We are deeply saddened and angered by the recent news of police brutality, racism, and violence happening in the U.S. and Canada. Artscape stands in solidarity with our Black employees and community of creators in raising our voice to say that Black lives matter. We are all indebted to the activism, art and cultural contributions of Black creators. As an organization whose core values align with community, we have a responsibility to use our platform to share info and resources that combat racism, hatred and discrimination in our society.
Actions we can take to help support the Black community:
- Donate to the BLM movement, national bail funds, and the families of those affected by police violence
- Get involved with a local BLM chapter
- Make a conscious effort to consume and support Black art and patronize more Black-owned businesses
- Engage in these important, and often difficult conversations within your own circles on dismantling white supremacy and anti-blackness, and learn about how racism often operates unconsciously through implicit biases.
We encourage you to use your voice to let our governments, our police forces, and our fellow citizens know that racism will not be tolerated, and systemic change needs to happen now.
List of resources for the non-Black community to support the Black community in Canada (includes fundraisers for families etc)
Donations made through this link are split across 38 bail funds in the US
Compilation of places to donate on Twitter
Directory of Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in Toronto
Crowd-sourced list of bail funds to assist folks unjustly placed under arrest
