FORGE PROJECT ASSOCIATION

COLLECTION, EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER PROGRAMSFORGE PROJECT STEWARDS A COLLECTION OF 180 PIECES OF CONTEMPORARY ART WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE WORK OF LIVING INDIGENOUS ARTISTS. THE COLLECTION IS DISPLAYED ON A ROTATING BASIS ON SITE AND IS AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH AS WELL AS LOAN FOR OFF-SITE EXHIBITIONS.FROM THE OUTSET, THE FORGE PROJECT COLLECTION WAS INTENDED AS A WORKING COLLECTION, WITH LOANS TO MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, AND CULTURAL CENTERS TAKING PLACE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER ITS FOUNDING IN 2021, LOANING TO 20 DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS WORLDWIDE IN 2024. THE PURPOSE OF THE LENDING PROGRAM IS TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR MAINSTREAM ART COLLECTIONS AND COLLECTING. AMONG ITS VALUES, THE LENDING PROGRAM ENDEAVORS TO: EXPERIMENT WITH NEW MODELS FOR LOANS THROUGH CO-CUSTODIANSHIP AGREEMENTS THAT ENABLE SELF-DETERMINATION FOR THE ARTISTS, LEVERAGE FORGE'S POSITION TO ADVOCATE FOR FAIR USE AND FAIR PAY ON BEHALF OF THE ARTISTS, AND RETHINK CONVENTIONAL APPROACHES TO TERMINOLOGY AND TAXONOMY, INCLUDING IN DATABASE CATEGORIZATION AND EXHIBITION COPY.PUBLIC PROGRAMS: FORGE PROJECT HOSTS AN ARRAY OF PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL AND ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR THE WIDER PUBLIC BOTH IN-PERSON AND ONLINE TOTALLING 15+ ANNUALLY. THIS INCLUDES 6+ PERFORMANCES, ARTIST TALKS, AND ACADEMIC PANELS WHICH ARE ALSO FILMED FOR LATER USE FOR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. A DOZEN IN-PERSON ONLY EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY MEALS, LAND STEWARDSHIP WORKSHOPS, AND EDUCATIONAL ONSITE TOURS ENGAGE ALL AGES IN DEEP ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORK OF FORGE PROJECT.ADDITIONAL RELATIONAL PROGRAMS: IN ADDITION TO THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FORGE PROJECT IS COMMITTED TO FACILITATING GATHERINGS BY AND FOR NATIVE PEOPLE. THIS WORK INCLUDES AN INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS ART CRITICISM RESIDENCY PROGRAM WHICH TAKES PLACE AT FORGE PROJECT OVER SEVERAL WEEKS WITH PROFESSIONAL FACULTY. SMALLER INCUBATOR TYPE PROJECTS ARE HOSTED ON EMERGENT TOPICS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS WELL.EDITORIAL: FORGING IS A DIGITAL-FIRST JOURNAL FOR CRITICALLY IMAGINING NATIVE FUTURES PRODUCING 12 EDITIONS ANNUALLY. ITS EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO CHANGING THE WAY WE STUDY AND INTERPRET INDIGENOUS SURVIVANCE IN THE FACE OF SETTLER COLONIALISM, WITH A FOCUS ON ENGAGING, HIGHLIGHTING, AND LEARNING FROM NATIVE VOICES. THE EDITORIAL PROGRAM ALSO SUPPORTS 4-6 WRITERS AND RESEARCHERS ANNUALLY TO WORK FOR A WEEK ONSITE AT FORGE PROJECT WITH UNFETTERED ACCESS TO OUR LIBRARY AND RESEARCH TOOLS.LAND: FORGE PROJECT STEWARDS 60 ACRES OF YOUNG FOREST AND FORMER HAYFIELDS OR LAWN AND IS IN ACTIVE REGENERATION OF THAT LAND, FOCUSING ON 5-10 ACRES A YEAR FOR ACTIVE REMEDIATION. THIS WORK IS DONE WITH A COLLABORATIVE TEAM OF BOTH NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE ADVISORS AND IS MAINTAINED THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DURING THE POPULAR SEASONAL MEADOW WORK DAYS.