Cubitt’s statement on anti-Blackness and racism  

The ongoing systemic violence and racism against Black communities have been drawn into sharp relief over the last month centering around the Black Lives Matter movement. This time of insurrection and urgency is a moment for change. Cultural organisations have a responsibility to fight systemic racism and anti-Black bias in the arts and in our wider communities. 

The art world and its institutions have consistently exploited and excluded Black and People of Colour. As Black artists and arts workers continue to share experiences of violence, discrimination and erasure in the arts, Cubitt is committed to dismantling structures of systemic oppression in our organisation. With a recent shift to becoming a programming team with majority Black and POC staff, anti-racism will be a core part of our mission moving forward. We denounce past institutional racism and will be accountable. 

We commit to the following actions: 

1. We have formalised a committee of Black and POC artists and staff called Seeds that is now part of Cubitt’s structure which centres lived experience and action within the organisation. The burden of enlightening non-Black colleagues to challenge racism is exhausting and unsustainable. We are committed to providing resources, support and care for members of Seeds as Cubitt undertakes this process of transformation. 

2. As a crucial step to reconciling our past and our future, Cubitt will establish a safe process to acknowledge the grievances of current and former members of our community.

3. Cubitt will proactively approach and prioritise recruiting Black and POC trustees to the board to more consistently reflect the demographics of London. 

4. Cubitt will implement a zero-tolerance policy to racist behaviours of any artist members, staff and audiences. All staff, artists and trustees will follow clear guidelines on anti-racism and anti-Black bias in recruitment and working practices of staff and studio artists. 

5. Create a career-track for Black and POC employees with clearly defined goals and processes for advancement within the organisation. 

6. Commit to redistributing resources such as our platform, our spaces and funding to support the fight for racial justice in our wider community. 

Cubitt will strive towards accountability and encourage conversations around creating systems of care and systemic change to become a place where Black and POC artists and arts workers can thrive. We ask that non-Black people continue to divert their time, resources and platforms to those working towards Black liberation and take time to unlearn and dismantle anti-Black racism within themselves and their communities. 

June 2020, Seeds, a committee of Cubitt Artists