TCG Public Resources

Valuing racial equity requires examining how our organizational practices can support equitable outcomes by assessing/addressing racial disparities and inequity. The panel process involves a system of often unquestioned activities—assumed to be inherently impartial—that directly impact funding outcomes. To address racial equity in the panel process, we must actively investigate who has access to opportunities and who doesn’t. Put another way, anti-racist grantmakers must design and implement systems and protocols that increase access and decrease barriers for historically under-resourced groups. We must ask ourselves: Who submits applications? Who do we award? How do we train panel moderators, panelists, and facilitators? In what ways can we interrupt racial bias and contribute to systemic change? By interrogating every step of the process from applicant pool, to the selection and training of panelists, to the panel experience and outcomes, as well as our communication with grant-seeking artists and organizations every step of the way, we can apply a racial equity lens to grantmaking and move from being part of the problem to being part of the solution.

AUTHOR:
Eleanor Savage (Lead Author), Jerome Foundation Program Director
EDITOR:
Ama Codjoe, Project Manager of Equity in the Panel Process
CONTRIBUTORS:
Jordan Baylon of Calgary Arts Development
Pam Breaux of National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Francene J. Blythe of Native Arts and Cultures Foundation
Moira Brennan of MAP Fund
Emilya Cachapero of Theatre Communications Group
Gargi Shindé of Chamber Music America
Kathy Hsieh of the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture
Ken May of South Carolina Arts Commission
Tariana Navas-Nieves of Denver Arts & Venues
Jane Preston of New England Foundation for the Arts
Dara Silver of The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County
DESIGN & LAYOUT:
Susan Wilcox, Twiga Works

#Grantmaking​​
#AntiRacism
#RacialEquity



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