Meet 2017 Artist in Residence Kevin Moore

EveryLibrary Brings Political and Editorial Cartooning to Libraries with 2017 Artist in Residence Kevin Moore

EveryLibrary is proud to welcome Kevin Moore as our 2017 Artist in Residence. As a noted editorial cartoonist and a working librarian, Mr. Moore will bring a unique and timely perspective to the political climate for libraries through new creative work. This Residency begins September 4th, 2017 and will run through November 7th, the traditional “Labor Day to Election Day” period when political and issue campaigns are in the minds of voters across the country. Mr. Moore will produce a series of weekly editorial cartoons focused on library-related issues and themes which will be released by EveryLibrary for use copyright free by libraries across social media and outreach channels. His Residency will be capped-off by an interactive collaboration across EveryLibrary’s extensive network of library activists and advocates.

“Libraries have long faced challenges in securing funding, serving diverse constituents, and keeping current with rapid technological changes,” states Moore. “This year poses a more serious threat to the support of libraries, because the patrons and students they serve are vulnerable to drastic changes in immigration policy and economic disparity. Yet librarians are rising to these challenges and pushing back. With my Artist in Residency I hope to provide amusing and inspiring cartoons that can help library supporters highlight the different ways libraries provide value to their communities. My work will reflect the values that librarians stand for: freedom of information, diversity of access and the rights of citizens to inform themselves, make up their own minds, and contribute to debates on issues vital to our society and to our nation.”

Political and editorial cartooning is one of the oldest forms of political expression in America. “Libraries and political cartoons share a common American ancestor in Benjamin Franklin,” says John Chrastka, EveryLibrary executive director. “Around the same time he set up the Library Company in Philadelphia, his newspaper was printing the “Join or Die” cartoons calling for American self-determination. There is a long and important interaction between the arts and politics. We want to purposely bring this tradition to the discussion of library funding and library ballot measures across the country.” The cartoons will be shareable, meme-friendly, thought provoking, and humorous.

This years’ Artist in Residence program is the second by EveryLibrary. In 2015, EveryLibrary hosted Steve Kemple for his performance-based Residency. An archive of the performances, including a downloadable album of 100 librarians shushing, are online. In 2015 and 2016 artists from around the country were commissioned to create unique, original “Vote Libraries” artwork for library campaigns to use free of charge. With the 2017 Artist in Residence program, EveryLibrary continues its tradition of bringing the arts and politics together about libraries to leaven the conversation around library funding with the insights gained from that collaboration. You can follow Kevin Moore’s Residency work on EveryLibrary’s AIR Page and you can participate through our Facebook and Twitter feed.