Arte Noir Launches Black Artist Roster

ARTE NOIR, a Black-led arts organization with a centrally-located art gallery, retail store, and monthly publication under its banner, has launched a Black Artist Roster to bring greater visibility and access to Black artists across the creative spectrum. 

“Black artists now have greater access via social media to share their work more broadly, but they are still often overlooked when major commissions or art placements come along because there are no centralized lines of access, specifically for Black artists,” stated ARTE NOIR’s founder, Vivian Phillips. “This roster is our way of increasing service to the Black arts community by inviting those who have opportunities to share them with us, and we will spread the word among artists on our roster,” she continued.

The roster has been developed via an online portal already in use by many artists. Individuals, groups, organizations, agencies, realtors, developers, etc., offering opportunities for artist residencies, commissions, funding, and more, can post opportunities to be shared with artists on the roster. Additionally, artists can indicate their interest in and ability to participate in a speakers bureau that accompanies the roster. In tandem with sharing arts opportunities, ARTE NOIR is dedicating this effort to increase the inclusion of Black artists' voices in public and civic debate.

The ARTE NOIR Black Artist Roster project is generously supported by The Gathering Collaborative of King County. In 2020, Martin Luther King Jr. County declared racism as a public health crisis, recognizing that governments need to acknowledge and respond by undoing the centuries of harms of systemic racism in our society and equitably invest in dismantling racism and protecting the health and well-being of Black, Indigenous and People of Color so that all communities thrive. 

Having tested the roster with a group of trusted and treasured Black artists, positive feedback has already been received: 

“Know that this roster method is bomb! Thank you for doing this. It is an overdue resource to support a wider range of artists, and to support artists who are new to the game, and to building a network of artists and businesses.”

Artists wishing to add their profile to the roster and organizations who would like to submit their opportunities to be shared with roster artists can do so by visiting the ARTE NOIR website and completing their profile via the online platform.