It means we do not filter through a non-profit in order to run our programming, we do not ask for their permission to exist, and hold our programming in safe spaces, prioritizing grassroots artist-led + artist-centered places, that has a history of holding itself accountable to harm to our community of artists and arts workers. This is non-negotiable.

We do not take chances on saftey. So many of us have a history of being harmed in spaces that were meant for us. We trust and believe artists every time.

We also practice this by refusing to take advantage of artists in asking to provide free labor or to donate money in order to be included and seen in any capacity. We do not look to artists to provide our financial sustainability, artists already provide so much to the Greater New Haven commuity. It is an honor for Fair-Side to work with and be in community with visual artists, not the other way around.

Artists are the reason that arts organizations have their power, and the foundation these structures stand on to exist. These professional relationships with arts non-profits, and arts institutions often grant leverage through visibility and opportunities to grow in their artistic practice, and unfortunately, are often extractive and even exploitative. “Extractive” meaning it can look like fundraisers where nonprofits ask for free donated artwork from artists, open studio events where payment is required to participate and be listed on their maps, open calls/exhibitions that require payment to participate and be possibilty considered, and exhibitions that require artists to split profits with the gallery host if their work is sold. These asks require artists to contribute in some form to participate and be accepted into a circle. Exclusivity ultimately divides us.