Arts Alive! coordinated the Arts Track of the Radically Rural Summit. Radically Rural is an annual two-day summit that brings together hundreds people who are passionate about creating vibrant, robust rural communities and eager to learn, connect and lead change.
Broad shifts in demographics, communications, technology, economic development, and personal values are generating creative responses from innovative thinkers, change-makers, entrepreneurs, and community-builders who love their towns and know their advantages.
Here is a rundown of what we learned in our second session
More than a Farm: Building Equity and Community through Cultural Programming
Artist Amber Arnold presented the story of the Clemmons Family Farm, discussed the challenges of land ownership and community-building for people of color in rural areas, and shared her artistic practice with us, demonstrating how arts may be utilized to bring individuals closer together.
Land Acknowledgement
Amber opened the session with a land acknowledgement and used her instruments of sound healing to punctuate the message. A land acknowledgement is just that - acknowledging the land and its original inhabitants, and acknowledging the priviledge we have inherited in calling it our own and utilizing it. The land Radically Rural is held on is originally land belonging to the Abenaki people. There was no treaty or purchase of the land from the original inhabitants for the settlers that came from Europe and beyond. Land acknowledgement is an important way to open this session about finding meaning, identity and community in land ownership. It is also important to acknowledge the story of the land and our relationship to its history and its present state. Here is a wonderful resource to investigate more about this.
The promise of land and the impacts of racism
The Clemmons Family established themselves in a farm, but were forced to move, when racism and violence found its way to their doorstep.
A family strong in activism
The Clemmons Family was active in community and the civil rights movement. Lydia and Jack, current owners of the farm had an inspiring journey that led them to transform the Clemmons Family Farm in upstate Vermont into a hub for the African American and African Diaspora Community.
Art, Culture, and Community
The Clemmons Family Farm after years of being a place where the community could convene and learn about African and African American culture, applied for and was awarded an ArtPlace America Grant to develop the property into a cultural hub. Through arts activities of all types, the farm is becoming a place for safe conversation and community and awareness building.
The farm is currently hosting an artist in residence series to bring programming to their land that fosters communication, understanding, and empathy-building.
Learn more at clemmonsfamilyfarm.org