The Graduate Department of Art History is horrified by the recent acts of police brutality, stands in solidarity with Black communities, and denounces anti-Black racism in all its forms. We also recognize the continuing systemic racism that discriminates against Black, Indigenous and People of Colour. We wish to promote critical dialogue that confronts inequity and promotes social justice, with a view to strengthening our community in and through diversity. To this end, we are working to develop regular speaker events and activities, review our curriculum, propose complement hiring, and strengthen student recruitment and support. We are committed to addressing such urgent matters of discrimination and inequity within the context of art historical research and teaching.
Work on a speaker series will begin at once. We will shortly convene a departmental anti-racism committee – more news on which to follow. Meanwhile, we draw your attention to the work of the University’s Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office (www.antiracism.utoronto.ca) , while also supporting the statement issued by the Department’s Graduate Union of Student of Arts (GUStA).