At this key turning point in our country’s struggle for social justice, the arts provide an inspiring opportunity to amplify Broward's community voices.
The Community Foundation of Broward is using the power of the arts to bridge differences with support for Art of Community – philanthropy that ignites creativity, invokes community pride and unites residents through the arts.
Thanks to Community Foundation Fundholders who step up for the arts, one of our new Art of Community grants supports the NSU Art Museum’s “Community Voices” initiative. Community Voices uses the arts to engage residents in an exploration of social and racial inequalities – and to challenge social structures.
Community Voices features a series of free live performances and workshops by local and national artists that address racial inequalities, identity, migration and social structures. To attract a broad audience with varying interests, the wide-ranging performances will include spoken word, dance, music, fashion and more. The performances are accompanied by Q&A sessions with the artist and a museum educator.
This dynamic artistic initiative is meant to foster dialogue, help break down barriers and serve as a catalyst for social change. The museum launched Community Voices on June 19 with a Juneteenth panel discussion entitled “Looking Forward, Looking Back: Freedom, Afrofuturism and Reflections on Juneteenth.” The discussion ranged from the historical context of emancipation to messages about the Black community in modern art, literature and pop culture.
In the months ahead, the Community Voices initiative will be incorporated with exhibitions at the museum in Fort Lauderdale, including the work of New York-based artist Eric Mack.
“I am proud to work with a museum and a community that supports the important work of artists at a critical time in the history of this country,” Eric Mack wrote in a letter of support for Community Voices. “I would like to thank Community Foundation of Broward for identifying the critical connection between creativity, healing, and well-being and for supporting the work of the cultural organizations and artists who nurture the public through these projects.”
The NSU Art Museum’s Community Voices initiative is one of seven exciting new Art of Community projects that will help answer our community’s call for social justice.
Click here to learn more about all the new Art of Community projects.
“It’s really the arts that unify us, they heal us, they inspire us,” Community Foundation President/CEO Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, Ph.D., said. “These programs are going to have an amazing impact on our community.”
Support for the new Art of Community projects came from the following Funds at the Community Foundation:
Helen and Frank Stoykov Charitable Endowment Fund, Ruth H. Brown Fund for the Arts, Dot and Keith Cobb Fund, Mary and Alex Mackenzie Community Impact Fund, Edward Hashek and John Jors Charitable Fund, Leonard & Sally Robbins Fund, Everett H. Metcalf, Jr. Unrestricted Fund, Mary N. Porter Community Impact Fund, Community Concerts Association of Fort Lauderdale Performing Arts Fund, A Fund for the Performing Arts, Linda and Michael Carter Fund, John D. Ryan Fund, Harold D. Franks Fund, Gary J. Scotto Fund, Discretionary Community Fund, Oakland Park Woman’s Club, Deinhardt Charitable Fund, Ann Adams Fund, The Robert Elmore Family Fund, Maxine Powers Hofert Fund, Peter J. and Mary C. Barbare Fund, Barbara and Michael G. Landry Fund for Broward, Peck Family Fund, Julia C. Baldwin Fund, Frederick W. Jaqua Fund
To learn how you can help support Art of Community and other Issues That Matter to Broward, contact Vice President of Philanthropic Services Nancy Thies at nthies@cfbroward.org or 954-761-9503.
