Audience Support for DEI - Open Forum

Meeting Summary: April 24, 2025

Facilitator: Alan Brown (WolfBrown)

Purpose of Meeting

The session followed a recent blog post from WolfBrown, which revisited audience attitudes toward inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in light of evolving political narratives. The forum served as a space for open dialogue among arts leaders and practitioners to share their observations and strategies in this shifting landscape.

Key Themes and Insights

1. Evolution of Language

• Many organizations are being forced to reconsider how they frame their “DEI” work. Some have shifted away from terms like “DEI” due to politicization, adopting alternatives such as “Equality, Access, and Belonging.”

• There is resistance among some to abandoning existing language, with one participant noting fatigue over seeing inclusive terms weaponized.

• The broader call was to use language intentionally and with clarity of purpose, especially in public communications and grant applications.

2. Political Landscape and Funding Impacts

• A few leaders shared they are proactively distancing themselves from federal funding due to concerns over political strings, preferring private or local funding.

• Others are witnessing direct impacts: one arts leader’s State Department-funded tour was abruptly paused due to budgetary cuts, another noted declining arts support in their region.

• State arts agencies in more progressive states feel relatively shielded but acknowledge concern for their peers in politically conservative areas.
  

3. Accessibility and Intersectionality

• Accessibility was highlighted as an often-overlooked part of inclusion conversations. One participant, working closely with artists across the disability spectrum, emphasized that accessibility should be central to cultural equity efforts—not an add-on.

• The need for backstage accessibility was especially noted, stressing how technical accommodations often neglect the performer’s experience.

• The IDEA Study revealed that many who benefit from accessibility services don’t self-identify as disabled—suggesting wider relevance and community benefit.
  

4. Organizational Strategy and Community Alignment

• Several organizations reiterated their commitment to equity-centered missions regardless of political pressure. Some are quietly continuing their work, while others are actively reaffirming public stances.

• Community-based and arts education organizations emphasized the importance of meeting people where they are, crafting programs with universal goals tailored to distinct needs (referencing the "targeted universalism" framework).

• Arts organizations serving LGBTQ+ communities, BIPOC artists, and those in rural or politically mixed regions noted varying levels of internal vs. external pressure around these topics.
  

5. The Role of National Infrastructure

• There was discussion about the fragility of the U.S. federal arts support system. Some called for the creation of a new, more resilient National Foundation for the Arts, independent of political shifts. They referred to the need for a U.S. Department or Ministry of Arts & Culture, noting that most developed countries have more stable and better-funded arts systems.

• The concept of "venture philanthropists" was introduced—supporters willing to fund transformational cultural work without demanding traditional ROI metrics.

Reflections and Closing

Participants agreed that now is a moment for reflection, recommitment, and community-building. Despite uncertainty, many expressed renewed clarity in their values and a desire to support each other in navigating the complexity of language, equity, and funding in the arts sector.