#UpstateArtWeekendDoBetter
Have you ever seen something with a name that made you feel like "oh wow, I should be part of this!" but then the deeper you looked into it, the more it felt like it was designed without you in mind while also exploiting you somehow?
Enter Upstate Art Weekend. Literally founded by rich white artists from NYC who literally moved "upstate" during the pandemic's peak & literally said "you know what this area needs? An arts scene!" (TEXTBOOK saviorism, gentrification, gatekeeping, so tired.) Instead of arriving & immersing themselves in what & who was already here or supporting arts local efforts, they used their resources to design a pay-to-play offering that costs $250-$500+ to be a part of & gave it a name that capitalizes on a region experiencing a housing crisis & actively erases Indigenous history past and present.
A cohort of community members have tried calling them in for the past few years- via comment, DM, email, & invites to in person conversation. All to no avail.
Enter #UpstateArtWeekendDoBetter !
ACTION 1: Have a thought? Drop it! Via one of our #UpstateArtWeekendDoBetter social media posts, via email, wherever. We're sharing community-informed transmissions & strive to include as many local voices as possible while centering those of folks who not only hold a marginalized identity but are working class artists/beings most impacted by systems of harm (aka not women millionaires for example... oop!)
ACTION 2: Don't show out to or support UAW! So many of the participating venues are also gatekeepers within the local arts scene & don't exist for the many. To venues who knowingly are "trying to change it from the inside", we'd love to have a presence during your show. To venues ready to escape the cycle of broken ways of operating, let's talk. To venues who think UAW is good, we're rooting for you and your unlearning journey. To community members who feel excluded - WE ARE. But we don't need this event! Do your own cool things during July 21-24 & all year long! And do it collaboratively & intersectionally!
~Community Transmissions~
Click each image and read what our community thinks!
1. "A case against Upstate Art Weekend" and offerings like it
2. Some community thoughts on Upstate Art Weekend
3. Action items for local artists & for venues
Remember how UAW said "please save your feedback for our survey that will drop in August"?
Well it dropped, but we were not made aware! Didn't see any posts, weren't sent it, no email... (hmmmm) (lol)
Immense gratitude to the community member who let us know it was live! The link was hiding on their website.
ACTION ITEM 1: GO FILL THAT BABY OUT. We know it's work & that it might bring up hard feelings so we trust folks to self assess their capacity. But also want to remind everyone that shouting into the ether on social media doesn't always have the fullest effect. Doing so ABSOLUTELY helped inform the campaign, hear untold stories, get inside feedback, connect with one another, & so much more! But when the oppressors refuse to listen unless feedback is shared through their oppressive structures, we have a decision to make. We will definitely be carving out time to send thoughts. Encouraging folks to utilize notes from the campaign, all of which can be found online at www.celebrate845.com/upstateArtWeekend
Maybe nothing will change & it'll be business as usual. Maybe it can't be fixed (which is absolutely true unless it's abolished & rebuilt). But maybe there's still power in sharing stories. Maybe enough people will hear them & UAW will give up power & resources to make room for something less harmful. Maybe it will feel good.
ACTION ITEM 2: if you feel called, please email us your responses so we can make sure they aren't lost (& are maybe used in future campaigns!). Only the last 2 questions which are the only 2 that aren't checkboxes. Send to celebrate845@gmail.com
To those who believe that the old ways are over & another way is possible: we hear you, believe in you, are grateful to be in community with you, & want to build with you.
Well it dropped, but we were not made aware! Didn't see any posts, weren't sent it, no email... (hmmmm) (lol)
Immense gratitude to the community member who let us know it was live! The link was hiding on their website.
ACTION ITEM 1: GO FILL THAT BABY OUT. We know it's work & that it might bring up hard feelings so we trust folks to self assess their capacity. But also want to remind everyone that shouting into the ether on social media doesn't always have the fullest effect. Doing so ABSOLUTELY helped inform the campaign, hear untold stories, get inside feedback, connect with one another, & so much more! But when the oppressors refuse to listen unless feedback is shared through their oppressive structures, we have a decision to make. We will definitely be carving out time to send thoughts. Encouraging folks to utilize notes from the campaign, all of which can be found online at www.celebrate845.com/upstateArtWeekend
Maybe nothing will change & it'll be business as usual. Maybe it can't be fixed (which is absolutely true unless it's abolished & rebuilt). But maybe there's still power in sharing stories. Maybe enough people will hear them & UAW will give up power & resources to make room for something less harmful. Maybe it will feel good.
ACTION ITEM 2: if you feel called, please email us your responses so we can make sure they aren't lost (& are maybe used in future campaigns!). Only the last 2 questions which are the only 2 that aren't checkboxes. Send to celebrate845@gmail.com
To those who believe that the old ways are over & another way is possible: we hear you, believe in you, are grateful to be in community with you, & want to build with you.
organize - recognize - celebrate!
