BIPOC Curatorial Program

New Art Center presents the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Curatorial Program.

As a community arts education space, the New Art Center believes that art creates change. With a 44+ year history of building community through art, we offer 400+ classes annually, as well as a long-standing exhibition program. We recognize that now more than ever it is crucial for us to use our platform to defeat systemic racism and social injustices that are all too present in our country and our community.

The New Art Center’s BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Curatorial Program is designed to offer the opportunity for guest curators of color to curate exhibitions within New Art’s ongoing Exhibition Program. The BIPOC Curatorial Program will enable curators who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to develop and share exhibitions that spark dialogue, and share personal vision and personal experiences through curation. We hope this opportunity will create much needed dialogue in our own community to counter systemic racism.

This program was piloted in July 2020 as a response to the escalating national racial unrest. Working with local artist and guest BIPOC curator Ibrahim Ali-Saalam, New Art developed a call for an online exhibition of Peaceful Protest Posters to create an opportunity for our arts community to come together and peacefully exchange ideas through art. More than 43 artists submitted works, and Ibrahim curated the exhibition to include a total of 55 pieces. The online exhibition was a major success with a strong public response including a feature on NewTV’s Museum Open House as well as several mentions in the Newton Tab.

The success, interest and mission of this project led New Art to formally develop the BIPOC Curatorial Program which will yield three exhibitions annually.

Interested in participating? Have an exhibition that aligns with this program? Apply today!

Statement of Solidarity

The New Art Center unequivocally supports racial equality, racial justice and racial equity. We recognize that now more than ever it is crucial for cultural organizations to use their platforms to fight the racism and social injustices which are all too present in our country. We are reminded that when we see injustices we must act. The New Art Center stands in solidarity with Black, Brown and Asian members of our community to fight systematic racism.

The New Art Center is a community art education space that offers everyone, at all levels of ability, exceptional and safe opportunities to make, exhibit, view, think about, and talk about art. In this time of great sorrow, we will continue to advocate for racial equality, racial justice and racial equity for all, removing any barriers that might prevent anyone from participating in creative expression through the arts.