Building Narrative Power With BIPOC Artists

All artists have the power to mobilize us. In a society that undervalues and under-resources them, how might all artists and Culture Bearers, especially from historically oppressed communities, build collective power at the intersection of art and social justice?

The authors of Building Narrative Power with BIPOC Artists, Haleh Hatami, Anna Maria Luera, and Melanie Meinzer (Melanie M.), appearing in Stanford Social Innovation Review, delve into the elements of power-building and ways to activate and sustain mindsets that inspire creators, their audiences, and communities. They describe how a dynamic organizing model sparks values-aligned artists' superpowers as change agents to create a just world.  It weaves in the journey of artist Mariah J along with The Center for Cultural Power’s narrative strategy approach. The article offers examples from the field and recommendations for those committed to supporting cultural organizing and strategic action. In a world rife with injustice and inequality, narratives that imagine a better world can energize us.

Image credit:  Noemi Gonzalez
Image description: Artist Disruptor and Culture Bearer Fellows in The Constellations Culture Change Fund and Initiative, housed at the Center for Cultural Power, were paired with partner organizations and worked collaboratively on narrative change projects.