A Winnipeg artist-run centre, aceartinc., has suspended operations for a "radical shakeup and dismantling" amidst continent-wide protests about systemic racism sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
"We, the board and staff of aceartinc. have failed our community and are deeply sorry," the gallery said in an open letter released this week.
"We acknowledge that ace is structurally a colonial institution that has benefited from racism, white privilege and white supremacy. Ace has historically been run by a majority of white people and has programmed a majority of white artists."
The letter notes that Helga Jakobson has resigned as the centre's program director and Seth Woodyard has resigned as board president.
"While we have endeavoured to be anti-racist through a commitment to our anti-oppression mandate, reformed policy, and training for board and staff, we have been ignorant to our shortcomings in terms of systemic racism time and time again," the letter says.
"Most recently we failed to thoroughly and effectively vet our exhibiting artists, and to act expediently after hearing feedback from community members at our AGM. We acknowledge that we have caused harm.
"We recognise that a radical shakeup and dismantling needs to happen within the organization in order to serve our community."
Source: aceartinc.