Now Art Grants
Conceptual artist damali ayo, creator of rent-a-negro.com, author of How to Rent a Negro, and nationally touring speaker announces the creation of Now Art Grants. Artists creating widely disseminated work that engages dialogue about current social issues will receive grant funds (minimum $500), three months mentorship by damali ayo, a second mentor who has specific experience in the project field, and the exposure to ayo's mailing list of over 3000 people.

Support Art that Creates Social Change

Current Now Art Grantees
Eric Gottesman
Angela Mobley
Laura Parker

Learn More

Join damali's email list to participate in Now Art projects.

Now Art is a mentality that art must be current, accessible and an agent of dialogue and social change.

Many members of my audiences expressed frustration that they could not see my work, as it was housed in a gallery in one city often out of reach. I agreed. I dropped my art gallery and have devoted myself to creating art that provides accessibility, impact, and ways for individuals to participate and experience the work.

Now Art is immediate, accessible, participatory, low-cost, and deals with current issues that we face as a community/society. When you participate you create a dynamic moment- something that happens in the "now" and hopefully generates a cascade of thought and change for the future. I will send you concepts, instructions and sometimes even a full kit to enact each work. Your collaboration is what makes it work. Let's make art together. We're really going to have some fun.

view damali's gallery shows and stage performances

National Day of Panhandling for Reparations
OCTOBER 10, 2007. People all across the United States sat outside of businesses, libraries, museums, art galleries, and on busy street corners. We collected reparations from white Americans for the enslavement of Africans and African Americans. This money was immediately paid out to black passersby. Both parties were offered a receipt.

Living Flag
The original performance: damali takes the struggle for reparations to the street and gets the job done. In this work she panhandles for reparations- collecting money from white people and paying it immediately to black people.
This performance can be done as a participatory workshop in your community or school. Find out how.

I CAN FIX IT
2000 people were asked for 5 things individual people can do to end racism. Here are the solutions in our own words.
Download guidebook

Put this guide everywhere you can: libraries, bookstores, coffee shops, colleges, high schools, kindergartens, community gardens, street corners, on line and off line. Send it to your local paper. Slide it into the Sunday paper or People Magazine while you're waiting in line at the grocery store. Donate your office copier time to making copies. Solutions happen when these ideas are actually put into action.

I Can Fix It! Speaker Corps
damali passes the race-relations torch by training new speakers to give her talk on 10 practical solutions for how to create healthier, more productive racial interactions. Trainings will include a kit with all needed powerpoint slides and audio. First training is Octoberin Portland, OR. Apply Now

Black History Flash Cards
Twelve fantastic people who have made our world a better place. Three blank cards to make your own. Download.

Give these to kids of all races anyway you can. I staple them to Butterfinger bars and give them to all the kids that come to my house for halloween. What will you do?

Download the poster small (8x3"500K)   large (24x11"1M) downloads are free, posters and stickers available for purchase here. Print out the poster. Place the poster anywhere white people need help. Offer copies of all 12 steps to white people in your community.
Download all 12 steps.

"Race Tag" can be an interactive part of a presentation at your school. Find out How.

Greetings (The Race Card)
Looking for just the right words to say to someone? "We don't always make the time to talk about racism, but i wanted to take a moment to say..." or "So I'm your only black friend." These cards say it all. Buy now.

Send these to someone who needs a wake up call.

Tokens
Little Nia demonstrates the power of wearable art. She says, "Touch your own hair." You can too. Buy Now.

Sport these great mugs and t-shirts and start some much needed discussions.