As an emerging social art curator, I create exhibitions and installations which seek to tell stories of identity through marginalised people and communities.
The purpose is to elicit social change, however working in predominantly white eurocentric spaces, can be extremely draining and challenging. There is a feeling of constant disbelief and exclusion within the creative sector where the majority of stories are told from an eurocentric gaze. I think it’s important to be involved with the Pass the Mic project so that there is not only diversity and inclusion, but a multi-range of talented womxn’s voices across each subject discourse. Womxn of colour, especially black women are under-represented, but particularly if they are a creative voice that challenges the status quo.
Womxn of colour should be given a fair chances to be involved in the conversation, not through token gestures, but because their talent and their input is worthy of a platform, in the same way as the over-represented voices of the status quo At the moment, whilst the overall media arena is changing slightly, there are still not nearly enough marginalised voices addressing topics which have to do with us.
Projects such as this help to redress the status quo, balance the scales and, create a diverse range of voices which are needed to promote positive social change. It is important to have persons of colour, in their respected genres who are dedicated to amplifying narratives and histories that have historically been ignored, unseen, or made invisible, and who through living these narratives, can speak truthfully about them and assist in giving a broader view or context.
I hope to learn more about public speaking, and I look forward to learning all that I can from my media partner so that I can better represent black and brown womxn on the topics that impact our lives.
Cat Dunn is a social art researcher, producer, activist, and artist. As social art researcher/producer her work seeks to engage and create dialogue about Identity as seen through marginalised communities especially focusing on black womxn, and engages additional inclusive subjects such as the civil rights movement, slavery, racism, and feminism, often investigating those aspects that are all too frequently hidden or misrepresented. The overall basis of her practice is grounded on creating or adding to Black Space where inclusivity and diversity are key; with varied and diverse approaches to producing curatorial projects including installations, the context of the work must have an impact on the viewer.
Dunn holds a Masters in MLitt Curatorial Practice (Contemporary Art) and a BA Hons in Jewellery Design and Silversmithing from The Glasgow School of Art.