The continuous violence inflicted upon Black people, including the police murders of Rayshard Brooks, Elijah McClain, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and countless others must end. These tragedies coupled with the physical, emotional, and economic debilitation of a global pandemic, have been devastating. 

We stand in solidarity with the movement and the innumerable grassroots organizations fighting to eradicate centuries of embedded systemic racism and pushing these long overdue conversations forward across the country.

As a contemporary arts organization, we believe in the power of the artist to challenge the assumptions of society, to reveal the poetry within our darkest hours, and to illuminate the invisible contours of the enduring human spirit. We pledge to continue supporting Black voices across the arts and are committed to creating more programs directly engaging issues of racial equity moving forward. 

As an initial step, we are launching two initiatives: first, we will be expanding the Detroit Microgrant Program nationally. This initiative directly supports our community of artists and their supporters through providing unrestricted aid. 

The Red Bull Arts Microgrant Program will open applications July 22nd in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia, Providence, and St Louis. In these communities we will distribute upwards of $300,000 in microgrants through the end of the year by working with selection committees in each city composed of local arts professionals already on the ground actively fighting for equity in the arts.

And second, in Detroit and New York we are starting the Red Bull Arts Book Share, a donation drive in which individuals who donate to an organization Red Bull has financially supported will be sent a foundational anti-racist or black-authored book, purchased by us from local Black-owned bookstores. This rolling initiative will evolve weekly to incorporate an expansive list of partner cities, organizations, and book stores.

The pursuit of equity in the arts hinges upon a sincere and sustained amplification of marginalized voices, and support of those engaged in the struggle for justice. These programs are just a start, with much more work to be done. 

Black Lives Matter

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