KESHA: Black Female Experience of Identity & Race
Jacksonville Public Library, Fla.
Innovation Synopsis
When the Jacksonville Public Library created a makerspace in its Main Library, it needed a clear picture of how that space could engage and transform the community. By its use of art, poetry, dance, film and workshops to explore black femininity, identity and stereotypes, KESHA made JPL’s vision reality.
Challenge/Opportunity
In August 2016, JPL cleared 25,000 square feet of the Main Library’s first floor and christened it the Jax Makerspace. Staff wanted to showcase many dynamic possibilities for creators, but what would be its identity? This question was juxtaposed with its geography, positioned in the heart of Jacksonville’s urban core, the area of the city with the highest concentration of blacks and poverty. Could JPL use this space to elevate this community, to inspire it?
Key Elements of Innovation
KESHA facilitated community participation and celebration. Organizations and private citizens, including 14 community partners, shared resources and supported the exhibition. At its core, KESHA featured paintings, sculpture and other art of 14 black female artists. Programming included poetry, African music and dance, and workshops on everything from cultural identity to jewelry upcycling. In its celebration of female African-American artists and culture, KESHA nurtured a sense of pride and appreciation from all races and genders.
Achieved Outcomes
During the course of KESHA, the Jax Makerspace achieved the goal of becoming a relevant, uplifting community engagement hub for Northeast Florida. For the 1,900 customers who visited on opening night and those who attended the 28 accompanying programs over the next two months, and particularly for African-American females, KESHA was an inspiration. Finally, KESHA made a powerful contribution to downtown Jacksonville’s reputation as resurgent and vibrant, in a word, a destination.
