FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are you actually a governmental agency?
No, though we get that question a lot!
Okay, so then what are you?
Think of us, instead, like a performance piece: since the US government never made a "real" U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, we're filling the gaps and making sure that when they do, they inherit a wealth of vibrant, radically imaginative organizing work to carry on.
We are a national network of activists, artists, and cultural organizers. Together, we are building a world where every artist and cultural organizer feels connected to and recognizes their critical role in a vibrant movement for liberatory change.
Learn more about how we do this here.
What is a cultural organizer?
A cultural organizer utilizes a blend of strategic action and multidisciplinary creative practices to activate social change. They work to impact material change in people’s lives - politically, socially, ideologically and spiritually.
They are loyal to the connections they hold to people, community, land, and ancestry and see those connections as a strength. They actively center the people and communities who have been at the margins, while bridging themselves and others to a powerful vision of a liberated future.
Creative practices might include:
Visual Art
Dance
Theater
Music
Story Circles
Gardening
Somatics
Narrative Shift
Language Revitalization
Sharing Food
Healing Medicines ...and many more!
Who can join the network?
If you identify as an artist, an activist, a cultural organizer… this is the space for you.
We welcome new folks into the network, wherever they are on their journey. Possibly you have a thriving artistic practice and a commitment to systems change, but have always wondered how to bridge the two. Or, maybe you’re a long-time organizer who knows that we need cultural organizing at the heart of our movements, and want to build that muscle.
I’m an artist / cultural organizer / activist – how can I joiN?
Join our network as an individual member. You’ll join thousands of creatives and activists across the country! As a member, you will receive regular calls to action, invitations to our quarterly virtual Network Gatherings, and will be the first to learn about upcoming events, trainings, and programs.
how can I contribute beyond becoming a member?
One way you can support our work is to make a donation. Your donation supports our organizing team who are responsible for network stewardship and programming, as well as supporting our ability to pay the many artists and cultural organizers we collaborate with!
Another way to support us is through volunteering your time – check out our Work With Us page to see if we have any open calls for volunteers.
Finally– help us spread the word! Are you a member of an artist collective? An organizer? Invite your friends, colleagues and collaborators to become members of the USDAC, or to attend one of our upcoming events, trainings, or network gatherings.