P R E S S   R E L E A S E


The La Grange Art League Gallery and Studio is proud to announce the opening of the Diversity and Inclusion through Art gallery space in January 2021.  Each month a new emerging artist will feature their art, background story and social perspective.  The goal of this space is to amplify the voices of artists from diverse backgrounds into our community.   

Our first guest artist is Ariya Siddiqui, ceramics coordinator from Inner-city Muslim Action Network (IMAN). Her position at this non-profit includes directing therapeutic ceramics as part of a re-entry program for formerly incarcerated community members. Ariya's work and mission are exemplary and we suggest you visit the gallery to view her video and ceramics.  January 16th is National Religious Freedom Day which proclaims that all men and women are endowed with the right to follow their conscience, worship freely, and live in accordance with their convictions.  Ms Siddiqui’s ceramics will be on display through January 2021.

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The La Grange Art League supports all those who stand up against injustice and demands fairness and equality for all. The Black Lives Matters protests have generated much-needed awareness, action and change. We as an organization will be taking steps to discuss what concrete actions we can take to increase diversity among our membership, accessibility of our classes, and outreach to underserved communities, to amplify black and brown voices, and to speak out against injustice everywhere.  The La Grange Art League is working on developing an arts program in our lower income neighorhoods, places of greater diversity with economic disadvantage, and with limited ability to travel to our studio for classes. We are also setting up the LGAL inclusion, diversity and outreach task force in conjunction with joining the Community Diversity Group of La Grange to discuss opportunities to strengthen community relationships, broaden equal opportunities and fight prejudices against Black, Indigenous, People of Color. If you are interested in participating in this group or have input yo would like to share contact margaretprescott@ameritech.net. We ask you to continue to spark dialogue on the Black Lives Matter movement through your conversations, actions and especially the powerful medium of art.