Public Art Group Mission Statement
Diversity Equity Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA)
Public Art at LBCC is committed to championing policies and practices of cultural equity and anti-racism that empower a just, inclusive, and affirming environment for students, employees, and the community at large. The Public Art program centers on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in the solicitation, curation, and installation of art at the Liberal Arts and Pacific Coast campuses of LBCC.
Diversity is all-inclusive and supportive of the proposition that everyone and every group should be valued. It is about understanding these differences and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of our differences.
The Public Art Advisory Group defines (DEIA), Cultural Equity, and Anti-racism as follows:
Diversity
The myriad of ways in which people differ, including the psychological, physical, cognitive, and social differences that occur among all individuals, such as race, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, religion, economic class, education, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, mental and physical ability, and learning styles.
Equity
The condition under which individuals are provided the resources they need to have access to the same opportunities as the general population. Equity gaps account for systematic inequalities, meaning the distribution of resources provides more for those who need it most. Conversely, equality indicates uniformity where everything is evenly distributed among people.
Cultural Equity
Cultural equity embodies the values, policies, and practices that ensure that all people – including but not limited to those who have been historically underrepresented based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, citizenship status, or religion – are represented in the development of arts policy; the support of artists; the nurturing of accessible, thriving venues for expression; and the fair distribution of programmatic, financial, and informational resources (Americans for the Arts).
Inclusion
Authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, and decision/policy making in a way that shares power.
Accessibility
The opportunity [for a person with a disability] to acquire the same information and materials, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use. This includes the intentional design or redesign of technology, policies, products, services, and facilities that increase one’s ability to use, access, and obtain the respective item.
Anti-Racism
A powerful collection of antiracist policies and practices that lead to racial equity and are substantiated by anti-racist ideas. Practicing antiracism requires constantly identifying, challenging, and upending existing racist policies to replace them with antiracist policies that foster equity between racial groups.
LBCC Strategic Plan 2022-2026
The DEIA Public Art Advisory Group is a creation from LBCC’s strategic goals to instill a sense of mattering and belonging in historically underserved students through welcoming, anti-racist, and inclusive programs, initiatives, and campus environments.