Derrick Duplessy’s Post

As I reflect on the season that is just now drawing to a close (but not quite! Don't miss jess pretty's call and response, details in bio), I find myself continually awe- and/or dumb-struck by how starkly dichotomous things feel these days. I'll explain: I'm an artist; and I co-direct an organization which lives and breathes and depends upon the work of artists; and I have witnessed, this year, a return to a sense of risk-taking, of spectacular failure, of big swings, of "leaving it all on the stage", of keenly interested eyes and faces and bodies in the audience, of post-show conversations at the bar, of commitment to (and gathering together in shared commitment to) the thing. The thing that brought me, for better or worse, to this beautiful and disastrous line of work, in the first place. It's so heartening, I could cry. This year has ALSO been marked - or scarred - by a series of profoundly destabilizing funding setbacks. I'm well acquainted with (and have fully internalized) the surreal ups and downs of the not-for-profit life, but, BUT: it feels existential in a way that it hasn't, before now. I could name examples - the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs being chief among them - but life is short. Needless to say, a substantial (for us) chunk of public and private dollars have rapidly disappeared. A number of foundations which have historically supported us are shifting their funding priorities, or simply not funding us anymore; others are closing altogether. It’s real. Should The Chocolate Factory Theater exist? Does New York City, and the world, and the artist community, need a place like ours? Of course it should. Of course it does. And I hope that you agree, because your support is essential to our survival. We do important work. We meaningfully (help to) sustain the lives and careers of artists who bring important, lasting ideas into the world. We pay those artists (110 in FY24, to be precise), and our staff, a living wage. Artistic, administrative (& we’re a very small team, to be clear), and technical labor comprises 80+% of our budget. Please support the Chocolate Factory Theater by making a donation to our June Appeal! https://ow.ly/sYwR50Sf1fW

"Women can do everything that men can do - and sometimes with better judgement". - Sir Fazle Hasan Abed A journey of life that touched 100 million people around the world. As we stride on the path set forth by Sir Fazle, we reaffirm our commitment to building a world where everyone has the opportunity to live with dignity. _________________________________________________________ This video was created by Platon, a documentary photographer. His non-profit organisation, The People’s Portfolio, works to raise awareness on communities facing oppression. Platon has photographed for publications including Rolling Stone, the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire, GQ and the Sunday Times Magazine. Learn more about his work: https://lnkd.in/gR4BYGUQ https://lnkd.in/gvdJhC4k

There are so many wonderful things about this post that make it worth sharing but there are two words to pinpoint: "unrestricted funds." Since I grew up in the VC/startup PR world, I'll equate this to seed funding, but without the ownership stake and oversight. Reckless? Risky? Irresponsible? Actually, no. It's a strategic differentiator. For those of you unfamiliar with #grantmaking and the #nonprofit sector, this type of unrestricted funding is largely unheard of. Grants typically come with an agreement to direct the funds to a co-branded program or to support a specific initiative (usually aligned with the funding company's values). While those types of funding are not bad or wrong in any way, unrestricted funds allow the folks tagged below do what they do best. It allows them to stay laser focus on serving survivors of relationship abuse and address real needs they witness on the front lines day in and day out. I feel privileged to support The Allstate Foundation in its quest to create meaningful change by empowering its partners in this and other innovative ways. #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #DVAM

CLOSING SOON! Colors of Humanity Art Gallery - "Human Nature" 2024 Call for Entry - Online Art Show - This show is all about the human figure and portrait as well as referring to the distinguishing characteristics of humans—including ways of thinking, feeling and acting—which humans tend to have naturally, independently of the influence of culture. This is our 10th annual show, and we are excited to see your interpretation. PAY IT FORWARD - We will be donating 10% of all entry fees from this show to Your Safe Haven. YSH is a nonprofit agency, located in Bedford County, PA, that serves victims of all serious crimes and their families, including, but not limited to: domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, theft, homicide, robbery, physical assault, DUI related crimes, adult survivors of child sexual assault, etc. Colors of Humanity is not affiliated with Your Safe Haven. ELIGIBILITY - All artists 18 and over may enter. JUDGING CRITERIA - Originality, interpretation, quality, demonstration of ability, and usage of medium JUROR - Janelle Cogan. ENTRY FEE - $20 for 1 or 2 pieces (You may enter more than once if you have additional works.) AWARDS - Cash award will be given to the Best of Show winner. Additionally, the Best of Show winner will be featured with his or her artwork on the cover of the show. The Best of Show, First Place and Second Place winners work will be largely displayed with an article about them and their work. Other winners will be featured and have special recognition. DEADLINE: March 15, 2024. https://lnkd.in/eWdpFPWe #TheArtList #ColorsofHumanityArtGallery #HumanNature

Amid the onslaught of #DrRuth memorials this past weekend, here’s one I wrote for Institutional Investor back in the day about the time I traded stocks with her on a #bloombergterminal and she reflected on how #investors and charities can work better together. RIP (to #drruthwestheimer, not Bridget Moynahan, also pictured here) #assetmanagement #bloombergtradebookcharityday #fundraising #portfoliomanagement #institutionalinvestor #journalism #journalistturnedpr

For black and brown artists to escape the “starving artist” narrative, we need a spotlight, center stage. But the unfortunate truth is, artists from our community often don't find those opportunities on the stages that define personal brands and careers. As an organization created by artists, for artists, my team decided to start from the bottom and build our own stage with edenat.org. This #GivingTuesday, you can help us get one step closer by donating to our mission—to create a paradise on earth for artists of color. 100% of your gifts go to: - Bringing the captivating 'Witness' Exhibit by Genel Ambrose to Miami during Miami Art Week, highlighting black women artists. - Offering exhibition opportunities to 10+ underrepresented artists of color. - Providing lunches to 250+ artists during our Creative Entrepreneurship Summit. - Creating performance opportunities for 5 talented musicians of color. - Ensuring fair compensation for 20+ artists, creators, and chefs. - Hosting a community service day, distributing 1,000+ lunches to Miami citizens in need. Will you help us reach our goal? Click to support! https://lnkd.in/g4FebUTz If you can’t donate, don’t trip! A simple re-share will create a whole lotta impact. See the comments for the event site if you want to attend! #EdenAt #GivingTuesday2023 #SupportArtistsOfColor"

What Do You Do With Old Cash Safes? There was a time when the occasional bank branch would close and we would keep the recovered safes in storage, just in case we ever needed one. There was the odd time but not that many. With over 5000 bank and building society branches having closed since 2015, and with 200 of those closing in 2023, I can only assume that the most of them must have a cash safe so where do they go? They are not the easiest things in the world to move and you need to make sure that wherever they end up that the floor can take the weight, but they are a lot harder to break into than a glass cabinet. Maybe the banks already give their safes away to charities and churches, but if they don't maybe it's something worth considering, particularly as the chances of opening hundreds of new branches is probably remote.

The LP’s People-Powered Challenge is grounded in the reality that there's strength in numbers. More than ever––as we learn from the history of Asian-American activists and the Black Panther’s legacy––we recognize that working in solidarity to fight oppression is the key to liberation for all. Be a part of the movement to enact change in your community through the power of art, and donate to People-Powered today. Click the link in our bio to make a donation that will support LP artists and collectives such as Chinatown Art Brigade (CAB). We urge you also to learn about and support peer organizations whose work continues to inspire us: CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities and Asian American Arts Alliance. [Image description: Slide 1: Black and Asian American demonstrators rallying for Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton’s release from prison (1969). Photo courtesy of Roz Payne Sixties Archive. Slide 2-3: Text-based graphics slides providing deeper historical context on Black and Asian solidarity through social movements of the 1960s-70s. Slide Photo 4: Community members (masked) standing side by side with protest signs at Black and Asian Solidarity Run in Union Square (2021). Photo courtesy of STRF/STAR MAX/IPx at TIME Media. Slide 5: LP Project Video of Chinatown Art Brigade’s, “Here To Stay: Housing for the People Mapping Project”. Slide 6: Text-based graphic description of Chinatown Art Brigrade’s project. Slide 7: Photo of Photo of Chinatown Art Brigade team. Slide 8: People-Powered Standing Graphic.

Colors of Humanity Art Gallery - "Human Nature" 2024 Call for Entry - Online Art Show - This show is all about the human figure and portrait as well as referring to the distinguishing characteristics of humans—including ways of thinking, feeling and acting—which humans tend to have naturally, independently of the influence of culture. This is our 10th annual show, and we are excited to see your interpretation. PAY IT FORWARD - We will be donating 10% of all entry fees from this show to Your Safe Haven. YSH is a nonprofit agency, located in Bedford County, PA, that serves victims of all serious crimes and their families, including, but not limited to: domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, theft, homicide, robbery, physical assault, DUI related crimes, adult survivors of child sexual assault, etc. Colors of Humanity is not affiliated with Your Safe Haven. ELIGIBILITY - All artists 18 and over may enter. JUDGING CRITERIA - Originality, interpretation, quality, demonstration of ability, and usage of medium JUROR - Janelle Cogan. ENTRY FEE - $20 for 1 or 2 pieces (You may enter more than once if you have additional works.) AWARDS - Cash award will be given to the Best of Show winner. Additionally, the Best of Show winner will be featured with his or her artwork on the cover of the show. The Best of Show, First Place and Second Place winners work will be largely displayed with an article about them and their work. Other winners will be featured and have special recognition. DEADLINE: March 15, 2024. https://lnkd.in/eWdpFPWe #TheArtList #ColorsofHumanityArtGallery #HumanNature

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