ABOUT THE FUND

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ExposeYourMuseum recognizes that often the most critical voices and perspectives get silenced. This is particularly true for individuals who challenge convention, speak truth to power, advocate for change, champion the marginalized, and call attention to oppression. “Fund the Change” works to amplify those voices.

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This is no less true in the arts and within museums, libraries, and cultural institutions than it is in other fields. Many organizations talk about “diversity” and being “inclusive”. Very few make sustained efforts or invest adequately to actualize change. We have seen increasing example of this recently, during the Black Lives Matter movement and throughout COVID-19-related firings and furloughs. 

 

“Fund the Change” is one way to counter the pervasive inaction in our sector. It is also an acknowledgement by Kate of her own privilege and a way to hold herself accountable, personally and professionally, to shifting the power dynamic.

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On the fringes, and often out of their own pockets, there are inspiring individuals fighting injustice and working toward equity, access, and liberation. There are activist artists. There are anti-racist theater producers. There are queer and trans-led museum exhibits. There are abolitionist arts educators. There are restorative justice after-school programs. There are refugee services in libraries. 

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THESE ARE THE PEOPLE AND THE PROJECTS THAT KEEP US GOING AND ENERGIZE OUR WORK.

THEY ARE OUR HOPE AND INSPIRATION.

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These individuals– these artists, these activists, these creatives– may not be part of an official organization that supports the labor they do on behalf of social change. They are far too often not compensated financially for their work or not paid a fair and equitable rate. They are often expected by dominant systems to make, to create, to teach, to give, to labor without pay. Organizations and institutions have their own ways of getting money.

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WE BELIEVE SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS FINANCIALLY PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN ARTS-BASED ACTIVISM.

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A percentage of all ExposeYourMuseum revenue is automatically allocated to “Fund the Change.” Each quarter, recipients are drawn from our pool of “Fund the Change” activists. Priority is given to people of color and Native and indigenous peoples (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+ folks, people with disabilities, those with financial disadvantages, and womxn.

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AS PART OF EXPOSEYOURMUSEUM’S RACIAL EQUITY PRACTICES, NO LESS THAN 75% OF RECIPIENTS ARE– AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE– PEOPLE OF COLOR/BIPOC.

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There is no application process. Any and all folks doing working towards anti-oppression and social justice in the arts and cultural sector are eligible. All potential recipients come to us through the recommendations of other activists in these fields. Want to recommend someone? Do it now (via SurveyMonkey)!