Self-Care: Why it Matters for Activist Artists & Cultural Organizers!

ART IS CHANGE: Tactics and Tools for Activist Artists and Cultural Organizers

If you’re a cultural worker navigating the messy, magical middle ground of art and activism, who’s taking care of you?

Now, if you’ve been with us over the last two episodes, you’ll know we’ve been tackling what we call the building blocks of effective community arts practice—those foundational elements that help artists not just make meaningful work, but do so in ways that are ethical, sustainable, and rooted in justice.

In Episode 1, we explored Accountability: To whom, and for what, are we truly responsible in our work?

In Episode 2, we examined Leadership: How do cultural workers lead without domination, and how do they grow others in the process?

And today, we turn inward—to a topic that is as personal as it is political: self-care.

Because the truth is, being a cultural activist is not just a calling—it’s also exhausting. In this conversation, my partners-in-crime—artist and historian Leni Sloan and cultural organizer Barbara Shaffer Bacon—and I dive into the real and raw question: How do we sustain ourselves in this work?

We’ll talk about the material needs often left unmet—like housing, healthcare, childcare—and why self-care isn’t just bubble baths, it’s a structural necessity. We’ll share stories about burnout, soul-feeding practices, and what it means to build and rely on an ecosystem of mutual care.

And as always, we’re not just reflecting—we’re passing on what we’ve learned over a collective century of practice. So whether you’re a parade leader, a prickly cactus, or a builder of the long tail, we hope this episode gives you room to breathe, reflect, and reimagine what sustainability can look like in the world of community-based art.

Let’s get into it.

Great! Below is a version of the requested list formatted specifically for show notes on Captivate.fm. It is optimized for readability, includes clickable hyperlinks, and presents the categories clearly to support podcast listeners looking to explore the episode’s references further.

Series: Building Blocks of Effective Community Arts Practice

Notable Mentions

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People

• Bill Cleveland – Host of Art is Change and founder of the Center for the Study of Art and Community.
• Leni Sloan – Artist, activist, and former NEA program director, known for arts policy and cultural leadership.
• Barbara Schaffer Bacon – Educator, movement-builder, and co-director of Animating Democracy.
• Linda Stout – Community organizer and founder of Spirit in Action, supporting sustainability for activists.
• Liz Lerman – Choreographer and pioneer in community-based dance and social practice arts.
• Grace Lee Boggs – Philosopher and activist who emphasized the importance of reflection in movement work.
• Stephen Goldstein – Former director of the San Francisco Arts Commission.
• Jack Davis – Late administrator who helped develop infrastructure for working artists.
• Wendy Schenefelt – Executive Director of Alternate ROOTS, featured in the upcoming episode.

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Events Referenced

• COVID-19 Pandemic – A backdrop for discussions around gig artists, healthcare access, and vaccination initiatives.
• Milosevic-Era Protests in Serbia – Highlighted through the guerrilla performances of DA Theater resisting authoritarian rule.
• Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) – A 1970s U.S. jobs program that treated artists as workers and supported infrastructure like costume and lighting banks.

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Organizations & Programs

• Center for the Study of Art and Community – Host of the Art is Change podcast and a hub for arts-based social change work.
• Spirit in Action – Organization founded by Linda Stout, providing care and retreats for change-makers.
• Animating Democracy – National initiative at Americans for the Arts supporting civic engagement through the arts.
• Alternate ROOTS – Southern regional arts organization advancing social and economic justice.
• DAH Teatar (Serbia) – Activist theater company defying Milosevic through performance in public space.
• San Francisco Arts Commission – City agency formerly responsible for artist support programs.
• McKnight Foundation – Funder of fellowships for working artists; supported ecosystem research mentioned in the episode.
• Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (Pay Equity Report) – Released a major study on economic challenges facing cultural workers in Western Massachusetts.

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Reports, Concepts & Initiatives

• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – Framework for understanding the basic needs of artists—housing, safety, health.
• “Pay Equity: A Study of the Cultural Workforce in the Berkshires” – A report highlighting financial instability among arts workers.
• “Shot for a Shot” Vaccine Campaign – Creative public health program for artists offering vaccinations and drinks in exchange for showing tattoos.
• Invisible Artist Ecosystem – Describes informal networks of shared resources like gear, rehearsal space, and materials that sustain artistic communities.
• Passion-Based Industry – Term used to describe the emotionally rewarding but financially unstable nature of community arts work.

📌 Want to learn more? Visit www.artandcommunity.com for resources, archives, and more information about the Art is Change podcast and related programs.

Acknowledgements

Form FreeSound.org

Raw data glitch 9 by Kronek9 -- https://freesound.org/s/676952/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Homage - Hypnotic and dreamy track comprised of a single minimalist ambient evolving synth by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/626466/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bosch’s Garden – Mythical Game Music for Fantasy and AI Projects by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/647212/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

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Art Is CHANGE is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change.

Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact.

Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.