Agate Creatives

In a world where Black narratives are often overshadowed by stories of trauma, we're here to shine a spotlight on the joy, resilience, and beauty instead. This Black History Month, let's continue to uplift and amplify voices that celebrate Black culture and experiences.

From books to films, music to art, we've curated a collection of our current favorite pieces of Black Joy Media that radiate positivity and empowerment. Join us in spreading love and appreciation by sharing some of your favorites in the comments below!

Graphic and Caption by Marlena Matute

As we approach the end of the year, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your support. In the spirit of self-care and reflection, we've decided to take a break and will be offline for the rest of the year to recharge and come back even stronger in 2024!

Starting now, Agate Creatives will be on a pause, with plans to return on the second week of January 2024. Your enthusiasm and commitment have fueled our efforts, and we can't wait to come back stronger and more inspired.

While we're away, you can still check out our exclusive items on Bonfire - every purchase contributes to our mission and they also make great gifts. rb.gy/8vel7

Wising you a joyful holiday season filled with laughter, connection and warmth. We'll see you in 2024 with renewed creativity and purpose!

Much Love,
Britt, Heather, Kathren, Marlena and Sarah

Caption and graphic by Marlena Matute

Let’s wrap up spooky season with a final blog entry in our “Scary Stories to Tell Your Colleagues” series. This one is from creative member . Her terrible tale is “The Ghost on the Stairs.”

From all of us at Agate Creatives, we wish you a happy spooky season! Let’s keep working together to take the horrors, terrors, creepies, and dread out of museum work! https://shorturl.at/loFV1

Every voice has the potential to create meaningful change. Never underestimate the power and impact of that voice - use it unapologetically.

Today’s midweek motivation quote comes from Maria Louise Cruz, better known as Sacheen Littlefeather, who was an American actress and activist for Native American civil rights. Her father was from the White Mountain Apache and Yaqui tribes from Arizona.

We’re keeping the spooks spooking this season with another “Scary Stories to Tell Your Colleagues” blog entry, this time from creative member . Check out her tale of terror in “A Haunting at the Museum Mansion" here: tinyurl.com/y9emcb77

In honor of spooky season, we are sharing a new series on our blog called, "Scary Stories to Tell Your Colleagues" 👻 Check out our first entry from creative member about hauntings and hip pain here: tinyurl.com/2y992r6x

CW: chronic pain, needles, work-related stress

The Agate Creatives official merch store is now open for business!

Introducing the "Unpaid Internships are Exploitation" tee, tailor-made for all you hardworking interns out there - past or present! As a team of museum professionals, we understand the struggle, and this shirt here was designed to make a bold statement against unpaid internships. It's time to reclaim the value of interns, raise awareness, and fight against these unfair practices that have plagued professional spaces for too long.

Your purchase of this or any of our new merchandise, will not only keep you looking stylish, but also support the incredible programs we are developing! From online workshops, and in-person traveling exhibitions (coming soon!) to maintaining our website and providing paid collaborations with other BIPOC creatives, every purchase fuels our mission.

Head over to the link in the bio today to get your hands on this and other exclusive items designed by members of our creative team today! rb.gy/8vel7

Celebrating Juneteenth also means taking a moment to recognize pioneers of the fight for amplifying freedom and justice. Ms. Opal Lee, also known as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth" is a leader, changemaker, and true inspiration. Get to know Ms. Lee and her immense contribution to this momentous day becoming not only federally recognized as a national holiday, but for creating a wider path forward for future generations. Happy Juneteenth!

Graphic and caption by Britt Oates

Did you hear the news? The long awaited International African American Museum has announced it will open to the public on June 27, 2023! It’s a special Juneteenth gift to all of us, and we wish them a hugely successful launch!

Graphic and caption by Heather Hope Kuruvilla

An overdue tribute to the Queen of Rock-n -roll, Tina Turner. Let her words motivate you going into this week!

Graphic and Caption by Heather Hope Kuruvilla

Join us in celebrating the world’s first Indigenous tourism experience, open now on Yankunytjatjara Pitjantjatjara land in Australia. Launched by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, the light and sound show at Ayers Rock Resort in Uluru is called Wintjiri Wiru, which means “'beautiful view out to the horizon” in the local Pitjantjatjara language.

This storytelling experience makes use of technology, including choreographed drones, lasers, and projections, to illuminate the night sky with a chapter of the ancestral Mala story. Visitors are encouraged to learn the Mala story themselves through the tourism website before experiencing the story in the night sky. The project was developed with Anangu, the custodians of the land, to share Wintjiri Wiru in a culturally-safe way.

Graphic and caption by Heather Hope Kuruvilla

Here’s the reminder we all occasionally need that we don’t have to be productive to contain inherent self-worth. Take care of yourself, reframe your thoughts, and remember that just because you exist *within* capitalism doesn’t mean you have to *be* capitalism personified. You are enough!

[Quote in graphic by .hypnosis on TikTok]

Graphic and Caption by Heather Hope Kuruvilla