Equity Statement & Resources

The purpose of Film Columbus is “to enrich our community through the art AND business of film.” And, along with the Greater Columbus Arts Council, we envision a “thriving Columbus where the arts matter to all of us.” We recognize to achieve this vision we must actively work to overcome complex inequities in our community including racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, classism, and ableism, among others. We believe that the art and the business of film play an essential role in examining the issues of our time, encouraging thoughtful dialogue and prompting change as a pathway to equity.

We acknowledge that systems of power grant privilege and access unequally and that it is our responsibility to continually dismantle inequities within our policies, programs, and practices.

We commit to engaging with, listening to, and lifting up voices from historically-marginalized groups in all of our programs and initiatives.

We demonstrate measurable change by setting annual goals and tracking progress related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We embrace transparency through regular public reporting and hold ourselves accountable to our community

We know that there is work to be done in many areas of inequity and injustice; however, Film Columbus and the Arts Council have decided that we must focus our efforts on racial equity to make meaningful progress, as we acknowledge racism as one of the most pressing issues of our time. Focusing on racial equity in our organization generates a framework, tools and resources that can also be applied to other areas of marginalization.

We believe that to advance our racial equity work, we must first acknowledge that our history includes actions (both conscious and unconscious) that have created advantages for some groups while limiting opportunities and outcomes for others.

We have a responsibility to reflect and serve the racial and cultural diversity of Columbus and Franklin County through our policies and procedures, board and staff composition, and our programs and events.

We take the time to engage people of color in authentic dialogue, committing to listen and respond to feedback that will help us take the right steps forward.

We intentionally research and implement new methods and policies, specifically focused on racial equity and justice, starting with assessments of our current practices.