Black Lunch Table facts for kids
The Black Lunch Table (BLT) is a special project that started in the United States in 2005. It focuses on collecting and sharing the stories of Black artists. The project aims to make sure that the lives and work of these artists are remembered and celebrated.
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What is the Black Lunch Table?
The Black Lunch Table does many things to help share art history. They collect oral histories, which are like recorded interviews where people share their memories. They also host gatherings where people can talk about art. The BLT organizes workshops where people can learn from each other. They also hold special events called edit-a-thons. During these events, people work together to create and improve articles about African-American artists on Wikipedia.
Why is This Project Important?
One of the main goals of the Black Lunch Table is to make art history more complete. They want to fix any biases or missing information on Wikipedia. This means they work to include more articles about Black artists and women artists. By doing this, they help everyone learn about a wider range of talented people.
How Did It Start?
The Black Lunch Table was created by two artists, Jina Valentine and Heather Hart. They started the project in 2005 with an event at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Since then, BLT has held many edit-a-thons at different places. These include universities like Boston University and Rutgers, and art centers like BRIC Arts Media.
What Has BLT Achieved?
The Black Lunch Table became a non-profit organization in 2019. This means they use all their money to support their goals, not to make a profit. By 2020, the organization had hosted 72 Wikipedia events in six different countries. These events helped create 385 new articles and upload 727 new images to Wikipedia.
Who Supports Their Work?
Many groups have helped fund the Black Lunch Table's important work. Some of these supporters include the Mellon Foundation, the Warhol Foundation, and the Wikimedia Foundation. Their support helps BLT continue to share the stories of Black artists.
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