The Arts are a Tool to Promote Social Justice and Equity
Contemporary art has the power to amplify marginalized voices, challenge dominant narratives, bring communities together, and advocate for change.
Life is Drag: More is Better and Never Too Much, Rachel Rampleman (2022)
At a time when inflation is still on the rise and discretionary spending is down, it can be a challenge for the public to want to see something new. This creates a challenging environment for the contemporary arts, especially up-and-coming artists, as people might prefer to spend money on something that is familiar, whether it is music, performance art, film, or any other medium.
However, arts and culture hold a place in our society that goes beyond entertainment. A 2021 survey by Americans for the Arts found that 72% of Americans believe that art brings communities together regardless of age, race, and ethnicity. We spoke with Beth Falconer, Executive Director of 3S Artspace, a multidisciplinary nonprofit arts center in Portsmouth NH, who believes art is about fostering empathy, encouraging curiosity, and fueling creativity:
“We are intentionally focused on bringing together contemporary issues with arts and performance. “We are interested in today’s culture. What are people talking about? Are artists influenced by today’s narratives, and if so, how is it informing and transforming their work? At 3S, we are guided by providing a stage and space for artists and audience alike.”
Harnessing the transformative power of the arts to drive social justice and equity
There are several ways in which the arts bring value to society, and one of the most important contributions is establishing conversations between and across communities that create empathy and challenge the dominant narratives. An example of this is 3S Artspace’s 2021 “Culture Keepers, Culture Makers” series, a collaboration between the series' creators, Richard Haynes and Kristen Butterfiled-Ferrell. The audience was invited to participate in conversations that focused on culture's influence in creating and recreating perceptions of race and equity. For Beth Falconer, creating space for different perspectives matters, as no one sees the same piece of art the same way and dialogue brings people together:
“This series was meant to have launched in the spring of 2020. By the time we could launch the series, George Floyd had been murdered, and so much had changed with regard to the conversations people were having in the broader community. It shifted the way that Richard and Kristen launched the series, acknowledging a very current moment in time while we investigated, together, the historic and current influence culture has on our individual development.”
This initiative shows how, contrary to what some may think, many artists don’t create pieces to be deciphered. Art can allow room for individual interpretation, to jumpstart conversations,, sharing of experiences, and connections. This is what ultimately leads to understanding, learning, empathy, and acceptance. And, another very important aspect of the work of organizations like 3S Artspace is amplifying marginalized voices, not only the artists but also among the public:
“We’ve had exhibitions completely dedicated to the work of drag artists. We’ve had exhibitions completely dedicated to the exploration of the coastal surge and anticipated issues of environmental destruction on the seacoast, animal extinction, or about women and the myth - or reality - of the glass ceiling. These issues feel personal and relevant to your own life, and they draw people into the gallery. We know that not every experience or viewing is transformative, but by making space for routine exposure to art - our gallery is free - we hope that there are times that leave you affected, full of wonder, and open to new perspectives.”
Hall of Portraits from The History of Machines, Sue Johnson (2022) | Photo by Sara O'Reily, courtesy of 3S Artspace
A conscious effort to expand the “typical” art crowd
Despite visible change, the arts and culture industries - across different expressions like visual art, music, design, film, fashion, dance, writing, and others - are still predominantly white. To help impact this trend, 3S Artspace not only offers free admission to the gallery, but the team intentionally curates the center’s exhibitions to capture the attention of diverse audiences:
“As we try to bring in new audiences, we make a conscious effort to create inclusive exhibitions and showcase work that speaks to different life experiences. Additionally, our gallery is free of charge and sits in the lobby as an invitation for people to come in. We intentionally designed the space to feel welcoming, and to challenge the idea that galleries are just meant for buyers, which can feel intimidating and elitist.”
And, they strive to showcase works by underrepresented artists. Despite making the space for a large range of perspectives, the team at 3S Artspace noticed that open calls for submissions weren’t bringing in the anticipated diversity. And, that led to a change in approach:
“We used to not ask any questions regarding age, race, gender identification, or ethnicity in our open calls. At the time, we felt this kept everyone’s application focused on artistic merit alone. However, we realized that we really didn’t know who our applications themselves were reaching. With advice gained from our participation in the Cultural Equity Community Learning Communities, we now ask for voluntary self identification to see who is even applying for consideration. Still, even though this is the advice of today, we all sit with the question of tokenizing vs authentic diversity.”
The 3S Artspace Executive Director also feels that there are no clear best practices or maps to follow when working towards social equity and justice in the arts:
“I don’t think we, as an organization, have a sense of what true inclusion looks like. We are making efforts to continue to ask questions, provide space, collaborate, and listen. We have to be willing to be vulnerable and- likely- make mistakes along the way if we are going to make progress not only in representation but inclusion.”
Arts strengthen the economy and drive revenue to local businesses
From an economic perspective, the arts also have a significant impact on a community’s health and development. Not only can artistic and cultural spaces draw visitors, which stimulates the local economy, but they also create new employment opportunities, drive innovation and new ways of thinking, and bring life to soulless urban areas.
In New Hampshire, the arts and culture sector represents about 3.3% of the state’s GDP ($2.6 billion), which is higher than the GDP share of the sectors of construction and education, and 22,597 jobs according to data from 2020,. And despite the impact of the arts and culture sector on the overall economy, government support for the arts is low in New Hampshire, as the state budget is relatively smaller when compared to tourism, which leverages federal funds. However, the data keeps showing that the arts are a driver of local economies:
“In 2021 a study showed that arts audiences spend about $32 per person, per event, beyond the ticket price. Today, this probably has to be adjusted to inflation, but also think about the amount of spending that hits other areas of the economy when you buy a ticket. Whether you’re paying for childcare, or you’re having dinner at a restaurant, parking, or even lodging if you’re going out of town - this is vital income for local businesses generated by the arts.”
Although 3S Artspace is a nonprofit organization, it still has a valuable contribution to the Portsmouth region community:
“People are employed here, people are volunteering, they’re engaged in their community. Artists are paid, vendors are paid, and we’re a business like all others. And I would even say that 3S Artspace is more than a place of business. Through art, and the public’s interaction with it, we are shaping and creating culture.”
High-Water Mark, Yu-Wen Wu (2019)
The arts are essential for social and cultural progress
Arts and culture have the potential to create bridges of understanding and bring different voices together, contributing to reflection and empathy. They are a way to help us make sense of our world and the issues of today. So, whether you're seeing a piece of theater, listening to music, or visiting a gallery, you are engaging with culture, which is an incredibly influential part of our world:
“Don’t be afraid of difficult conversations. Arts and culture can provide inspiration and aspiration and make it easier for all of us to process what is happening around us. They have the capacity to highlight commonalities and humanity to break down barriers of conversation and to allow a new way of seeing. They can offer communal experiences, or solitary experiences, they offer comfort, joy, and a capacity for sorrow. You can do everything from erupting with great exuberance to quieting your mind.”
Beth Falconer, Executive Director of 3S Artspace
Bio
Beth Falconer became the Executive Director of 3S Artspace in 2016 when the organization was in its second year of full-time operations. Her career has been entirely dedicated to nonprofits and their role in building and sustaining healthy communities. Prior to 3S, she served as the Executive Director for the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport, MA, as the Vice President of Communications for a state-wide organization dedicated to youth and after-school programs, and as a Program Director for an international student exchange and education company.