About Us

Mission

The Union for Contemporary Art strengthens the cultural and social landscape of our community by using the arts as a vehicle to inspire positive social change.

The Union uses the term “social change” as a broad umbrella to encompass a range of social and civic outcomes from increased awareness and understanding, to attitudinal change and increased civic participation. Recognizing that change on the individual level is directly linked to the building of public will and the development of policy that corrects injustice, The Union embraces the opportunity to foster social change every day through our programs, partnerships, and commitment to North Omaha.

Core Values

Community: Founded with purpose in North Omaha, we love our community and are committed to creating impact with our neighbors. Although we collaborate with partners across Omaha, our mission and work connect back to this vibrant and resilient community we call home.

Artists: We believe artists are invaluable members of our community and creative culture, and that their work as educators, mentors, and citizens is vital to a healthy and vibrant civic life. We support artists of all creative disciplines and at all levels of practice and achievement, so that they might excel in their creative practice and become stronger social advocates.

Justice: We believe in the power of the arts to raise awareness, generate conversation, and engage citizens in working toward a just and equitable society.

Accessibility: We are committed to removing barriers to the arts by providing programs that are accessible to everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, gender expression, sexual identity, income level, or ability.

Collaboration: We work openly with a broad spectrum of local and national organizations, individuals, and institutions to foster a culture of support and collaboration.

Dialogue: By nature, artists who seek to challenge the status quo – aesthetically, socially, politically – produce works that often agitate, unsettle, and disquiet our most closely held assumptions and beliefs. Inherent to The Union's commitment to fostering social change and promoting freedom of artistic expression is a firm belief in the power of dialogue. To this end, The Union for Contemporary Art invites challenging conversations between artist and audience, while maintaining a supportive environment of equality and respect.

Cultural Equity

The Union is committed to championing policies and practices of cultural equity that empower a just, inclusive, equitable community. Click here to read our full statement on cultural equity.

Strategic Planning

Beginning in 2023, The Union has partnered with Community Resource Exchange (CRE) to develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan. The plan is centered around our mission statement and theory of change, and focuses on five organizational priorities:

• Successful Leadership Transition

• Strong Team Culture

• Impactful Programs

• Effective Community Engagement

• Strong Financial Sustainability

In line with this strategic plan, we are beginning our Voices & Vision initiative to build impactful arts programs and expand community engagement efforts. This project will harness direct community input to shape our program offerings, ensuring they are both inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of our community.

Land Acknowledgment

The Union for Contemporary Art recognizes that our work takes place on the ancestral homeland of the Umoⁿhoⁿ (Omaha) and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (The Seven Council Fires) Nations. The colonial genocide and forced removal of these people remain an irrevocable part of the history of the land we now call home.

The Union acknowledges this history and affirms the sovereignty of the thousands of native peoples still inhabiting, tending, and sanctifying this land. As an arts organization, The Union is committed to pursuing opportunities to support the creative and cultural light of the people who’ve made this land a home for countless generations.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Umoⁿhoⁿ (Omaha) Nation.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the multiple Očhéthi Šakówiŋ tribes.

To learn more about indigenous lands visit Native-Land.ca.

Code of Conduct

The staff and board of The Union hold ourselves to standards of conduct that are in line with the stated Core Values of the organization. We expect that collaborating artists, Co-Op pass holders, Union Members, partners, contractors, and community members participating in Union programming also meet these standards so that we may foster a safe, open, and inclusive environment where rich dialogue can flourish and systems of oppression may be challenged. Click here to read our full Code of Conduct.

Governance

To view and download The Union's Annual Reports and view our full audited financials, visit our Governance page at the link below.

The Union is a proud member of the following organizations:

Alliance of Artist Communities
Common Field
National Guild for Community Arts Education
Nonprofit Association of the Midlands

Are you or your organization interested in renting The Union for a special event? Follow the link below to learn more and submit your request.