Vital Arts

A huge thank you to the Queer Housing Summit for inviting us and gratitude to our panelists and especially to the Arlene Michael Rosen Foundation for co-sponsoring our panel: Breaking Housing Barriers for Queer and Trans Artists.

Vital Arts is thrilled to introduce to you our new Board Members Nihar Bhatt and Rashida Chase. Our board does the amazing work of guiding our organization's direction and supporting in fundraising, strategic development, and regional advocacy efforts. Learn more about Nihar and Rashida below! RASHIDA CHASE A dedicated advocate for art, wellness, and culture with a wealth of community organizing experience, Rashida Chase is a versatile artist synthesizing creative expression with urban development. As a performing vocalist and director of AMP Oakland, a cultural placemaking initiative, she uplifts underrepresented artists and communities. Chase's artistic vision extends beyond the stage into real estate, promoting cultural preservation and focusing on equitable growth for future generations. With connections to public officials and grassroots groups, she acts as a vital liaison, effectively bridging initiatives and government action. Equipped with a Master's in Real Estate Development + Design from UC Berkeley, Chase brings an interdisciplinary lens to building inclusive spaces, and her multifaceted work exemplifies how the arts can drive positive change and cultural preservation within the built environment. Whether curating performances, designing developments, or advocating for marginalized voices, Chase's unwavering commitment to promoting equitable urban transformation resonates locally and globally. NIHAR BHATT Nihar Bhatt (T.V.O.D./Left Hand Path) has been producing and DJing as part of the bay area electronic music scene for the past two decades. As a member of the post-techno T.V.O.D. collective, Bhatt is known for DJ sets built upon a foundation of hallucinogenic, serpentine structures and movements. As a producer he infuses his studio work and live performances with this same sensibility. Bhatt has released music on influential underground labels such as Psychic Liberation, Jacktone Records and Ascetic House. He has contributed to globally renowned mix series such as The Bunker NY and Honey Sound System, and a b2b mix by him and his frequent collaborator Jason Polastri was included as a pack-in CD with the 6th Vinyl release from Silent Servant's iconic record label Jealous God. Bhatt is also the co-label head (with Chris Zaldua) of Left Hand Path, which has been featured in The Wire, Resident Advisor, Fact Magazine and elsewhere for its incredible track record of releases.

Check out the most punk performance you've seen at an arts nonprofit fundraiser. We know you're sad you missed our event at Eli's Mile High Club over the summer, but lucky for you there are still plenty of ways to show your support for Vital Arts. If you want to keep the Bay Area a place where scrappy punk artists can flourish, where your best artists friends can find housing, and where you can afford to build community in this fabulous space, please consider donating to Vital Arts today. In the meantime, check out the amazing Inverts.

NEXT WEEK | Join Vital Arts at the Second Annual Queer Housing Summit! These badass queer and trans housing advocates and artists are here to share their wisdom and ideate next steps for collective organizing. No matter who you are, community organizing impacts you, just as art touches us all. Dip your toes in with us on Saturday, August 24! Attendance is $20 in-person and free virtually. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gcXYJCqS

TESTIMONIAL | Hear from one of the recipients of our Artist Displacement Grant: "This grant alleviated the financial pressure that was affecting my mental and financial health overall, allowing me to focus on creating as opposed to just surviving… I’m just so grateful for this award. I hope Vital Arts can continue to expand upon the work they are doing because it’s becoming increasingly crucial." This impact is meaningful, it changes lives and makes the simple act of existing in the Bay Area as an artist radical and valuable. We believe that the arts are vital and we can demonstrate it by making a place for artists. If you agree, we invite you to support us, whether by donation or participation in future initiatives. Help us continue to offer this type of life-changing support by donating today.

Vital Arts exists to address the multifaceted challenges that artists face today, but we cannot do it alone. We need your support to continue this critical work. Your donation, whether $5, $50, or $500, helps more artists pay their rent without sacrificing meals. It supports city-wide policies that value artists, provides resources for arts professionals, and fosters mind-changing conversations with stakeholders. Bit by bit, we are building a thriving arts ecosystem. Bit by bit, we are improving conditions for every artist, arts worker, and resident with a system of care and a big-picture approach. Bit by bit, we are creating a world that truly values the arts as vital. https://lnkd.in/gpyYdcjk

Check out the amazing panelists in our upcoming Queer Housing Summit! Join us 8/24/24 at 11:50 am at the South Tower Theater in Fresno or online! Tiara Amar (they/them) is a Bengali artist and organizer based in Oakland, CA. As Director of Advocacy at Whippoorwill Arts, their work seeks to reimagine a live music ecosystem that sustains the creativity and livelihoods of working musicians. Tiara also works as a Studio Facilitator at NIAD Art Center. Star Amerasu (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work for the past decade has centered around her experiences as a black trans woman. She currently supports the Transgender Gender-Variant Intersex Justice Project as a Digital Media and Special Events Coordinator. Sharmi Basu (they/them) brings to Vital Arts a deep understanding of the challenges artists face in sustaining their lives and practice. They played a crucial role in organizing community responses to the Ghost Ship fire, including raising and distributing funding to friends and family of Ghost Ship victims and survivors. As an artist, activist, and administrator, they have been actively engaged for over a decade in managing operations, events, fundraising and finances at a variety of local organizations including Southern Exposure, St. James Infirmary, SFMOMA, and Gray Area Foundation. Sharmi Basu serves on the board of several organizations, including Safer DIY Spaces, Bay Area Girls Rock Camp, and California FM. Sharmi’s performance project, Beast Nest, transmutes experiences of trauma through complex sonic textural layering. Khilynn Fowler (she/her) hails from the vibrant landscapes of South Alabama and has made a significant impact since relocating to the Bay Area in pursuit of better opportunities. A proud graduate of Alabama A&M University, an HBCU, Khilynn currently serves as the Community Relations Manager for the San Francisco Community Health Center. Her trailblazing journey is marked by her role as the first African-American transgender woman to serve as the Commissioner of Arts and Culture for the City of San Leandro, as well as being the first African-American transgender woman to hold a position with the Status of Women in Alameda County. Whit Guerrero (he/him) Is a Housing Justice Advocate, Transgender Activist, Mediator, Facilitator and Capacity Coach. He serves as a Commissioner for the Homelessness Oversight Commission for the City and County of San Francisco, is the Co-Founder of the first Transgender housing portfolio Our Trans Home and has served as an Expert Witness on Transgender issues for the Public Defenders Office of San Francisco. Presently, he works as a Program Officer focusing on trust-based philanthropy practices for The Arlene and Michael Rosen Foundation. Whit utilizes his personal experience as a formerly housing insecure and undocumented transgender person to implement cultural competence toward the liberation of trans people experiencing homelessness.

Recently, the Supreme Court upheld the Grants Pass decision in the case Grants Pass vs Johnson. Learn more about what this means and what changes we can expect. This is a disappointing and violent verdict. Vital Arts will be following local Bay Area policy changes closely and will update our community with initiatives that aim to tackle the issues that come up and address our community needs as they evolve.

Catch Whit Guerrero, Khilynn Fowler, B.A, and I at the 2nd Annual Queer Housing Summit at the end of August. This is a rare opportunity to hear about housing for artists from an all-QTBIPOC panel!

At Vital Arts, we honor the essential role the arts play in our society by supporting and uplifting the Bay Area's vibrant arts community. Our mission is to address the multifaceted challenges that artists face today. We believe that the struggles of artists are intertwined with broader issues such as housing, access to resources, and community engagement. Our holistic approach is rare but crucial in creating lasting solutions for the arts community. Check out these clips from our latest fundraiser to learn more! Please support Vital Arts today. https://lnkd.in/g2sk6tr3