BY ADAM TAN
Music is supposed to be for everyone to enjoy, create, perform and share freely without prejudice.
Yet the systems that are created in communities around the world will always have different forms of discrimination and biases– some subtle, some more obvious.
I recently released a video and blog post talking about racism in the percussion community, how it exists, how I’ve experienced it, and how speaking up about issues like this really helps us all build a better future. It’s been overwhelming to see all the positive messages from those who finally feel like their feelings are validated.
While I don’t speak on behalf of all minorities, I would like to make it undeniably clear that supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour and other underrepresented groups doesn’t have to be complex, overly academic, or prohibitive to those who have greater privilege.
It’s a team effort, and when we work together, change happens a lot faster.
I’m going to list some simple ways you can get involved, and I’ll be referring to BIPOC mostly as that is what I identify with. But you can replace that with any underrepresented group for which you’d like to show support.
1. Actively verbalise and demonstrate support for BIPOC
Starting off with the most obvious one, telling others you support your BIPOC friends and colleagues, and standing behind causes publicly – whether it’s in group conversations, during an opening speech at an event, or posting on social media – is already hugely appreciated. It means a lot for BIPOC to see others standing up for them, and makes them feel welcome in the community.
2. Attend concerts, festivals, symposiums, and other events run by BIPOC individuals and organisations
Go and attend events and buy tickets!
It means a lot for BIPOC individuals and groups to have audiences, supporters, and backers for their events. And it means those in power, and those who continue to deny the existence of systemic racism, can see tangible support for BIPOC musicians in the industry.
3. Perform and program music written by BIPOC composers
Concert programming is one of the biggest opportunities to show support for underrepresented groups. We tend to gravitate towards the same music, written by white males, due to the historical significance given to white composers.
I’m not saying, ‘Don’t ever play music written by white males’, or, ‘Actively shun white male composers’. But rather, having a concert program full of white males/white people unequivocally promotes the ideals of white supremacy in music, which is quite obviously not reflective of the music community in Australia, and shouldn’t ever be encouraged as the future of music in Australia.
There is so much wonderful and diverse music for all instruments and disciplines written by not only BIPOC, but also other underrepresented groups including women and LGBTQIA+ artists.
Take the time to find this music online, on global repertoire lists – and if you’re not sure, just ask someone who is BIPOC. They might be really happy to suggest some great pieces.
It means a lot to attend concerts that have programs that are a more accurate representation of Australia’s music scene and greater arts scene.
4. Understand that ‘Australian’ doesn’t mean ‘white’
There is a strong unconscious bias with many ‘Australian music’ concerts, where the music promoted will almost always feature white male composers. If you don’t believe me, search ‘Australian composers’ in Google, and you’ll instantly see a sea of white male faces.
I’m not disputing their contributions to music. However, Australia encompasses so many different cultures and backgrounds other than ‘white’. It seems awkward and tone-deaf to constantly program these same people under the guise of ‘Australian music’. If anything, true ‘Australian music’ should be those written by Indigenous artists and groups, who are the true first Australians.
If you are ever programming an Australian music concert for any reason, do not fall into the trap of programming the same white male composers everyone has been performing for decades.
Similarly, if you have control over Australian examination repertoire lists, try to look outside the box of white male composers.
5. Have diverse artist line-ups in your concerts, events, and festivals
Festival events like competitions, research symposiums, and week-long programs are a great way to showcase underrepresented groups. Too often in Australia are there events where the entire artist line-up is white and mostly male, and yet no one seems to have a problem with it.
A common justification is: ‘They’re all nice people.’ But young students who identify as BIPOC or other underrepresented groups will feel discouraged when they see all-white imagery actively promoted by schools, universities, and performing arts organisations. Anyone other than a white male will feel unwelcome, and may even feel pressured to give up performing or practising music in Australia. The problem continues for generations.
Don’t forget about intersectionality. Focusing too much on one specific group is not promoting inclusivity or diversity, and this applies to events that may ‘tick’ one underrepresented group, but completely miss others.
For example, if you have an event claiming to promote ‘gender diversity’, but the majority of artists and presenters are straight white women from high socioeconomic backgrounds, this may be seen as a small victory for the representation of people that fit in that specific category. But is still a great loss to the many other groups that don’t fit (including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, those with lower socioeconomic backgrounds, among others), and is therefore not truly representative of ‘diversity’.
All too often, people think statements like this are intended to put a ‘token BIPOC’ on the panel for the sake of ‘diversity’. No, we’re not asking you to virtue signal and engage in tokenism. We’re saying you can really be honest and genuine about these changes, if you really try to seek greater representation on your artist line-ups.
6. Give financial support to BIPOC organisations, events, and products
This one is tricky, because I understand not everyone has the financial capacity to make donations, or may be uncomfortable with giving cash donations. That’s okay: just do the best you can, if you are able to.
If you’re an individual, publicly supporting or donating to causes (musical and non-musical) like Stop Asian Hate, Black Lives Matter, National Justice Project and other groups that help increase representation and awareness is a simple way of giving tangible support to those who can mobilise bigger forces and make bigger changes.
If you’re someone in power with greater financial capacity and would like to be supportive, donate to arts organisations large and small who are helping create greater representation among their events, so that they can continue to scale-up and grow, encourage a wider range of young artists to take up music, and make positive changes to the music community.
And financial support doesn’t have to just be monetary donations. You can also support merchandise from BIPOC-owned brands. Joining Facebook groups that uplift BIPOC voices is a good way of finding new brands to support.
It’s not difficult – so what are you waiting for?
Being an ally and showing support to underrepresented groups does not have to be rocket science.
These tips aren’t about excluding white people or anyone who doesn’t identify in an underrepresented group. They are about uplifting minorities to be on the same level.
That’s just being fair.
Editor’s note: Adam Tan requested payment for this story be deferred to a public donation in support of underrepresented groups. We have chosen to donate to an arts organisation we feel responds to Adam’s vision of “helping create greater representation among their events”. Forest Collective is working within its organisation to program music and performances by artists in our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities as well as women in music through its 2021 season, including Diimpa x Forest Collective and Asia in Focus events, among others. We have also chosen to donate to the National Justice Project, a not-for-profit legal service in Australia advocating for human rights and legal representation among vulnerable communities.
CutCommon is an independent publication with no formal affiliations. If you would like to donate in support of underrepresented groups, we recommend you to use Adam Tan’s advice as a starting point to find an arts organisation or charity that resonates with you.
Images supplied.
