Forge Project, the New York-based initiative for social justice founded to promote Indigenous culture, art and education decolonialized by the United States government to help support Indigenous arts and cultures and to educate Natives about their rights and responsibilities is transitioning from a profit-making model to one that will be sustainable and can serve as a good example of Native self-determination.
First launched in 2021, the organisation is a new initiative. Becky GochmanZach Feuer is a former New York gallery owner and director of Gochman’s family collection. The Gochmans are the founders of Academy Sports + Outdoors, the retail giant. Forge Project, led by Candice Hopkins (executive director, chief curator, and Sarah Biscarra-Dilley, director of Indigenous Programmes and Relationality), has been a major force in the art world for the last three years. supported The organisation has hosted more than 300 Indigenous artists and other cultural workers, cultivated audiences for their works, and cared for over 175 contemporary Indigenous artworks. It has been involved in many important collaborative projects, such as one with Bard College that aimed to revamp the school’s library. Native American-studies programme.
According to Hopkins, the organisation was first established as a limited-liability company “simply to get things off the ground and to feel a sense of urgency in our work”.
Hopkins says that even at Forge Project’s inception, Gochman (who is not Indigenous) and Feuer wanted to empower self-determination, and Indigenous leadership, within the institution. Forge Project, which is now a non-profit organisation, has worked for over a year to create a new organizational model. This will allow it more access to financial funding from a variety of sources.
Hopkins says that as part of its transition, Forge Project created an Indigenous Steering Council, which will help to guide the institution’s vision. This model is not unique among Indigenous communities. Indigenous artists such as Sky Hopinka (the first Indigenous artist to open the US Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in the past week) and Jeffrey Gibson are among the members of the three-year council. first Indigenous artist To represent the country by performing a solo there). Forge Project, unlike other non-profits is structured in a way that its board will report to the Steering Council.
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Hopkins states, “We wanted to know how we could always ensure Indigenous leadership no matter what the composition of the board was.” We are very aware that most of the wealth isn’t in Native American hands. As we expand, we expect that many of our supporters will not be Native Philanthropists. However, we do hope there are people who have a genuine interest in how philanthropy could enable repair and reparation.
Forge Project signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans to help achieve these goals. The tribe is made up of descendants of the Moh-He-Con-Nuck or the People of the Waters that Are Never Still. Forge Project’s Ai Weiwei designed spaces are situated in Taghkanic (New York) on a campus of 60 acres on the unceded land of Moh-He Con-Nuck. The collaboration aims to expand research, cultural access and support avenues for return.
Hopkins: “We are thinking of how our work can directly benefit the people we serve.”
Hopkins says that indigenous art is gaining more attention in the mainstream over the last decade, but it has recently accelerated. The Venice Biennale of this year highlighted You can also find out more about the awards Indigenous Artists for their Work The market is gradually catching up Increased institutional and curatorial consciousness
Hopkins says, “This is something that has been important to us for a long time. It’s just not been for others.” I feel that Native artists are gaining momentum, which is a good thing. They’re producing some of the most amazing work.”