Archie Bray Foundation

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Bray

The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts (Bray) believes that quality in ceramics is achieved through inviting, promoting, and encouraging diversity, equity and inclusion. A full representation of thought, education, geography, culture, and life experiences, all lead to artists’ ability to create thought provoking and important work. When we share our unique perspectives and experiences, we enhance the quality of each other’s work.
To create an environment that allows full opportunity for employees, resident artists and participants to enjoy and benefit from its programs, the Bray is committed to inclusivity and belonging in all aspects of its operation. The Bray’s core values are strengthened by a wide representation of talented, experienced, committed artists; engaged, knowledgeable staff and board of directors; and the active participation of all members of the Bray community in its programs.

The Bray is committed to opening access, opportunity, and advancement to people from groups that have been under-represented in terms of recognition, funding, and institutional support. This requires the Bray to consider and remove the traditional barriers that make participation in its programs difficult for any group. We are also evaluating ways to expand the processes, activities, and decision/policy making in a way that ensures equal access to opportunities and resources.

The Bray has adopted several action steps to implement the commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, which are found in the Bray Strategic Plan. The Bray will continue to engage in a dynamic strategic planning process that will regularly review and improve the action steps taken and will work to spread its programs to those communities that have traditionally lacked access and participation in the arts.

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Black Lives Matter Looking back at our history, the Bray has supported artists from different cultures, races, genders and sexual orientations. However, many groups, particularly the Black community, have been severely underrepresented. This lack of full representation and societal exclusion is a problem at the Bray, a problem in the ceramic arts field, and a systemic issue in our country that needs to be addressed. We can do better. The Bray is committed to actively improving the conditions in the ceramics community and working to be anti-racist in every facet of what we do.

The Bray is committed to these immediate initiatives (June 2020):

· Form new outreach and education programs. People in Black and Indigenous communities face systemic barriers to education – this includes ceramic education and exposure to the arts which is where lasting change can occur. We have been in discussion with organizations that work with underserved populations in both Black and Indigenous communities and created the framework of a new outreach program. We are currently seeking funding to partner with these organizations to make this a core focus of our outreach and education program in the future. It is our goal that we will launch this program in the summer of 2021 when we reopen our summer educational session.
· Re-evaluate our board structure and actively recruit a diverse body of members to better represent our community. The leadership of the Bray should reflect the people we aim to serve now and in the future. New members were added in July 2020.
· Develop scholarship opportunities for artists of color to remove financial barriers in our programs by summer of 2021.
· Actively recruit artists of color for the residency and visiting artist programs as well as future staff positions. We are honing our diversity policy to reflect this effort and ensure all of our artists, staff and board are included, supported and treated equitably.
· Promote artists of color through all our media platforms with a focus on those working in our field and those that have been involved with the Bray.
· Provide resources and training to the board, staff and residents to support an anti-racist environment.

The Archie Bray Foundation recognizes and honors the Indigenous peoples of this region on whose ancestral lands the Foundation now stands. Indigenous people have inhabited the valley in which Helena is situated for more than 12,000 years; the valley acting as a crossover for Salish, Crow, Bannock, and Blackfeet tribes among others.

We respectfully acknowledge and honor all Indigenous communities whose land we reside on in what is now known as Montana— past, present, future—and are grateful for their ongoing and vibrant presence. We believe that acknowledging and reflecting upon the contemporary lived experience and history of the Indigenous peoples here in Montana and around the world are essential steps toward creating a more equitable world. Learn more through the #HonorNativeLand initiative of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, and consider contributing to Indigenous-led organizations doing important work to further health and wellness, sovereignty and self-determination of the first peoples of this land.