It’s no surprise that most arts people are dismayed by the results of the recent elections (Nov. 5, 2024). They remember what it was like the first time under the winning candidate’s reign. 

And yes, it’s depressing for most of us. But it also is a call for action. 

Over the next four years people in the arts are going to need to be involved to help make things better. 

That could be any of a number of things:

1. Direct action. Think of the 2017 Women’s’ March in downtown Buffalo. Or providing sights and sounds for those kinds of events. Who knows what those actions might be? Civil disobedience, sit-ins, etc. Or simply getting involved with local organizations involved with serving marginalized communities.
   
   One of the most imaginative marches the Buffalo Hive editor-in-chief has seen was aimed at saving arts programs at SUNY last spring. The video above is from that day.  Sadly, that protest had little effect, with programs in sculpture, photography, ceramics and art history among those that were still cut. But it also shows the energy that artists of all stripes can bring.
   
   
2. Consider what kind of art you’re making. Add your voice or images or videos to the causes that you believe in. Keep issues in the public eye and humanize what otherwise might just seem like dry political fodder for much of the public. 
   
   A little humor doesn’t hurt either. Everybody remembers the pink pussy hats from those 2017 marches, right?
   
   
3. Use your art to help support the causes you believe in. We understand that people in the arts need to eat, too, so they frequently can’t afford to donate their work or performances (that’s why we’re paying our freelancers). But if you can afford it, make whatever contributions you’re able to offer, whether it’s a work of art, a performance or a financial donation.
   
   
4. Reach out to those who are threatened or under attack. You don’t have to be an artist to do this.
   In particular, we’re thinking of our immigrant communities.
   
   They have made huge contributions to our community and helped fuel Buffalo’s population and economic bouncebacks in the 2010s. In fact, when the first Trump administration cut back on immigration visas, it put a damper on Buffalo’s comeback.
   
   You can reach out in many ways to help our immigrants, through volunteering, attending their events, contributing financially to their causes or simply figuring out ways to support them.
   
   
5. Take care of each other. We should do this anyway, but during darker times it’s more necessary than ever. I’ve been encouraged to see things such as the social media post from Revolution Gallery and Lounge yesterday saying:
   
   “We are – and have always been – a safe space. For women, for guests who feel vulnerable, for BIPOC, for our LGBTQIA+ community … you are supported here. The Gallery and Lounge will never welcome or tolerate bigotry, prejudice, or hate.
   
   Today is a dark day, the day after.
   
   In case you are in need of a creative outlet, to make something lovely, we are drawing together at our bi-weekly figure drawing session tonight.
   
   We believe in art. We believe in our community. We believe in all of us.”
   
   That is so needed, and I’m sure there are others doing similar things. We need to keep doing them, and some of us may need to do more of them. That kind of approach can be invaluable.

We realize that not all artists are on the same page politically, whether they’re musicians, poets, actors, visual artists, filmmakers or in any other kind of art. The president-elect may have his own artist supporters. 

But what we can’t do is sit on the sidelines and complain and not do anything. It can be exhausting. It can be frustrating. But it’s necessary. 

We recall a lyric about the Spanish Revolution from Tom Lehrer, the legendary satirist. He sang of the fascist Franco, “Though he may have won all the battles, we had all the good songs.”

That’s always a danger. There’s no guarantee that we win. But we need to have both the great songs and to win the battles. Failure is not an option. 

The Buffalo Hive is a nonprofit, so we’re precluded from endorsing political candidates and we don’t take political ads. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t comment on the issues of the day. And we will.