Our Cultural Equity Commitment

Springfield Cultural Partnership commits to championing policies and practices of cultural equity that empower a just, inclusive, and equitable region. We believe that equity is crucial to the long-term viability of both the arts and culture sector and communities-at-large.

DEFINITIONS

Cultural Equity – Cultural equity embodies the values, policies, and practices that ensure that all people—including but not limited to those who have been historically underrepresented based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, citizenship status, or religion—are represented in the development of arts policy; the support of artists; the nurturing of accessible, thriving venues for expression; and the fair distribution of programmatic, financial, and informational resources.

Diversity – The demographic mix of a specific collection of people, considering elements of human differences.

Equity – The promotion of justice, impartiality, and fairness within the procedures, processes, and distribution of resources by institutions or systems.

Inclusion – The degree to which diverse individuals are able to participate fully in the decision-making processes within an organization or group.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & AFFIRMATIONS

    • In the United States, there are systems of power that grant privilege and access unequally such that inequity and injustice result, and that must be continuously addressed and changed. 
    • Cultural equity is critical to the long-term viability of the arts sector.
    • We must all hold ourselves accountable, because acknowledging and challenging our inequities and working in partnership is how we will make change happen.
    • Everyone deserves equal access to a full, vibrant creative life, which is essential to a healthy and democratic society.
    • The prominent presence of artists challenges inequity and encourages alternatives. 

TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, WE…

    • Pursue cultural consciousness throughout our organization through substantive learning and formal, transparent policies.
    • Acknowledge and dismantle any inequities within our policies, systems, programs, and services, and report organization progress.
    • Commit time and resources to expand more diverse leadership within our board, staff, and advisory bodies. 

TO ADVANCE OUR SECTOR THROUGH SYSTEMIC CHANGE RELATED TO EQUITY, WE…

    • Provide opportunities for substantive learning to build cultural consciousness and to proliferate pro-equity policies and practices by all of our constituencies and audiences.
    • Support programs that reflect the full breadth of our community.
    • Improve the cultural leadership pipeline by creating and supporting programs and policies that foster leadership that reflects the full breadth of Springfield MA.
    • Advocate for public and private-sector policy that promotes cultural equity.

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