We believe that Stories Matter, and that BIPoC/LatinX Stories Matter
At Open Book Theatre we strive to be open, inclusive, and diverse. We acknowledge that we can do better, and that the work is an ongoing process.
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, and the many before him, we acknowledged the need for deep and systemic change. We stand with our BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) friends and family against racism and intolerance. We commit ourselves to being part of the solution, providing a safe and equitable place to work and play. We commit ourselves to the work of giving voice to the stories of BIPoC/LatinX communities. We commit to being an anti-racist theatre.
The work is an ongoing process, but here is where we are now:
October 2020
The first two shows in our One to One Virtual Theatre series featured BiPOC/LatinX playwrights and performers, and honors our commitment to elevate stories from these communities.
We acknowledge that we have yet to have a BiPOC/LatinX director for any of our productions, and commit to having at least one by this spring.
We continue to learn by reading, listening to podcasts, participating in webinars, and more.
July 2020
Artistic Director Krista Schafer Ewbank participated in a workshop on Unconscious Bias, and continues to read and study and have conversations to further learn about racism and bias, with an eye towards programs that are appropriate to use for board, staff and artists for ongoing training.
In an effort to listen and learn as well as elevate Black voices in our community Artistic Director Krista Schafer Ewbank and Director Sarah Hawkins Rusk have worked with Dan Johnson and Ashley Lyle to organize and publicize the Black Queens on Stage Podcast: The Black Actor Conference, BLAQN Survey: For Michigan BIPoC/Latinx Theatre Professionals, and the resulting statement Toward an Anti-Racist Michigan Theatre.
The survey results and the statement were shared with the board of directors, and discussed at our July board meeting. In addition to ongoing work and discussion, we have committed ourselves to several action items:
- We will develop and implement a yearly training/workshop for all staff, directors and stage managers, to be held prior to each season. The event will include implicit bias/anti-racist training, as well as trainings in our safety and emergency plan, sexual harassment policy, chain of command, grievance process, company culture, and more. Full policies will be posted backstage and made available to all board, staff and independent contractors, and information will be included in all contracts and reviewed with cast and crew at our first production meeting/rehearsal.
- We commit to producing at least one play each season by a non-white playwright, elevating the stories of BIPOC/LatinX communities. Our mission is to promote connection through theatrical storytelling, and we believe that theatre is a powerful tool for creating understanding, empathy, community, and conversation.
- We commit to hiring practices (onstage and off) that are fair and equitable, and that at the bare minimum our racial makeup will be as diverse as the community we serve.
- We recommit ourselves to the practice of race-transcendent and color-conscious casting: in plays where race is not dictated by the needs of the script artists of all race and ethnicity will continue to be considered for all roles. For plays where race is dictated by the script we will continue to be conscious of casting correctly.
- We acknowledge the lack of racial diversity on our board and commit ourselves to greater diversity. We are working on steps to do this, knowing that our board diversity needs to be more than tokenism. We are working to strengthen our relationships with BIPoC/LatinX community members. By our ongoing work to diversify our staff, artists, and art we hope that our audience and stake holders will also become more diverse, and we will be able to authentically diversify our board leadership.
- We extend an open invitation to artists, audience, and community members to share with us their experiences at our theatre.
Non-Discrimination Policy and Diversity Philosophy – Open Book Theatre Company
We acknowledge that race and ethnicity are not the only barriers to inclusion. The link above gives our full Non-Discrimination Policy and Diversity Philosophy, which we will be revisiting and updating.