In June, we set organizational goals with a promise to report back to our maker community. This is where Handmade Arcade stands six months later.
Equitable representation at our winter market
We said: Starting this year and going forward, we will create a marketing strategy to increase the number of BIPOC applicants and vendors for our winter market.
What we did: We developed a paid social media campaign that specifically targeted BIPOC business owners and craft lovers and encouraged them to apply. We reached out directly to BIPOC-led organizations and provided info that they could share with their followers. The ad campaign reached over 20k BIPOC Pittsburghers.
Overall, we saw a slight increase in the percentage of BIPOC makers who applied (23% from 18%) and participated (18% from 17%) in the virtual winter marketplace from our 2019 numbers.
We will continue to explore ways to increase BIPOC business participation in future markets.
Equitable representation on our planning committee
We said: We will add BIPOC to our Planning Committee and change Planning Committee roles from volunteer to paid positions.
What we did: Planning Committee members who juried the virtual marketplace were paid for their time and expertise. We added a BIPOC member to HA’s Planning Committee.
We will continue to seek out and invite additional BIPOC members to join in 2021.
Equitable representation on our board of directors
We said: Handmade Arcade moved away from an all-white board of directors in 2017 and will continue to add BIPOC to our leadership rank each year.
What we did: Handmade Arcade added another BIPOC board member in the past six months and moved away from an all-white Executive Committee. We have also begun to capture board demographics by inviting Board Members to self identify. The Handmade Arcade board of directors is currently 70% White, 20% Multi-race/ Multi-ethnic, and 10% South Asian. Moving forward, Handmade Arcade’s Board plans to be deliberate in adding board members who will bring more diversity.
Handmade Arcade Board, Planning Committee, and Executive Director will engage in Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) training in 2021.
Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community
We said: As we examined our organization, we also saw a need to increase representation from the LGBTQ+ community and plan to commit these same goals to support Pittsburgh’s diverse maker community.
What we did: When Handmade Arcade examined its effectiveness in representing makers, shoppers, planning committee members, and board members who are part of the LQBTQ+ Community, we realized we do not currently track or report on this metric. In 2021, we will invite these groups to self-report in the surveys we already send as part of our event follow-ups to apply our efforts where they are needed most and report back on our effectiveness.
Handmade Arcade’s Commitment
We said: Handmade Arcade commits to report transparently on our progress every 6 months and again in 1 year.
What we will do: Report back in January 2022 with an update answering:
In the last year, what progress has Handmade Arcade made to increase representation for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ applicants, makers, planning committee, and board members?
How You Can Help
Recommend BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people who have participated in Pittsburgh’s community as a creative or consumer for our planning committee (paid position) or Board of Directors (volunteer position). Especially if it’s you!
Give us feedback on our stated goals and progress – we want to know what you think.
Email our executive director at tricia@handmadearcade.org or direct message @handmadearcade on Instagram or Facebook.
THANK YOU.