Dear NIAD Community,  Congratulations. Together, we did it.  This week, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a budget avoiding most major cuts to Developmental Services, Education, and a host of human services that keep our families and communities thriving. While no budget is perfect in a period of intersecting crises, this budget demonstrates hard work and communication between stakeholders, legislators, and government. It will provide best outcomes for our disability system in a moment when we are working harder than ever to reach NIAD artists with exceptional career and creative supports.  If you are a family member or a community member who voiced your Read More …

Juneteenth is here, and NIAD is celebrating.  As NIAD artist Dorrie Reid reminded us last week, this moment is not only to recognize an American history that includes great and ongoing harm, but on this day, the resilience and power of the Black heroes and historical figures whose legacies accompany us in this historic moment. We recognize those who have passed, memorialized in artworks like Raven Harper’s pantheon of portraits of civil rights leaders and performing artists such as Martin Luther King, Jr, Rosa Parks, Aretha Franklin, and so many others. And we recognize those whose passing has recently moved Read More …

From Artforum: “The campaign to replace controversial monuments has faced pushback by those who believe that tearing down statues is equal to erasing history and has also been beset by legal obstacles. Governor Northam’s promise to take down General Lee has been challenged by a descendent of a Virginia family who deeded the land where the monument resides and has been temporarily blocked by a judge. On Saturday, thousands marched to the statue of Lee in protest of police violence and systemic racism. Several lawmakers attended the action in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protesters including Richmond Mayor Levar Read More …

The second week of June at NIAD would normally mark our public participation in Juneteenth and Pride in Richmond. When we celebrate in the NIAD Virtual Studio next Friday, we will honor the work that Black Lives, voices, and bodies have activated in our community. We will practice the liberation possible because of the work done by, in, and with LGBTQI activists, organizers, and everyday people. And we will recognize the ways that these histories intersect with disability justice and indigenous, POC, and intersectionally-identifying communities and their histories. This week, we’ve seen the incredible visibility of Creative Growth artist John Read More …

From our neighbors: “The Richmond Art Center is pleased to announce the appointment of José R. Rivera to the position of Executive Director. Board of Directors President Patricia Guthrie said: “Mr. Rivera brings a wealth of management experience and a deep commitment to the arts and community which we feel will help move the Richmond Art Center forward at a time of great societal change.” Mr. Rivera’s hire comes after an extensive search involving the Board of Directors, RAC Staff, and community members.” Read the rest of the press release.

From the San Francisco Chronicle: “Clark Brooke signed the word “fast” in American Sign Language while shaping his lips to indicate “very fast.” Then he put on a cloth face mask and made the same sign. “Now you’re losing that facial expression, the mouth emphasis,” he said in ASL through an interpreter. “The face provides the tones and emphasis for ASL. You cannot remove it and just sign.” With health orders increasingly tightening the rules around wearing face masks in public, deaf and hard of hearing people confront a new accessibility challenge — how to communicate when part of the Read More …

From Hyperalleric: “Randall Woodfin, the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, ordered the removal of the Confederate Soldiers & Sailors Monument in Linn Park on Monday, and had the 115-year-old statue carted away by crane despite not having the authority to do so—the move was in violation of the Alabama Monuments Preservation Act, a law passed in 2017 which prohibits the relocation, removal, or alteration of monuments. Woodfin was not deterred by the potential repercussions of his decision, telling AL.com that he would rather pay a state fine than have more civil unrest. Woodfin told NBC that he has since received death threats. Read More …

“We will get through this together, love our community and our NIAD staff and artists” – Jason Powell Smith, quoted from a recent artwork made at Town Hall Meeting. “Honor of My Ancestors” – Dre’An Cox, protest sign. “It’s really important for those of us who are differently abled adults to support, respect, help with access, for others. We have a lot to offer.” – Halisi Noel-Johnson This week, NIAD has made commitments.  In daily meetings, staff and artists commit to hear each other and respect lives lost to police violence. While there are many different opinions in the group Read More …

From The Richmond Standard: “Roughly 200 volunteers, including members of Bay Area Peacekeepers, which put out a community call for assistance, came out to 23rd Street on Monday to help board up businesses to ensure their protection. As night fell, while Richmond police were busy responding to vandalism and looting at the Shops at Hilltop and Target, volunteers remained stationed along 23rd Street to defend any onslaught that might come their way. Some drove up and down the strip to monitor for bad actors. While the volunteers are outraged over the death of Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody and Read More …

From Hyperallergic: “How should museums in the United States respond to the ongoing protests against racial injustice and police killings of Black Americans? Many museums have chosen to react to the nationwide protests by posting artwork by Black artists on social media together with a quote from the artists and/or a short statement of solidarity. While some on social media have congratulated these posts, others have criticized them as mere lip service and demanded more from these public institutions. And in one case, a museum is accused of silencing criticism from a former employee by disabling comments on a recent Read More …