Cultural Appropriation Policy
(Note: We have always moderated cultural appropriation on .art, and this policy has always existed, unwritten – this is just us adding it to our code of conduct in a more official capacity)
Cultural appropriation is “The unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.”
Creators should always be mindful of the role that cultural history plays in the development and adoption of artistic styles and ideas. While it's natural for artists to experiment with different mediums, colours, and techniques, as this is how we learn and grow as artists and develop our own set of skills and styles, it's also important that we don't mis-use or mis-contextualise cultural work.
Cultural appropriation can include:
- Reproducing artwork from other cultures
- Using cultural artwork as a costume
- Appropriating facets of another culture to use in your own art
Knowing that this is a nuanced topic, we'll always approach reports of cultural appropriation by involving people who can speak for their cultures relevant to the artwork in question.