SMI’s leadership team acknowledges the pain and outrage so many of us feel as we mourn the lives lost to racism. We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.
As a visual arts organization we believe that artist voices make change.
Artists reflect who we are as individuals, as communities, as societies, as countries. The voices of artists have so many times, exposed the systemic racism and discrimination in our society and highlighted the demands for equality and social justice. We must listen to them; we must respond to them; we must, every day, work to eliminate implicit and explicit bias in ourselves and in others.The visual arts are a powerful tool that can reach and connect us all, regardless of age, gender, culture, faith, or race.
As an arts membership organization we believe in inclusion and equality.
SMI is committed to addressing the systemic racism that permeates arts and culture and to making real changes to ensure that SMI represents and promotes our large and diverse community. We understand that this will require our attention not just today, but every day. With this in mind, we are adding an inclusion statement to our organization Mission Statement, so every SMI program, event and endeavor will be consciously judged against these words:
Studio Montclair is an inclusive, nationwide non-profit organization of exhibiting, professional and emerging artists and others interested in the visual arts. The mission of the organization is to promote culture, education, equality, and tolerance through art. Studio Montclair is committed to diversity at every level.