POSTER

Local, national, and international political events reinforce the need to support and protect communities. Small gestures can be big. All citizens should live free of abuse, hate, and discrimination. That utopia struggles despite President Trump’s false claim that there’s “…very fine people on both sides.” However, I’m optimistic that humanity will somehow overcome!

For example: Another Country Studios printed out 20,000 Berkeley Stands United Against Hate posters in response to current political events and to support residents. The City of Berkeley promotes the project through social media and distribution. A Berkeleyside article states that the costs to print posters was $6,900. They are displayed in local businesses, family residences, and public buildings. It creates an environment reinforcing that intolerance and hate is not welcomed in Berkeley.

A small poster making a big difference!

At the Americans for the Arts 2017 Annual Convention this summer in San Francisco, I attended a session titled Supporting Art’s Role in Moments of Civil Unrest with speakers Kibibi Alanku (artist activist of the Greater Balitmore Cultural Alliance), Roberto Bedoya (Cultural Affairs Manager of the City of Oakland), Carl Atiya Swanson (Associate Director of the Springboard for the Arts), and Mollie Quinlan Hayes (Deputy Director of SouthArts). The panel discussed artistic strategies in response to social, economic, and racial injustice. Alanku: “A good response needs to be organic and orchestrated and organized. After a crisis, art organizations must be ready to act.

Being prepared is a top priority. Overall, Richmond could benefit with creative crisis strategies including a poster campaign. Resources and staff are limited but citizens will do our best. Here’s some free, easy to download, print, and display posters: