We find ourselves in a tense, angry, and painful time. The brutal murder of George Floyd at the hands of police is another heartbreaking tragedy in the plague of systemic racism and injustice in our country.

Our founder, Samuel Fleisher, was clear in his wishes that his gift to Philadelphia – our beloved institution – would exist to benefit all citizens, with no distinction between “creed, color, or sex.” For more than 120 years, Fleisher Art Memorial has continued its mission to ensure that all people have access to art. But Fleisher can and must do more. For much of our existence, Fleisher has proudly existed as a neutral space for the exchange of ideas, offering anyone curious the training, space, and resources to express themselves without judgement. We have forged strong connections with communities of color through art, which we view as our most meaningful recent work. We have long endeavored to be a good citizen that supports activists, rather than assuming the role of activist.

It is no longer enough to offer a platform and tools for others to do the work – the time has come for us to add our voice to the call for change.

Today, Fleisher is reaffirming its commitment to working in solidarity with all who are dedicated to challenging violence and oppression while amplifying the voices of the artists, educators, and social agencies striving for systemic change. We pledge to re-examine our own systems and strategies to better harness the collective power of our institution to combat racism and patriarchy. We urge everyone in our creative community to take a stand and an active role in the fight against injustice alongside brave protesters, communities of color, and our Black and Brown colleagues in the arts.

Resources for Anti-Racism
Our friends at The Alliance for Artists Communities recommend the following resources:
• FAKEQUITY, 5 Ways to Be An Ally During COVID19
• Anti-Racism Resources for White People
• Corrine Shatuck, 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
• Ibram X. Kendi, Who Gets to Be Afraid in America
• Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), Chapters in US
• Caroline Taiwo, Confronting White Supremacy in the Workplace