Impact: 

In a sector and city that is known for its segregation and siloing, the CEI represents a union of many communities, art forms, and dreams. The ethos of collective action at the core of the CEI:

• Increases arts programming in the city due to the affordable space provided to meet, rehearse, and present; 

• Develops resilience among small-mid size QTDBIPOC arts organizations by providing orgs with general operating funds and facilitating the sharing of resources among creatives; 

• Reduces duplication of arts programming as creatives are encouraged to collaborate and work together as an arts ecosystem;

• Reduces competition among arts organizations who leverage their collective power to collectively fundraise;

• Challenges institutionality and the non-profit industrial complex to change toward equity and justice.

About the Incubator

Vision: 

The CEI envisions an arts landscape where creativity and creatives — especially small to mid-sized arts organizations led by Queer, Trans, Disabled, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (QTDBIPOC) —  are regarded with societal respect and allocated ample resources to support cultural vibrancy and abundance. We envision a thriving creative economy in which these orgs do not have to compete against each other or adhere to red tape that hinders free creative expression. We envision a future where artists and arts and culture organizations led by QTDBIPOC folx are at the forefront of shaping the cultural landscape, all while centering justice and joy.

Mission: 

The CEI stewards a collective and an affordable, safe, creative community space for individuals and small to mid-size organizations led by and for QTBIPOC arts communities. Operating through a lateral leadership structure, CEI core partners collaborate to disrupt, experiment, incubate, program, advocate, model, and educate around collective liberation, action, and leadership.

History:

The CEI was born out of #culturalsalvation (#cs), a grassroots movement centering QTDBIPOC-led and -serving arts organizations in Massachusetts. #cs started organizing in March 2020, prioritizing intersectional racial equity through funding, media and policy in the arts and culture sector. The CEI was born to move arts communities towards collective action and equity, using a shared commons approach inspired by organizations like: Culture Works Philadelphia, Social Impact Commons, and Boston Ujima Project. The CEI collective is housed within its fiscal and administrative steward nonprofit organization, Arts Connect International (ACI),