FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALMA | LEWIS Announces Termination of Partnership Agreement with The Frick Pittsburgh
[Pittsburgh, PA, March 14, 2024] – ALMA | LEWIS announces the termination of its
partnership agreement with The Frick Pittsburgh, effective immediately. Due to inconsistent operational requirements, administrative parameters, and
communication from our former partner, ALMA | LEWIS has ended our partnership with The Frick Pittsburgh.
“This decision underscores our unwavering commitment to our mission, which centers on building relationships and supporting creative communities where integrity, equity, and collaboration flourish, driving us forward with purpose and sincerity.” Kilolo Luckett, Executive Director of ALMA | LEWIS.
“We are proud of the programming we created with The Frick Pittsburgh,” Ms. Luckett continues, “the partnership provided new opportunities and audiences for ALMA | LEWIS at a pivotal time in our development as an organization. Our entire board and our community of artists and cultural workers are in support of our decision to continue the By Any Means series and our unique artist residency in-house. We will continue to seek new partnerships with local, national, and international arts organizations in line with our mission to provide a platform where Black arts and culture thrives.”
ALMA | LEWIS will host the remaining two sessions of the By Any Means Speaker
Series independently. Dr. Kelli Morgan, esteemed curator and educator, will give a talk on Saturday, March 23rd, followed by Martha Jackson Jarvis, renowned visual artist and sculptor, on Saturday, May 11 th . Both events will take place at ALMA | LEWIS and will begin at 4:00 pm. Please register for these lectures online.
We will proceed with our three-month artist residency featuring Stephen Towns,
acclaimed painter and fiber artist, from May to July at our second studio location at
ALMA | LEWIS.
We would like to thank our growing audience for their support as we evolve as a young, vibrant organization. We urge the media to consider the complexities of collaborative ventures among organizations with disparate racial and socio-economic dynamics. We would also like to suggest that foundations be mindful of the systemic inequities that affect organizations led by people of the global majority, and that white-led institutions should bravely confront their shortcomings in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Finally, we encourage our fellow Black-led organizations to remember our essential, indisputable role in culture; we need not compromise our values in exchange for exposure or resources.
“ALMA | LEWIS is resilient, and our experience with The Frick Pittsburgh has given us the momentum to move forward with confidence and care. We are immensely proud of the work we do and the community we serve. We remain open to future collaborations with organizations that share our values and our vision for a more equitable future.” Kary Arimoto-Mercer, Board Chair of ALMA | LEWIS.
About ALMA | LEWIS
ALMA | LEWIS (A | L) is an experimental, contemporary art platform for critical thinking, constructive dialogue, and creative expression dedicated to Black culture. Formerly incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 2017, A | L established a physical space in the fall of 2021 in the East End of Pittsburgh. A | L creates supportive artist residencies that encourages the rigorous artistic practice of visual and literary artists; curates world-class exhibitions to present exciting, provocative work from early and mid-career artists; provides access to the Black Archive — a non-circulating collection of unique books, exhibition publications, ephemera, and artwork connected to and about Black arts and culture; and presents By Any Means, a contemporary art series that examines the significant influence of Black culture and art in society and aims to create a forum where artists, cultural workers, and writers share knowledge and resources, connect with the larger community of the art world, and ensure that Pittsburgh’s cultural institutions truly reflect the diversity of our city in their assets, stakeholders, and decision makers.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Cydney Nunn, Communications Consultant
6901 Lynn Way, Suite 206, Pittsburgh, PA 15208 | www.wordpress-653768-4444811.cloudwaysapps.com