EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION ACTION PLAN
August 13, 2020
Dear Greater Boston Stage Community,
In May Greater Boston Stage Company (GBSC) issued a statement in support of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists, students, and audience members acknowledging our commitment to helping eliminate systemic racism. While our theatre remains closed during this period of COVID19 shutdown, our Board of Trustees and senior management are using this time to outline a thoughtful and meaningful action plan that aligns with our commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Accountability is central to this plan, and towards this end, we wanted to share an update with our community.
Background for the timing and approach taken in developing this statement:
Work on the planning of the next phase will begin in October and will focus on the practices and action steps necessary to open the season (currently anticipated to start in February) in a more fair and equitable manner.
We believe strongly that this area of exploration and planning requires more inclusive perspectives than those of our Producing Artistic Director, Managing Director, and existing Board and Staff. Because of this, we will offer rough sketches of what will be reviewed now and expand upon this in the months ahead.
This statement and our EDI work is now, and will continue to be, a living breathing effort inspired by the “We See You White American Theatre” statement and statements we have heard made by artists specifically within the Boston community. It is by no-means all-inclusive of the work to be done. Nor, is it perfect. We acknowledge that as individuals and leaders we have much to learn. We come to you in good faith and with open hearts in hopes that together, we can build a more equitable, safe, and inclusive theatre.
Weylin Symes, Producing Artistic Director and Amy Morin, Managing Director
Dear Greater Boston Stage Community,
In May Greater Boston Stage Company (GBSC) issued a statement in support of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists, students, and audience members acknowledging our commitment to helping eliminate systemic racism. While our theatre remains closed during this period of COVID19 shutdown, our Board of Trustees and senior management are using this time to outline a thoughtful and meaningful action plan that aligns with our commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Accountability is central to this plan, and towards this end, we wanted to share an update with our community.
Background for the timing and approach taken in developing this statement:
- We believe the involvement of our existing staff in EDI conversations and planning is both necessary and mandatory. If GBSC is truly to make meaningful changes, we need our team in place to take part in the review of current practices, planning anti-racist protocols, execution of the plan, and periodic assessment. As most of our staff continues to be furloughed due to the COVID19 shut-down, they are not able to take part in these conversations at this time.
- As a predominately white organization, we acknowledge the need to include BIPOC voices in the development of our planning and assessment strategies. As leaders, we have become acutely aware that we have created unconscious barriers to the participation of BIPOC artists and audiences at GBSC. We strive to break these barriers. We cannot do this without input from the BIPOC community, and we acknowledge that trying to do so would be a perpetuation of the harmful practices that have led to racist behaviors.
- Without the proper people in place to participate in these critical discussions, we have been reluctant to release a plan. However, we recognize that our silence could be perceived as a lack of recognition of the importance of engaging in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work. In an effort to demonstrate our commitment to this effort and to stand in solidarity with the BIPOC community, we are issuing what we consider to be the first of a multi-phased approach to moving forward; the first phase will include immediate action steps that will be put in place between now and the end of October, which is the period of time that we anticipate for the prolonged COVID19 shut-down. The action steps are ones that we commit to readily without concern that our unconscious biases are negatively impacting these plans.
Work on the planning of the next phase will begin in October and will focus on the practices and action steps necessary to open the season (currently anticipated to start in February) in a more fair and equitable manner.
We believe strongly that this area of exploration and planning requires more inclusive perspectives than those of our Producing Artistic Director, Managing Director, and existing Board and Staff. Because of this, we will offer rough sketches of what will be reviewed now and expand upon this in the months ahead.
This statement and our EDI work is now, and will continue to be, a living breathing effort inspired by the “We See You White American Theatre” statement and statements we have heard made by artists specifically within the Boston community. It is by no-means all-inclusive of the work to be done. Nor, is it perfect. We acknowledge that as individuals and leaders we have much to learn. We come to you in good faith and with open hearts in hopes that together, we can build a more equitable, safe, and inclusive theatre.
Weylin Symes, Producing Artistic Director and Amy Morin, Managing Director
PHASE ONE COMMITMENTS
|
Land Acknowledgement:
We acknowledge that our theatre is located on the on the traditional territories of the Wampanoag and the Massachusett peoples. We will begin including this statement on theatre related materials. |
Leadership and Staff:
Fundraising:
Pricing:
Anti-Racism Training:
Education:
Artists:
Safe Space:
Tracking Progress:
We acknowledge that, among other things, this plan lacks information about the specific actions that will be taken to provide anti-racist audition practices, sensitivity to season selection, diversity among our student participants, how we are building safe spaces for our audiences, and review and improvements to our marketing efforts.
We want to confirm that these items are currently being reviewed and will be addressed in future versions of this plan.
- Our most immediate action step is to recruit BIPOC members to our Board of Trustees to help guide the theatre at the highest level. We commit to electing one new BIPOC member to our Board by the end of September and two additional people by the beginning of 2021.
- Prior to the election of new board members, we commit to examining all Board practices, such as our “Board Member Responsibilities” and trustee term-limits, to ensure these practices do not present barriers to BIPOC participation.
- We commit to improving efforts to diversify our staff by engaging the services of an EDI Consultant. We will work with the consultant to review future postings and outreach efforts to ensure pay transparency and the removal of unrealistic barriers to BIPOC applicants. We will engage in these practices in pursuit of our goal to diversify our staff.
Fundraising:
- We commit $5 of every ticket sold to our fall online programs to social justice causes. In subsequent years, with the input of our staff and Board, we will identify new ways to continue investing in equity and social justice initiatives.
- We will work with donors to increase the availability of Fund A Need (FAN). FAN is an existing GBSC scholarship program that supports education efforts like tuition assistance and ticketing and bussing subsidy to school children.
Pricing:
- We will examine ticket pricing models to increase accessibility to BIPOC audiences and decrease barriers to attendance, expanding on efforts like our existing student discounts, $15 Thrifty Thursday performances and involvement in MCC's EBT Card to Culture program.
Anti-Racism Training:
- We commit to instituting ongoing bias training that is rooted in both bystander intervention and restorative justice. This will include anti-racist, EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) and unconscious bias training. This training will be mandated annually for all year-round theatre staff and Board of directors. Seasonal educational staff will be required to participate during their pre-program planning.
Education:
- We commit to including social justice and anti-racism education as an ongoing part of The Young Company curriculum in all programs.
- We commit to working to increase our outreach to BIPOC students and young audiences through new partnerships with local organizations.
- We acknowledge that we have not had a significant percentage of BIPOC teaching artists working within our Young Company. We commit to increasing the number of BIPOC artists hired for these important roles, focusing on pay transparency, and building internal support for those artists.
Artists:
- We commit to making GBSC a more welcoming place for BIPOC artists through:
- adapting rehearsal schedules and reducing weekday technical rehearsal to accommodate actors with day jobs. For example, continuing our practice to reduce the number of 10 out of 12s from two to one and ensuring that it takes place on a weekend day.
- holding at least one audition each year in Boston that prioritizes BIPOC actors.
- continuing our partnership with the Front Porch Arts Collective - a black theatre company committed to advancing racial equity in Boston through theater.
- We commit to working to increase the percentage of BIPOC actors on our stage. Over the past 3 years, GBSC has averaged 22.3% BIPOC actors on our mainstage. For the 2020-2021 season we will aim for 30% BIPOC actors.
- We acknowledge that our percentage of BIPOC designers has not been significant. We commit to increasing the number of BIPOC directors and designers employed in the coming seasons.
Safe Space:
- GBSC is committed to creating a safe space for all and maintains a zero tolerance policy towards discrimination.
- We commit to re-examining our language and policies regarding racial discrimination and ensuring that, as with our sexual harassment and protection of minors policies, we distribute and explain these policies to everyone working at our theatre. This policy review will take place before the start of the next season and a protocol for communication will be established.
- As part of this policy, we will appoint an EDI officer to each production.
Tracking Progress:
- GBSC will proceed with the understanding that this list outlines next steps, not final steps.
- We will commit to ongoing exploration and assessment of our action plan(s), including any feedback and responses to those actions from artists, staff, and patrons. Feedback will be collected through the designated email: GBSCEDI@gmail.com. This email address will be monitored by a staff member until an EDI committee is formed to assist with addressing feedback and concerns.
- We will commit to holding quarterly full-staff assessments of our action plan(s) to explore what has or has not worked, to determine what parts of the plan need to be adjusted or expanded, and to add to the plan.
- We will commit to publicly sharing this plan on our website, accessible from the homepage. The results of the quarterly assessments will be added to the document on the website to retain transparency and hold our organization accountable.
We acknowledge that, among other things, this plan lacks information about the specific actions that will be taken to provide anti-racist audition practices, sensitivity to season selection, diversity among our student participants, how we are building safe spaces for our audiences, and review and improvements to our marketing efforts.
We want to confirm that these items are currently being reviewed and will be addressed in future versions of this plan.
May 31, 2020
Dear GBSC Community,
We at Greater Boston Stage Company are angry. We are grieving. We are committed to changing the narrative.
George Floyd’s murder is just another heartbreaking example of the systemic racism that plagues our society at the cost of black and brown people’s lives. To our black and brown artists, students, and audience members we want to make it very clear that we see you and hear you and will work tirelessly to dismantle the racism and white supremacy that exists to keep you silent on stage, back stage, and outside of the theatre.
To everyone, we want to make it very clear that Black Lives Matter.
While we as artists are unable to gather and tell stories in the way that we traditionally would, we are looking for other ways to take action. And we hope that you will also. Please use your time and power to uplift the lives and businesses of the black and brown community around you. Below are ways in which you can help us move forward.
Stay healthy, stay safe, stay involved, and take care of one another,
The staff of Greater Boston Stage Company
Get Involved
Black Lives Matter: www.blacklivesmatter.com
Ways You Can Help:
Campaign Zero is a comprehensive platform of research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America. www.joincampaignzero.org
NAACP: www.naacp.org
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund: www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd
Dear GBSC Community,
We at Greater Boston Stage Company are angry. We are grieving. We are committed to changing the narrative.
George Floyd’s murder is just another heartbreaking example of the systemic racism that plagues our society at the cost of black and brown people’s lives. To our black and brown artists, students, and audience members we want to make it very clear that we see you and hear you and will work tirelessly to dismantle the racism and white supremacy that exists to keep you silent on stage, back stage, and outside of the theatre.
To everyone, we want to make it very clear that Black Lives Matter.
While we as artists are unable to gather and tell stories in the way that we traditionally would, we are looking for other ways to take action. And we hope that you will also. Please use your time and power to uplift the lives and businesses of the black and brown community around you. Below are ways in which you can help us move forward.
Stay healthy, stay safe, stay involved, and take care of one another,
The staff of Greater Boston Stage Company
Get Involved
Black Lives Matter: www.blacklivesmatter.com
Ways You Can Help:
Campaign Zero is a comprehensive platform of research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America. www.joincampaignzero.org
NAACP: www.naacp.org
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund: www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd
