Facilitated by Antonio Serna and Leina Bocar

This workshop will examine various protest letters written to cultural institutions by artists of color from 1960s to present. Participants: Artists, Workers of Color initiative and invited guest.

About Documents of Resistance
Documents of Resistance is a growing archive of letters of protest written by artist of color to cultural institutions. The project began by Antonio Serna in 2014, when researching alternative histories of the 1960s/70s as a member of Arts & Labor’s Alternative Economies Working Group. These documents show that towards the end of the Civil Rights movement there was an increase in activity by artists and activists of color demanding change in our cultural institutions so that more artists of color be included in all levels of the museum—from staff, directors, and curators, to exhibiting artists and permanent collections. More info about this project and the artist visit: www.antonioserna.com

About AWCi
Artists and Workers of Color Initiative is an affinity group started by artists Leina Bocar and Antonio Serna, members of Arts & Labor. Their focus is on a collective exploration of race, gender, and class, as they relate to art workers and art institutions, both past and present. For this purpose they have been collaborating with other artists, writers, researches, educators and activists of color. Antonio is currently focused on “Documents of Resistance” letters of protest and resistance written by artist of color to cultural institutions. Leina Bocar’s work is interdisciplinary- ranging from collage and installations to performance, social practice art making and writing. Through AWCi they hope to make this research material easily accessible and hope others will join and share their knowledge and experience.  Email to join: or visit: www.vizkult.org