Help Local Public Artists Continue Their Strike

Hello everyone, these are the apprentices at Harwood Art Center's Apprenticeship for Art and Social Justice. They work to design and install handmade benches, gardens, etc., in Mesa Verde Park. The park is located in the International District within Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On 7/15/24, one of their direct bosses interrupted a conversation about P@lest!ne, and told them to stop talking about the issue. The boss proclaimed their bias as a Z!on!st and claimed the apprentices were misinformed about this "w@r".

As this program prides itself on a "culture" of social justice and open dialogue about political ideologies, the apprentices knew this interaction went against the core beliefs of the program. Several apprentices stepped forward immediately after this conflict and spoke about how this interaction was not in good faith for the program--or themselves as queer, artists of color from marginalized backgrounds.

Their concerns have continuously been met with pacifist remarks, silencing, and "community work" that does not address the systemic issue at hand: Harwood Art Center does not cultivate a culture safe for people of marginalized backgrounds and is unwilling to condemn colonial takeover. Apprentices of past years have very similar accounts of this apprenticeship and Harwood as an entity.

Their demands are simple, however are still unmet:

“We demand a public apology from senior leadership & Harwood Art Center. Harwood must take public accountability; addressing why we are walking out, including the details of leadership silencing our voices. We demand true and public acknowledgment.

We demand the “Apprenticeship of Art and Social Justice” and its leadership to denounce colonial takeover of Indigenous people; specifically concerning the settler colonialism of the Israeli state. By this, we hope for a future where this Apprenticeship upholds the standards of what “Justice” means.”

Apprentices have been on strike for two days now, since 7/30/24. They are asking for monetary support for the eleven apprentices to continue this strike until their demands are met. All donations will be split equally among the artists who are striking. This program will cease to exist without the apprentices labor. Their hours are in direct correlation to the grant funding Harwood receives. The longer they are able to strike, the faster leadership must work to address their demands.

The apprenticeship team recognizes this strike is not only for themselves, it is for every previous apprentice, and every displaced Indigenous peoples. Absolutely any amount is appreciated. Thank you for your time.

– Harwood Apprenticeship Cohort 2024