LANGSTON CEO Tim Lennon has a lot to be grateful for right now. A member of NAS’ 2019 Chief Executive Program cohort, Lennon and his organization worked with determination in adjusting to the impact of COVID-19 this past year. As Seattle’s hub for Black arts and culture, LANGSTON pivoted to presenting many of its programs online, allowing the organization to continue to provide paid work to culture workers and connect audiences to some amazing Black artists. The organization also took a big leap into the funding space last year, running the Seattle Artists Relief Fund. Through this initiative, LANGSTON became Washington’s biggest funder of individual artists in 2020 and has distributed over $1.1M to-date to artists throughout the state. Both of these successes are rooted in LANGSTON’s mission to strengthen and advance their community through Black arts and culture.
“I’m very proud that our team had the freedom and flexibility to adapt how we manifest that mission to creatively meet the challenges of the last year,” Lennon said.
In serving a Black producing/presenting organization in one of the most gentrified parts of Seattle, the issues Lennon faces have unfortunately been exacerbated by the pandemic.
“For years before the pandemic this city was pushing out Black communities – and their culture workers – and the last year has really accelerated that trend,” Lennon said. “I struggle with how we can continue to serve our scattered communities, now and post-pandemic, and sustain a thriving Black creative core in this town.”
LANGSTON works hard to give Black artists and culture workers the means and desire to stay in the Seattle area. As the city advances through the phases of its recovery plan, LANGSTON will be ready to welcome their community back with open arms to the healthy and vibrant Black cultural institution they deserve. For the venue, this means raising money to bring their 100 year old facility to 21st century standards. For artists, LANGSTON is developing a support program that will provide both the financial and professional resources they need to survive and thrive.
“I don’t know how we’re going to make all that happen but if there’s one thing I know about Black folks it’s that we’ve always made a way out of no way,” Lennon said. “I believe in us.”
How can the NAS community support LANGSTON’s goals?
“If anyone reading this has a few million dollars they’re ready to invest in LANGSTON’s vision of Cultivating Black Brilliance please call me!” Lennon laughed. “Short of that, if there are models of community-based artist support or mutual-aid efforts in your spheres that you think are particularly innovative and successful in supporting underserved demographics I’d love a heads-up. We’re researching and hoping to build something effective and sustainable in support of Black artists and I know that my NAS peers reading this have seen some things we could learn from.”
At a minimum Lennon encourages the NAS community to find ways to support Black artists and culture workers in their institutions and communities with whatever they need to bring their visions to life.
Is there anything you want to offer to this community?
The COVID-19 pandemic has created many hardships for those working in arts and culture, but Lennon is hopeful the NAS community can begin leveraging each other’s positions, big brains, and hearts to take advantage of this extremely challenging time to remake this sector.
“The old normal isn’t coming back and never really worked all that well. Now is the time to take risks and make changes,” Lennon said. “It’s scary, and I know that so many of us are on the ropes right now, but our communities need us. Artists and arts administrators are professional makers-of something-from-nothing. Let’s daydream/brainstorm/scheme together and then act to make something better than what we had before.”
Learn more about the inspiring work LANGSTON is doing at https://www.langstonseattle.org/ and find them on Facebook or Instagram.
