Cultural Appropriation Policy Statement
The Tofino Arts Council will not support arts programming that engages in cultural appropriation*.
The Tofino Arts Council prioritizes programming by community members that reflects their own culture(s).
*for definitions and further reading please see our full policy document here
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Tofino Arts Council values inclusion and recognizes that the arts are enriched by the diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives of all people. We are committed to creating safe environments where everyone feels welcome, included, and respected.
The Tofino Arts Council believes in cultural equity, which explicitly values diverse communities and perspectives based on heritage, culture, language, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, LGBTQ2SI identity, ability, physical and mental health, religion, education, socio-economic background, family, and immigration status.
We recognize that these statements are not static but subject to change as part of the process of continual learning and growth. We also acknowledge that these statements mean nothing without tangible actions.
Decolonizing Statement
Decolonizing is the process of deconstructing and rejecting colonial ideologies and frameworks that have been imposed on Indigenous ways of life (as well as on other cultures). The Tofino Arts Council is committed to decolonizing as an organization.
The Tofino Arts Council recognizes that the settling of Clayoquot Sound has impacted the region in harmful ways, and that this impact is still felt today by local Indigenous people. In the arts, this means challenging the prevalence of white settler art and practices in our community and making space for Indigenous art and culture.
The Tofino Arts Council recognizes the histories of injustice and discrimination, particularly as they relate to the loss of Indigenous culture, and acknowledge that we have a responsibility to address this loss and use the resources at our disposal to support Indigenous artists in our community.
We are committed to being accountable to our community and decolonizing in the following ways:
Offering free membership to the Tofino Arts Council to Indigenous artists.
As part of this membership, supporting our artist members through a simplified and accessible small grants program.
Paying full CARFAC fees to artists whenever possible.
Recognizing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that Indigenous nations have the right to benefit from and control economic activities occurring on their lands;
Supporting this right through the creation of opportunities for Indigenous artists to sell and profit from their artwork.
Ensuring diverse programming that does not prioritize European culture.
Working with Indigenous artists to address structural issues inherent to the Tofino Arts Council that disadvantage Indigenous artists.