A YEAR IN REVIEW: 2023

Mission
Founded in 1991, a 501 C-3 registered nonprofit arts organization, A Gathering of Tribes provides a platform for diverse, traditionally under-represented artists and writers, amplifying the emerging and established revolutionary voices of our time.

Tribes is also committed to honoring and memorializing our founder, Steve Cannon’s life and legacy.

Because of our amazing donors, over the last year, A Gathering of the Tribes has:

  • Distributed more than $10,000 to traditionally under-represented artists and writers through stipends, live readings, and publications.

  • Continued to honor the legacy of our founder, Steve Cannon

  • Connected diverse authors with 60,000 + readers via our Online magazine.

  • Brought an audience of more than 500 to our live readings and events.

  • Supported diverse artists and writers through our fiscal and visa sponsorship programs.

  • Distributed Tribes #16: The BLM Issue, featuring the original work of more than 80 diverse artists and writers.

Outline of Current Programs

1.   A Gathering of the Tribes Magazine Online serves simultaneously as a web publication, a promotional outlet, a virtual salon creating long-lasting connections between, and providing financial support to traditionally under-represented artists and writers.

 Over the last year, AGOTT Magazine Online has:

  • Published new works by diverse authors.

  • Promoted recently released and upcoming books by diverse authors, primarily published through small presses.

  • Connected our authors to an audience of more than 60,000 individual readers.

  • Distributed more than $5,000 in financial stipends to diverse authors.

2. A Gathering of the Tribes Readings and Live Events amplify the voices of traditionally under-represented, established, and emerging authors.

Over the last year, AGOTT’s Readings and Live Events have:

  • Featured diverse authors in our live readings and events.

  • Promoted recently released and upcoming books by diverse authors, primarily published through small presses.

  • Connected our authors to an audience of more than 500 event attendees.

  • Been hosted in multiple venues and platforms, including Zoom and Facebook Live, as well as live in person at Governor’s Island (Poetry NYC Festival) The Parkside Lounge, and others.

3. Distribution of Tribes Magazine: (a biennial print journal) is an 8’x10’ 100-page, full-color journal which features poetry, prose, (fiction and nonfiction) and visual art by contemporary, traditionally unrepresented artists and writers. 

First published in 1991, each issue features two guest editors; a poetry and prose editor, and a visual art editor, who work together to create a unique publication showcasing emerging and established revolutionary voices of our time. Past editors have included David Hammons, Kathy Price, Paul Miller (D.J. Spooky), David Henderson, and other notable authors and artists.

Tribes Magazine #16: The Black Lives Matter Issue:

●      Features more than 80 artists and writers of diversity, including Anthony Barboza, Arthur Flowers, Tracy K Smith, John Sims, Quincy Troupe, Sheree Renée Thomas, Tony Medina, Tennessee Reed, Walter Mosley, Nile Livingston, Yusef Komunyakaa, Monique LeNoir, and others.

●      Was edited by Ishmael Reed (poetry and prose) and Danny Simmons (art), with Assistant Editor Margaret Porter-Troupe.

●      Provides traditionally under-represented artists and writers with financial incentives to continue creating: Each author and artist included in this publication receives a financial stipend ranging from $100 to $500.

●      Amplifies the voices of traditionally under-represented authors:

●      4. A Gathering of the Tribes Fiscal and Visa Sponsorship Program: In keeping with the activities put in place by our founder, Steve Cannon, A Gathering of the Tribes acts as a low-threshold fiscal sponsor to select individual artists and collectives, and serves as a sponsor to select foreign artists and writers wishing to practice in the U.S. Our current fiscal and visa sponsees include: The Toppled Monuments Archive (TMA), Joseph Keckler, Tracie Dawn Williams, The Cynthia Opera, and Eva H.D.

5. Honoring our founder, Steve Cannon: All of our programs accomplish our mission of amplifying the voices of diverse, traditionally under-represented artists and writers, while honoring the legacy of our founder, Steve Cannon. Some aspects of our programming are specifically geared toward memorializing his life and his work. This includes a campaign to make 285 East 3rd Street, the original location of Tribes gallery, an historic landmark, and a new initiative to name East 3rd Street between Avenues C and D, Steve Cannon Way.

Thank you for Tribes’ 2023, major individual and institutional donors, including:

David Hammons

Kati Duncan

Hilary Maslon

Bob Holman

Poets and Writers

The Henry Luce Foundation (a COSA funder)

Christopher and David Murray Fund of Stonewall Community Foundation