We Create Birmingham: Deanna Sirkot
"In my family, there were a lot of artists, artisans, and art lovers. So, it’s always been a part of who I am... I knew I wanted to be a part of connecting art and community."
"In my family, there were a lot of artists, artisans, and art lovers. So, it’s always been a part of who I am... I knew I wanted to be a part of connecting art and community."
We are outraged by the recent surge in unprovoked, violent, and even fatal attacks against Asian Americans. We are committed to our work — amplifying our community’s cultural and innovative contributors and providing equitable opportunities for those working in the creative sectors.
"There is a lot of work to be done in how society views Latinx women. On average, we are the lowest paid minority women. People box us into the roles of housekeeper or cook. I asked myself, “Could I do what I do without bringing my ethnicity into it?” The answer is yes, but I want to be a part of changing that mindset. I’m a Mexican fashion designer."
"This is one of the most creative places in the country; we've got a lot of serious practitioners in the performing arts, literary arts, visual arts, culinary arts—people that have gotten national and even international attention from right here in Birmingham... And that's something our curators and educators have really been focusing on—underscoring the talent within our own community and bringing artists onto our walls and our pedestals and our stages who are from this city."
"A lot of other cities build parks that are designed for tourists. But the primary focus of Railroad Park has always been our residents... We wanted to make sure that if you live in Birmingham, you know that this park is for you."