BANF’S Vision:
The BIPOC Arts Network & Fund (BANF) is a multi-year initiative that builds a revolutionary arts ecosystem that empowers BIPOC artists, organizations, and communities in the Greater Houston Area with transformative opportunities to dream, connect, collaborate, and create.
What’s needed to advance BANF’s vision?
1
Shift inequitable narratives and funding practices that have resulted in the underinvestment and undervaluing of BIPOC artists, arts collectives and arts organizations
2
Support the development of network relationships and infrastructure necessary to resource a thriving BIPOC arts ecosystem
3
Nourish the network so that it grows into one that is strong and sustainable and able to shift conditions into the future
4
Shape and amplify vibrant narratives about BIPOC arts, artists and culture in Houston
- Uplift BIPOC artists contributions and stories
- Holistically and sustainably invest in artists and their work
- Catalyze additional funding and help shift funding practices
- Grow a BIPOC arts network and uplift community expertise
- Scaffold connection, collaboration & resource sharing within the network
BANF is funded through 2025. What has been seeded is a network of BIPOC groups, artists and community members who work together and are recognized by the dominant arts power structure. Together they will have the resources, experiences and power needed to advance the BIPOC arts ecosystem amidst the the broader arts sector.
The current network is a hub and spoke formation with some individuals, collectives, and organizations connecting to one another, and with one major connecting point in the center (BANF).
There is a funder, convener, and evaluator that is impacting BIPOC artists and emerging network
Hub with some people close in and some apart (with relationship and connections that are not yet activated)
There are small pop-up collectives, arts pillars of their communities connected to other long-term organizations, and peripheral community organizations only connected by BANF.
The goal of future work is to strengthen the hub and spokes BIPOC Arts Network with:
Funding for cultural treasure organizations and individual artists
Facilitating learning cohorts
Developing network infrastructure
Tracking learning and connection
Shifting the narrative about BIPOC arts and artists
BANF Current Initiatives
- Houston Cultural Treasures are arts organizations that have anchored our communities of color and shaped Houston’s dynamic and diverse culture that we benefit from today
- Houston Cultural Treasures have a history of Community Impact and a commitment to strengthening our communities and BIPOC arts ecosystem.
- $5M in multi-year general operating funds and technical support
- BIPOC artists who have demonstrated consistent and ongoing creative engagement and interaction that has benefitted Greater Houston’s communities of color through arts and creative service
- $1M to 2 rounds of 25 artists at $20k each in two 18 month learning cohorts
- BANF is working with our foundation partners to address gaps, resource opportunities, and catalyze new pathways.
- We continue to engage community design teams to address concerns like BIPOC student success through arts education and invest in emerging Cultural Treasures.
- Track learning and connection across BIPOC arts network
- Identify non-financial network resource needs and scaffold BIPOC arts network network
- Leverage network and ecosystem to shift narrative of BIPOC arts and artists