graffiti aesthetics, often seen only as vandalism  or cited in "broken windows" theories against street art, and by specifically seeking out opportunities for public art in Black & PoC neighborhoods. Intentional representation, especially in public art, can inspire pride in community, boost community engagement, and reframe the public conversation about power and representation in public art.

• We find spaces for public art projects in underserved communities 

• We work with Black & PoC artists to create these public works of art.

We find these steps to be effective because of interactions with the community. We're often approached by residents with expressions of gratitude and potential opportunity to create more art by property owners & business owners wanting to see more investment in the community.