This summer, Sanjana Thakur will curate an art exhibit representing the educational system seen through the lenses of girls of color. It will take place from July 12 through July 16 in partnership with the University of Connecticut. The theme of educational justice will represent the hardship girls of color face in the educational system and how they hope to inflict change.
Q: Have you ever done something like this before?
Thakur: I’ve curated one art gallery in the past, but this is different because the other one was about reproductive rights, while this one is about educational justice and with a university instead of an organization.
Q: Can you tell me more about the theme?
Thakur: In schools, there are many barriers to girls’ education, so this gallery is for reimagining the education system in America and for understanding that education can happen in more than just a classroom. We’re highlighting community spaces, other non-formal learning settings, and responsibilities you have other than learning in a classroom.
Q: Why do you think this is an important theme?
Thakur: This is an important theme because I’m working with other girls of color, and we’ve all had different experiences in the classroom. I think it is really important to not only show other people the challenges we face in the learning places, but also to find change in those systems and try to find solutions.
Q: How are you planning to move forward with this project?
Thakur: In the future, I’d like to do something related to art history and curation. I found out about this through one of my mentors, with whom I did another program. They told me about the project, and I joined their curation team. I really like learning through forms of art. I think when people see something through art, they process it differently than they do with writing.
This gallery is still accepting art, so if you identify with these values, submit!
