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Black Arts and Cultural Ecosystems (BACE) Convening and Network Mapping
There have been growing conversations and interest among members of the Black Funders Network (BFN) about cross-sector approaches that integrate arts and cultural into broader community impact initiatives, including housing justice, public health, and workforce development. On February 24, 2026, the BFN convened a panel on Black Arts and Cultural Ecosystems: Interconnected Strategies and Stand-Alone Strengths. This session laid the groundwork for and generated interest in mapping the Black arts and cultural ecosystem (BACE) across the Greater Bay Area.
The Panelists, Esailama Artry-Diouf (San Francisco Foundation), Debrah Giles (East Bay Community Foundation), and Demetria Huntsman (Akonadi Foundation), along with moderator Chantel Walker (BFN), shared insights and observations on their learnings and approaches to arts and cultural funding. Those present, in the room and online, gained perspective on the interconnected infrastructures that sustain Black artists and creatives in their practices. The speakers highlighted the importance of investments in the arts in shaping health equity outcomes and the social determinants of health. It was noted that the philanthropic sector is demonstrating a shift towards investments in arts and culture as a core component of a broader multi-sector strategy rather than a standalone investment.
Keep an eye out for BFN's BACE map report that will be shared on our website later this year.
The BACE mapping project aims to identify and describe essential networks that support and sustain Black artists and creatives across the Greater Bay Area. This data will support cross-sector grantmaking efforts to link arts and cultural infrastructures to prosocial health outcomes. We hope that the project will facilitate peer-to-peer relationships among funders, inspiring long-term and deeper investment in Black Arts community infrastructure
This first BACE map iteration includes a list of initial community-complied organizations, cities, counties, and website links. This is not a comprehensive view of the entire ecosystem. Future iterations will include updated information validated by representatives from the mapped organizations who wish to participate.
The map includes:
A community compiled directory of essential arts organizations
Geographic mapping by city and county to identify regional trends
Direct access to organizational websites for information about the organization by the organization
