90.5 WESA: The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Exposure Artist Fellowship is designed to address systemic racism in the Pittsburgh arts scene by supporting artists who are Black, indigenous, or people of color and who work “at the crossroads of arts, social inquiry and activism,” according to the foundation. Each artist receives $50,000, the opportunity for professional development, and a chance to pair with a local arts institution.
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I was happy to read that the Pittsburgh Foundation’s Exposure Artist Fellowship was centering its funding around Black, Indigenous, and people of color artists that center there work around activism. Coming from New York, and living just blocks away from Chinatown and Little Italy, I feel that I grew up around so many very different and vibrant cultures. Yet, when I came to Pittsburgh I noticed firstly that there was very little diversity, and also that the city itself was incredibly segregated. This is especially seen with the Hill District, and I think its great that finally some form of artistic boost is happening to the people of color in this city, that have for quite some time now been ignored and oppressed. That being said, I have lots of friends of color from New York that moved to Pittsburgh because according to them the city was cheaper and friendlier to upcoming artists. Art is incredibly powerful, but many people don’t have the social and economic ability to peruse it. Hopefully, awards like this one will enable artists to speak out on activist’s issues on a greater platform. $50,000 is also no small amount, and this money while being given to individual artists will hopefully bring Pittsburgh to the spotlight for being a place for emerging artists.
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