What:

An archive of art focused on the preservation of work from oppressed and marginalized communities. 

Why:

Throughout history, the destruction of culture and identity has been the most effective way to destroy a group. The continued creation of art has always been a crucial part of resistance. From songs used on the underground railroad, to Anne Frank’s Diary, to performance art during the AIDS epidemic– preserving our stories is inherently political. When our bodies and our voices are under attack, it is more important than ever to ensure we are not erased.

Who:

Anyone and everyone. As artists, we frequently believe our work isn’t “ready” to be recorded, published, shared, etc. We often are our harshest critics. The point of this archive isn’t to preserve perfect art. It is to preserve REAL art. In our current political climate, if we wait to preserve pieces, we might not have the opportunity later. If you choose to share your work, you can opt out of having it shared publicly, but with the destruction of institutions like the Kennedy Center, we need to take action now. Please share your work regardless of polish or level. Some of the most poignant and enduring art has come from children, like the Diary of Anne Frank or the poems in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, or non-”professional” artists, like many of the artists that participate in the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Your voice matters! We want to ensure there is a record of it for generations to come.

How:

We are creating a digital and physical archive of marginalized artist’s works. We are actively working with our communities to record, archive , and share artistic works from marginalized artists. We are also providing high quality recording equipment for artists that would like to send us previously unrecorded works. For those who need editing, mixing, or mastering services, MIC staff is also making themselves available to assist. Our goal is to make sure the art we preserve is high quality.

Click the link below to submit your art to The Preservation Project’s archive