Alexander Twilight, a native Vermonter, was the first African-American to attend college, and the first African-American elected to the State Legislator, Vermont General Assembly.

Reclaiming our legacies

Learn more about silenced history like the life and work of Alexander Twilight and the history of Vermonters of color. What does diversity mean in rural v. urban environments, across the country? What can our experience gathering in Vermont help us to think differently about racial justice and activist work as artists?

artistic process

What do you hope to workshop and/or create during the retreat? We will create an accountability list and help each other set and achieve performance and artistic process goals that we desire for our work. How can we continue this support beyond institutions, our home cities and in our various communities?

one tree doesn't make a forest

We will examine the importance of collective work in social justice, art making and activism. We will also look at historical figures such as Angela Davis, Audre Lorde, Assata Shakur, La Lupe, Susana Baca, Loraine Hansberry, Ellen Stewart, Nikki Giovani, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Amiri Baraka and more. We will reflect on past collective & community building arts spaces in art making.