Local QTBIPOC Photo Studio Fund

What is the QTBIPOC Fund?

The QTPOC Fund is SayTen Studios’ direct service to Queer, Trans People of Color. The studio offers FREE or low cost photo services for QTBIPOC folks to build portfolios, compose headshots, develop CVs and Resumes, and create content for QTPOC events and services.

How Does The Fund Work?

Patrons of SayTen Studios and our partners are encouraged to donate to the QTBIPOC fund. Any amount of money provided to the studio’s venmo (@saytenstudios) will directly fund services. For every $50 cumulation, SayTen Studios matches two fold, offering anywhere from $100 to $250 worth of service.

We strongly encourage White folks and cisgender, hetero folks to donate to support the QTBIPOC Community.

How May I Use the Funding?

If you identify as QTBIPOC, please reach out to inquire if service funds are available. When the studio is in surplus, we provide free and discounted studio opportunities.

BIPOC:

In choosing which community members receive service, please note that all decisions are at the discretion of the studio director. We believe in supporting in kind as our means of disrupting yt supremacy in our mediascape, and as a small business owned by a Boricua Trans Femme Enby, we prioritize BIPOC Trans participants.

About The Studio

SayTen Studios is emphatically present in the queer, antiracist movement that serves to combat the disenfranchisement of the marginalized. In providing affordable and quality multidisciplinary services to queer people of color we recognize and publicly archive our personal mythologies as counter culture to a YT cishet landscape.

SayTen Studios is a Trans Latinx owned Sex Worker friendly business

Artist Statement:

SayTen Studios is emphatically present in the queer, antiracist movement that serves to combat the disenfranchisement of the most marginalized. In providing affordable and quality multidisciplinary services to queer people of color we recognize and publicly archive our personal mythologies as counterculture to a YT cishet landscape. In composing counterculture artifacts with queer creatives, we together promote antiracist, trans centric education and activism.

We value diversity, inclusivity and equity as defined below:

What is Diversity?

Diversity is a metric used to classify a space as or as not accessible to feelings of belonging for all people, especially historically disenfranchised identities. Diversity defines a space and those who inhabit it as respectful, encouraging and safe for every human experience. Diversity suggests a keen eye for intersectional biases and actively works to disrupt them and provide service for those impacted by bias. A diverse space encourages representation of marginalized and at-risk identities and amplifies their voice, so it has a fighting chance to be heard in a predominantly cis, straight, yt landscape.

Diversity is not met with tolerance or complacency (i.e. only reprimanding blatantly intentional racist behavior), but rather active and ongoing work to respectfully embrace the differences in how we navigate the world with the goal to value every human and enrich every life.

What is Inclusivity?

Inclusivity measures the state of an environment as welcoming and equitable to all or only some. An inclusive environment is one that reacts to racist learned behavior by way of education and accountability. Inclusivity is met through policy that forbids and punishes discrimination. Inclusive spaces recognize that people in power (e.g. hiring officers, human resources, funders) should fundamentally serve as inclusivity advocates.

An inclusive and welcoming environment is one that values the marginal perspective with the same ferocity provided to the white, cishet, able-bodied population. The environment actively seeks perspective from all parties and seeks to diversify by value and experience. It is one that does not actively favor the yt cishet value system, cultural codes, and expectations over the queer and/or BIPOC systems of values. It is one that recognizes and actively combats the subjugation of the marginalized by way of white privilege and disenfranchisement. It a space that welcomes commentary that is variant to a majority perspective and is engaged with using value-seeking practices that do not end after the conversation is over or there is little to no minority presence.

What is Equity?

Equity is a system of social and rhetorical checks and balances regarding access to the tools that enable any individual to acquire success. An equitable space provides resources and supports people proportionate to their enfranchisement and safety. Equity suggests that all people can reach their full potential without a need to appease gatekeepers by muting who they are. Rather, differences are respectfully engaged with and included in the context of one's success. Success is not to be met despite cultural differences; rather, success can be amplified by acknowledging and valuing perspective.

Meet The Artist

Sa’Mantha SayTen (They/She) is a Latina Non Binary Trans Femme artist and activist.

Samantha is known for her service to the QTPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. A Saint of the Sister’s of Otherly Love awarded the Sonia Sotomayor award for outstanding service, Samantha has dedicated their life to serve the greater Trans and QBIPOC community.

Samantha got her start in the performance art scene by securing a lead dancer role in a local Rocky Horror Picture show production. They proceeded to engage in theater works securing roles such as The Swan Princess, Cesare of The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari, and a dancer for Kill Me Now: The Ultimate Dance Competition.

In Samantha’s academic career, they have made strides in reshaping the arts and humanities college of Rowan University by introducing Queer theory to the classroom and student services. Samantha’s leadership is discussed in spaces such as the Writing Center, The Department of Writing Arts, Theatre and Dance, The Tutoring Center, The Office of Social Justice, The LGBT Center, The Disabilities Center, The Wellness Center and beyond

In Philly, Samantha’s reach has no bounds. They have provided advocacy service to organizations and businesses requiring LGBTQ+ and other cultural literacies; provided support to queer folks in building professional portfolios to encourage queer, trans*, Black and Latinx excellence; and expanded the reach of a multitude of queer shows in the Philly queer nightlife scene.

You can follow Samantha’s work by subscribing to SayTen Studios!