BIPOC & AAPI STATEMENT
To our music family, friends, colleagues, and supporters:
We find ourselves in a defining time of the cultural history and diversity in our country. Our hearts and thoughts are immersed in this moment, as we continue to reflect on the detrimental truth and consequent actions of racism, and we are determined to help perpetuate the movement of anti-racism toward a world of honesty, integrity, and courage. We all bear witness to the atrocious behaviors inflicted on people of color, including the horrific murder of George Floyd in our very own community on May 25, 2020, and we condemn its continuation.
We also stand up courageously to forward this statement from the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota Executive Director John Gordon:
“The horrific shootings in Atlanta on March 16, 2021 come on the heels of a rapid increase in violent attacks against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. We mourn with the victims, their loved ones and their community. We stand firmly united with our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) friends. Asian Americans have faced discrimination throughout our nation's history. Today, we join our AAPI neighbors, calling for an end to the hatred and intolerance that led to this moment. We must all work together to end the scapegoating and white supremacy that leads to violence like this. We cannot and will not stop fighting until all people and all communities are truly given the rights guaranteed to "We the People" by our Constitution."
Artaria stands in support of all Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color, Asian American, and Pacific Island people. All persons should enjoy equality, dignity, peace, and every opportunity and privilege to follow their dreams, regardless of skin color, origin, economic status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religion. As we shift our actions to reflect our intention, we align ourselves with the statement of the Black Lives Matter movement and commit to “embody and practice justice, liberation, and peace in our engagements with one another.”
We acknowledge that we have underperformed and undertaught the chamber music of Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and Asian American and Pacific Islanders. Going forward, we commit to being more inclusive in giving voice to important and valuable compositions of all past and living composers.
Artaria is dedicated to supporting and celebrating our students, audiences, and composers of all diversity, and to contributing our efforts toward social justice...to confront our role in perpetuating injustice, to facilitate the healing of past wounds, and to open opportunities for all to thrive today and always.