Diversity in the arts can provide people exposure to the languages, dance and music of other cultures. It can create bridges between societies and even inspire people to become artists themselves.
Ahead, we explore the importance of diverse representation in the arts and arts education. We also discuss famed artists from communities that lack opportunities and organizations that work to bring the arts and arts education to the masses.
Why Is Representation in the Arts Important?
Diverse representation in the arts is especially important for those who may not typically see people who look like them in that field and can even help aspiring artists decide on a future career path in art.
For example, Black art is underrepresented in American museums. According to a Burns Halperin Report, between 2008 and 2020, Black American artists only represented approximately 2% of museum acquisitions and 6% of exhibits. With Black Americans comprising 13.6% of the entire U.S. population, these numbers are disproportionately low.
However, according to the same Burns Halperin Report, data from contemporary art museums showed an 8.8% representation of Black American artists in the collections at these institutions — and that number is growing. These museums are striving to increase the amount of Black American art within their walls. As just one example, Pérez Art Museum Miami (Pamm) has a $1 million endowment fund to acquire Black diaspora art. Seeing more Black American artwork in museums could help encourage Black art students to pursue full-time careers in art.
The Importance of Access to Arts Education
Equitable arts education may also assist in elevating promising artists from communities that often lack opportunities and representation. A National Arts Education Data Project report found that more than two million students in the U.S. lacked access to arts education, and only 7% of Black students had access to arts education programs at school.
The report also details data citing a nearly 50% reduction in arts education for Black students since the 1980s, while white students did not experience the same drastic reduction. Schools in underrepresented communities may also lack funding, supplies and teachers with professional knowledge of arts education, hindering access to such programs.
Partnering with local community organizations and receiving grants can be indispensable to boosting access to arts education. Representation in the arts and arts education demonstrate that barriers can be broken.
Celebrating Renowned Black Artists
Honoring and recognizing the work of famed Black artists can help bring the trials and tribulations of Black Americans to light. Kehinde Wiley and Carrie Mae Weems are two such artists who have captured key Black American moments.
Kehinde Wiley, Painter
Born in Los Angeles, Kehinde Wiley mixes contemporary culture and art history in his artwork. His large-scale oil paintings depict Black Americans in poses reminiscent of classic portraiture, with elaborate and embellished backgrounds. Most notably, he was the first Black American artist to paint a U.S. Presidential portrait, beautifully capturing former U.S. President Barack Obama on canvas.
Carrie Mae Weems, Photographer
Born in 1953, photographer Carrie Mae Weems is most well known for her “Family Pictures and Stories” and began her “Kitchen Tables Series” in 1990. The “Kitchen Table Series” details the everyday experiences of Black women and consists of 20 storied photos, including Weems and others at her kitchen table.
Weems’ work has been on display at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Robert F. Smith and His Support of the Arts
Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, is a fierce advocate for the arts, arts education and preserving historical sites. Smith serves as Chairman of Carnegie Hall’s Board of Trustees, has donated $20 million to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and is the founding director and President of Fund II Foundation, an organization that invests in music education. He is also a longtime contributor to the Sphinx Organization and a supporter of the Louis Armstrong House Museum.
Sphinx Organization
The Sphinx Organization, located in Detroit, MI, is dedicated to diversity in the arts. It helps build the representation of Black and Latino artists in classical music and serves musicians, administrators and cultural entrepreneurs. Founded by violinist Aaron P. Dworkin over two decades ago, the organization focuses on artistic excellence and inclusion and offers performances and tours, year-round tuition-free education and commissions and performs new works by Black and Latino composers.
Smith made a major contribution to the organization in 2016 to support the Robert Frederick Smith Prize scholarships. His donations have also sponsored programs such as the organization’s chamber orchestra, Sphinx Virtuosi. In 2016, Fund II Foundation contributed $3 million to the Sphinx Organization to help fund programs like its networking conference, SphinxConnect.
Louis Armstrong House Museum
Smith is on the Board of Trustees for the Louis Armstrong House Museum (LAHM), the former home of jazz legend Louis Armstrong. Fund II Foundation donated $3 million to LAHM in 2016 to digitize the museum’s archives. The museum, located in Queens, New York, works to preserve Armstrong’s life and legacy through access to archival materials and educational programs. The museum, which opened in 2003, features numerous collections and virtual exhibits.
Learn more about Smith’s contributions and commitment to philanthropy.
