During the pandemic, local organization Black Table Arts—which normally offers workshops, training, and collaboration spaces for Black communities—was forced to close its doors. As a result, the organization says it has fallen behind on rent and is turning to the community for help.
Black Table Arts recently launched a GoFundMe, with the goal of raising $20,000 to support paying rent—keeping the brick-and-mortar space open to further support its goal of connecting Black communities through art. At press time, the fundraiser has already raised $9,000 since it launched back in March.
Black Table Arts is led by executive director Brittany Delaney, and recently opened a location on Minnehaha Avenue after protests over George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
In a previous interview with Mpls.St.Paul, co-founder Keno Evol said, “It is sort of telling that we’re located on the same street as the Third Precinct. We see that indirect connection with our value of creating something new, creating an alternative.”
Their mission is to encourage artists, writers, and performers to become changemakers within their community and to amplify the voices of Black artists, with year-round programming that includes open mics, writing spaces, conferences, and gallery exhibits.
Find the original GoFundMe note below.
Hi community! We need your help! Black Table Arts is a community driven arts cooperative located in Minneapolis, Minnesota gathering black communities through the arts toward better black futures. Complete with a bookstore, private meeting rooms, shared workspace and a performance space (BTA) makes bold the connection between art and grassroots organizing by providing programs that invite local artists to see themselves as change makers and organizers of their collective liberation. During the pandemic we were forced to close our doors for programming. As a result, we have fallen behind on rent and have been given a two week window to catch it up. So, we are turning to community for help! Any amount helps keep these doors open, so we as a community, can reimagine Black Table Arts into something that reflects all of us and keep this org alive. -Black Table Arts www.Blacktablearts.org