Our Story
Anya Shukla and Kathryn Lau, co-founders of The Colorization Collective.
In the summer of 2018, we participated in an acting intensive, where we were one of a few people of color in a predominately-white artistic space. During that intensive, we spoke with several adult artists passionate about diversity and equity in the arts world. Those conversations prompted us to reflect on our experiences as artists of color.
We did some research, and learned that lack of representation affects all artistic disciplines: of every 10 film directors, only 1.5 were people of color in 2020; in 2019, a study noted that, in 18 major US art museums, 85% of artists are white. Furthermore, a pipeline problem exists: if teens of color lack role models or peers that look like them—as we did—and drop out of the arts, a new generation of diverse artists fails to enter the workforce.
We wanted to change that dynamic. By speaking to fellow artists of color in the community, we realized teen artists of color choose not to stay in the arts for three reasons. They:
a) don't have access to arts opportunities and peers who look like us
b) lack professional experience and mentorship from BIPOC role models
c) face microaggressions from peers, educators, or artistic institutions
a) don't have access to arts opportunities and peers who look like us
b) lack professional experience and mentorship from BIPOC role models
c) face microaggressions from peers, educators, or artistic institutions
Based on this information, we founded The Colorization Collective, an organization by teens of color, for teens of color. Through our projects, we hope to change the current, inequitable dynamic. By providing teens with free professional and peer-to-peer connections, as well as validation of their artistic practices, we believe that our participants and viewers will be more inclined to stay in the arts.
On a broader scale, we foresee our individual impact having a ripple effect throughout the greater community. If teens of color are more likely to go into the arts, this, in turn, will lead to an increased production of diverse and inclusive art; artistic institutions will begin making more space for a diversity of voices. People of color will see themselves represented in mainstream media. They will know their experiences and identities have value.
As Oscar Wilde said, “life imitates art more than art imitates life.” If we follow his logic, what we see in art manifests itself in the real world. If we view diverse voices and stories, we’ll be more inclined to practice diversity in our daily lives; if we gain exposure to experiences different from our own, we’ll become more open, accepting, and tolerant. In other words, if we push for diverse art, we are also pushing for a kinder and more empathetic society.
- Anya and Kat, co-founders