Amid field-wide calls for racial justice, A.R.T./New York is integrating programming to help our membership to begin addressing deeply ingrained systems of white supremacy and racism in ways that are specific to the nonprofit theatrical community.
These programmatic offerings are intended to respond to some of the demands of We See You White American Theatre. The We See You demands both accelerated and provided additional framing for our work. We acknowledge the tremendous labor of our colleagues in gathering and disseminating these demands, and we thank them for it. As a predominantly white institution (PWI) that serves many other PWIs, A.R.T./New York is deeply implicated in the failures of our community that led to the writing of that letter, and we know that it is our responsibility to fulfill these demands and to support our members in doing the same. We also know that we must de-center ourselves in this work. In addition to connecting our community with consultants and organizations who have expertise in anti-racist practice, we will also offer our members the resources to work with whoever is best for them, regardless of whether or not they are already within our network.
Image: A white and black box with text that reads Why This Framing? Non-Hierarchical. There is no predetermined order and no prerequisites to accessing our resources; members can enter any circle of learning at any time. Preventing Gatekeeping. We are not the holders of knowledge. We will connect our members with expert consultants and also provide them with resources to work with others outside of our list. Centering BIPOC Voices. We See You White American Theatre and others have already laid out a plan for what our field needs right now. We are simply following their lead.
Recognizing that A.R.T./New York's membership is not a monolith, and that we serve individuals with a broad range of experience and knowledge, this ongoing programming contains multiple points of entry. We are envisioning these programs as three intersecting circles, each with a unique focus and yet overlapping with each other. We invite you to meet us wherever you are at the moment.
Image: A white box with black icons of two people speaking under which reads Healing & Reconciliation, a laptop under which reads Education & Training, and a lightbulb under which reads Implementation.
Healing & Reconciliation
Processing is an essential component of this work, but there is not often space for it in more formalized education and implementation spaces. We are currently exploring the possibility of hosting facilitated affinity spaces focused on BIPOC healing, white learning, and community reconciliation. We would like to hear from our members about how affinity spaces might be most useful. Please take a moment to complete this short survey - we look forward to your input!
Our workshops will provide tools for addressing anti-racism through an informed approach. We know we are not equipped to provide education specific to every We See You WAT demand, but we are committed to partnering with BIPOC instructors who can address some key areas. Rather than launching a separate category or “track” of anti-racism workshops, we are incorporating anti-racism into our education programming across the board. This means that, while you will see some more traditional anti-racism training on our calendar, you will also see workshops on grant writing, budgeting, and all other aspects of organizational management that recognize anti-racism as a key value in those practices.
Our aim as a service organization is to be involved in the dismantling of oppressive systems while we help our members in doing the same, so that we can collectively create safer workplaces and better art. These workshops are part of a larger, ongoing conversation around equity and active anti-racism practices that will deepen & broaden over time. There will be ongoing educational opportunities as we lean into this collectively as a community.
Image: Tavia Riveé Jefferson, Ann James, and Marisa Diane Kennedy of BlackBee Entertainment
FEATURED WORKSHOP SERIES: 21 Seeds of Change - An Introduction by BlackBee Entertainment. A.R.T./New York is thrilled to be partnering with BlackBee Entertainment to both spread awareness about their work and to support their efforts to expand the roster of qualified individuals who can help ensure the production of new stories in safe and equitable spaces from the ground up! Their five-week series will offer insight into the vital roles of Cultural Coordinator, Diversity Editor, and Intimacy Director.
