Supporting Black Art
At YWCA Lancaster’s Center for Racial and Gender Equity (CRGE), we are dedicated to creating a more just and equitable community. Through our programs, we provide platforms for engagement, education, and advocacy, empowering individuals to challenge systemic racism and gender-based injustice. Our community engagement initiatives focus on amplifying marginalized voices and driving meaningful change. Learn more about our key programs below.
Black Art Across Lancaster
Amplifying Black creativity, everywhere.
Black Art Across Lancaster is a county-wide arts initiative by YWCA Lancaster that showcases the work of Black artists in community hubs through exhibitions, performances, and creative collaborations.
Building on the foundation of the Black Artist Waystation, which honors Lancaster County’s history as a stop on the Underground Railroad, Black Art Across Lancaster continues that legacy by celebrating the freedom, resilience, and brilliance of Black artistry today.
Through partnerships with local organizations, curated showcases, and public art activations, the program aims to increase visibility for Black artists, foster meaningful community connections, and ensure that art and equity are woven into the fabric of Lancaster County life.
A Community that Cares
The continued support of the Lancaster County Community Foundation is helping YWCA Lancaster expand and sustain our Black art initiatives, including Black Art Across Lancaster and the Black Artist Waystation. Their investment is more than funding—it’s a commitment to reshaping our community through creativity, equity, and representation.
By uplifting the voices and visions of Black artists, the Foundation’s partnership helps ensure that art, history, and healing remain accessible and celebrated throughout Lancaster County. Together, we’re creating a more vibrant, inclusive future—one work of art at a time.
The Tear Jar: A Blues Opera
The Tear Jar project is a powerful community art initiative that invites reflection, healing, and shared humanity. Inspired by the ancient tradition of collecting tears as symbols of grief and resilience, the project offers space for participants to honor their own stories of loss, hope, and transformation. Through collaborative art-making and storytelling, the Tear Jar Project reminds us that every tear holds meaning, and that healing grows when our stories are seen, shared, and held in community.
Sponsored by the Lancaster County Community Foundation, we are proud to share the work of local creatives with the community.
Black Artist Waystation
At YWCA Lancaster’s Center for Racial and Gender Equity (CRGE), we are dedicated to creating a more just and equitable community. Through our programs, we provide platforms for engagement, education, and advocacy, empowering individuals to challenge systemic racism and gender-based injustice. Our community engagement initiatives focus on amplifying marginalized voices and driving meaningful change. Learn more about our key programs below.
Our Values
We acknowledge that Artivists (Artist + Activist) use their artistic talents to fight the struggle against injustice and oppression.
We recognize that artivists play a central role in building a vibrant Lancaster County.
We believe that diverse perspectives create a unique culture and have an emphasis on supporting Black artists since their work is not equally represented in mainstream culture and media in Lancaster County.
We are committed to supporting work that has a social impact on the footprint of Lancaster County.
We are committed to uplifting work that can alter how we think about ourselves, our society, or our culture by challenging or questioning societal norms and prevailing attitudes about race, class, gender, sexuality, identity, age, and ability.
Black Artist Waystation
The Black Artist Waystation is a vibrant platform designed to uplift and support Black artists in Lancaster. Through this initiative, we provide Black creatives with the resources, visibility, and space needed to develop their craft and share their stories. The program includes artist residencies, public exhibitions, and community workshops, offering artists the opportunity to explore themes of identity, race, and justice. By elevating Black voices and promoting diversity in the arts, the Black Artist Waystation challenges traditional narratives and helps foster cultural transformation in our community.
Our Mission
The mission of the Black Artist Waystation is to provide Black artists with the resources, opportunities, and visibility needed to succeed in their craft. By fostering a nurturing environment for creativity, the Waystation empowers artists to develop their work without constraints, while also challenging societal norms around race and identity. The program not only seeks to elevate individual artists but also aims to reshape the cultural landscape of Lancaster by ensuring that Black perspectives are celebrated and integrated into the broader community.
Empowering Black Artists, Transforming Our Community
By supporting Black artists, the Black Artist Waystation is transforming Lancaster’s cultural landscape and contributing to the broader fight for racial equity. The Waystation is not just a platform for artistic expression—it is a movement that asserts the importance of Black narratives in shaping our collective future.
Through this initiative, YWCA Lancaster is building a community where Black artists feel empowered to create, thrive, and lead the way in reimagining what an equitable society looks like. By amplifying the voices of Black creatives, the Black Artist Waystation plays a vital role in YWCA Lancaster’s mission to eliminate racism and promote peace, justice, and dignity for all.