A Statement From Terry Loftis and Tara Lewis June 8, 2020

Dear friends,

We mourn the loss of life of our African American brothers and sisters, most recently seen in the brutal killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. Each have become the most recent symbols of racism that again has plagued our society at home and abroad.

We believe that the arts have the power to heal communities, soothing us in times of joy, sorrow, and injustice.  As an arts community, we must do better to speak out against the pervasive bigotry that results in the senseless loss of life in the black community. At TACA, we pledge to do more to ensure that our support for arts organizations, audiences and artists reaches all people in our community, including those not yet exposed to the transformative power of the arts and the freedom it brings.

Through joy and adversity, the cultural arts throughout our history has moved society forward and become a part of our nation’s fabric. Now more than ever, the arts must rise to heal, teach, inspire and invoke compassion. We cannot move forward together until we respect and love one another equally and without bias.

“I would unite with anybody to do right; and with nobody to do wrong.” – Frederick Douglass