Earlier this month, Artadia and United States Artists convened a group of artist awardees at MASS MoCA for Assembly, offering opportunities for artists to connect, share ideas, and reflect on their work and artmaking in our contemporary moment.
Altogether, we brought together nearly 150 attendees, including artists and Artadia and USA staff, board, and funders. The incredible group of artists hailed from all over the country, working across different mediums and disciplines, at different stages of their careers, bringing together unique ideas, approaches, and experiences.
Throughout our time together, we tackled topical and timely conversations in the arts. Visual artist Mel Chin delivered an opening keynote on social and environmental practice, and writer Liz Pelly and musician Jenny Toomey explored grassroots responses to the structural collapse of music ecosystems. MASS MoCA’s curators participated in a Q&A session to inform attendees on the nuances of the curatorial process.
Additional presentations covered money matters for artists, protection of artistic work and legacies, the state of arts journalism, education on field-wide efforts to enshrine the economic rights of creative workers, and a jam session where artists shared their work in a public forum. Finally, Fred Moten’s inspiring closing keynote urged us to meet the moment with openness, to embrace collectivity and care for one another.
For over twenty years, both USA and Artadia have supported artists in the United States, as a counter to the challenges borne of our economic systems, and grounded in the view of cultural labor as integral to the national fabric and health of our communities. We were thrilled to come together for this event to provide essential support, capacity, and resources in a precarious time.
MASS MoCA, a historic industrial center in North Adams, Massachusetts, that has also become a home for artists, was a wonderful partner and collaborator for this event. MASS MoCA emphasizes artistic freedom, bold creative exploration and fosters connections between people. Their staff worked alongside Artadia and USA and generously shared their time resources to create a welcoming and supportive environment.
We are grateful to all the collaborators, speakers, and funders involved in this remarkable event and especially to all of the artists who attended with a spirit of curiosity and excitement to convene with together.
All photos by Ryan Harper.
About MASS Moca
MASS MoCA is a contemporary art museum that emphasizes bold creative exploration and fosters surprising connections between people every single day. It upholds artistic freedom and is an indispensable home for artists who stretch toward what has yet to be created. From its beginnings as the major textile mill, Arnold Print Works, in the mid-19th century, to its days as the Sprague Electric Company in the mid-20th century, to its current existence as a globally renowned, contemporary art museum and fabrication center, the MASS MoCA campus has a rich history of serving as an economic engine of the City of North Adams and the surrounding region. With vast galleries, artist studios, and a variety of indoor and outdoor stages, MASS MoCA is able to embrace art in all forms. For more information visit massmoca.org or follow on Instagram at @massmoca.
About USA
United States Artists plays a pivotal role in America’s cultural ecosystem, advancing the well-being of artists through unrestricted funding and tailored professional services, amplifying artists’ work, and improving conditions that support their essential roles in society. Founded in 2005 and based in Chicago, IL, United States Artists has awarded over 1,000 individuals with over $50 million of direct support across its flagship Fellowship program and its special Initiatives.
About Artadia
Artadia is a nonprofit grantmaker and nationwide community of visual artists, curators, and patrons. Artadia elevates the careers of artists at pivotal moments in their practice and helps strengthen their communities through a proven combination of recognition, grantmaking, community support, and advocacy. Since its founding in 1999, Artadia has awarded artists in 7 program cities — Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.