TXT

When in the Course of artistic struggle, it becomes necessary for creators to reinvent avenues for artistic expression, and to assert a new model of cultural support and governance, an Art-ocracy, the separate and equal station to which the Pursuit of Creativity and Justice entitle them, the artists must show an open respect to the opinions of humankind such that they should declare the causes which impel them to this transformation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all artists are endowed with inalienable Rights, that among these are Expression, Community, and the pursuit of Societal Impact—that to secure these rights, Systems of Support are instituted among Creators, deriving their artistc opportunities from the consent of the stakeholders.

Whenever any System becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the Artists to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Order, laying its foundation on such principles and practices as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Art and Legacy across generations.

The present National Endowment for the Arts being drowned in the bathtub of current political struggle, is subject to the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over Artistic Freedom. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world: The NEA’s budget, once $207 million in FY 2023, faces a proposed elimination in the 2026 federal budget released May 3, 2025; Over 80% of NEH staff, closely tied to NEA operations, have been placed on administrative leave as of May 6, 2025; Hundreds of arts grants, totaling $36.8 million awarded in 2025, have been canceled with no clear reinstatement plan; The NEA’s Challenge America program, offering $10,000 grants to underserved communities, was terminated for FY 2026 in February 2025; No permanent NEA leadership has been appointed since January 20, 2025, following the departure of Maria Rosario Jackson, leaving the agency rudderless.

We, therefore, the Stakeholders of a new Artistic Community, in General Assembly, appealing to the Supreme Muse of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do solemnly publish and declare, That these United Creators are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to Failing Systems, and that as Free Artists, they have full Power to establish an Art-ocracy—a democratic collective where stakeholder votes govern cultural support.

As no fair and just arts support can exist outside a fair and just society, we declare that the stakeholders of the Art-ocracy are those who pursue justice at large. T herefore we declare the Art-ocracy to be the equal partnership of the Pursuit of Creativity and the Pursuit of Justice.

In this Art-ocracy, perpetual votes—a lasting stake—shall be earned by those who stand for procedural due process, defending the eternal right to fair hearings, tribunals and findings, as witnessed in battles like the Brooklyn Lyceum’s fight against judicial wrongs, where courts ignored unserved attorneys, ruled 19 greater than 26, and granted unnoticed and unrequested relief, exemplifying the need for Art-ocracy’s justice-driven model.

Each act of advocacy, each defense of justice, grants a permanent voice in deciding art’s future.

Transitory votes, fleeting but vital, may be earned through contributions of time, funds, or creations—supporting a mural, staging a play, or mentoring youth.

These votes, both perpetual and transitory, shall be preserved by blockchain, ensuring transparency, immutability, and trust in the democratic process. Blockchain records each vote as a tamper-proof ledger, safeguarding the integrity of every stakeholder’s voice, whether earned through due process battles or community contributions. Together, these votes empower allocation of artistic resources, fund projects and shape culture free from political tyranny, ensuring that arts opportunities reflect the will of the stakeholder populace, not political overlords, fostering a vibrant, inclusive cultural landscape for all.

For the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Artistic Liberty, we mutually pledge to each other our Talents, our Passion, and our sacred Honor, ensuring art thrives for generations unbound.

The Art-ocracy, launching as a response to the recent National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)’s gutting, establishes a system where artists, justice advocates, and the common man govern cultural support, free from political tyranny, rooted in the implicit understanding that a fair arts support system requires correcting unfairness anywhere, not just in cultural spaces.

The Art-ocracy builds its foundation on the interconnected efforts of Decisionary, Jafomaru, Gowanagus, and the Brooklyn Lyceum.

This partnership reflects a society where justice and creativity are inseparable, ensuring a thriving cultural landscape.

Decisionary is the investigative cornerstone, exposing judicial failures across diverse sectors—such as housing, labor, education—to underscore their pervasive impact on societal fairness, which implicitly underpins arts support. As Justice Louis Brandeis noted, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant” —Decisionary (Decisionary.org) illuminates suspect legal decisions, such as the Brooklyn Lyceum’s foreclosure battle, where courts ignored unserved attorneys, ruled 19 greater than 26, and granted unnoticed relief, revealing systemic injustices that often ripple into cultural realms.

Decisionary's meticulous transparency inspires Art-ocracy’s perpetual votes, earned by those defending due process anywhere, laying a just foundation for arts to flourish.

Jafomaru, the mobilizer, amplifies this justice mission with a JAFO (Just Another F---ing Observer) perspective.

It provides a platform (Jafomaru.com) to earn a stake in the Art-ocracy by documenting and sharing judicial errors highlighted in Decisionary—spanning cultural, residential, or workplace contexts—rallying support for systemic correction.

Jafomaru’s role fosters lasting impact: its advocacy for due process, an effort-laden endeavor, earns stakeholders perpetual votes, ensuring a permanent voice in shaping cultural support within a fair society, bridging justice and artistic expression.

Gowanagus bridges community action and justice, leveraging its Cultural Voting Block (Gowanagus.com) to rally public support for correcting judicial failures across all arenas.

Gowanagus also encourages non-risk activities like mentoring, funding art, or organizing events, which earn transitory votes, complementing the perpetual votes from justice advocacy and reinforcing the implicit link: fair arts systems depend on fair societies.

Its focus on collective action—evident in its support for the Lyceum—informs Art-ocracy’s democratic voting system, where the stakeholder populace governs arts opportunities.

The Brooklyn Lyceum, a 20-year cultural hub at 227 Fourth Avenue, will serve as the distributor of funds and/or producing entity of the Gowanagus community-voted projects, translating community choices into tangible cultural projects.

The Lyceum embodies the implicit relationship between Review (Decisionary), Stake (Jafomaru), and Choice (Gowanagus), acting as the nexus where justice and creativity converge.

Its (unfinished) foreclosure battle, marked by judicial wrongs, serves as a case study for the systemic failures Decisionary exposes, Jafomaru mobilizes against, and Gowanagus catalyzes, highlighting why Art-ocracy’s foundation—the equal partnership of the Pursuit of Creativity and Justice—matters: correcting judicial failures anywhere ensures a just society where arts can flourish.

Together, these entities expose, mobilize, connect, and act—forming Art-ocracy’s bedrock. Stakeholders, with both perpetual and transitory votes, will help craft the guiding documents, ensuring a democratic framework that reflects their diverse contributions.

By addressing judicial failures broadly, they implicitly secure a fair arts support system, empowering stakeholders to fund projects via blockchain-preserved votes, ensuring culture reflects the stakeholder populace, not political overlords, for generations to come.

CLICK HERE FOR DOC