EdTA intensified its efforts to improve racial equity throughout the organization – and theatre education at large.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
EdTA views diversity, equity, and inclusion as integral to its core value “people matter,” and 2021 was a year of intentional effort toward addressing racial equity, which is the biggest gap for both the theatre education community and the association. Here’s a look at our most important progress in 2021:
- ETF launched a pilot of the Pathway program to advance racial equity. Two schools, one in Atlanta and one in Cincinnati, each received $10,000 grants to produce a show that encourages racial dialogue with support from mentors and professionals of color.
- EdTA events featured 40% presenters of color leading workshops, general sessions, and panel discussions. The Virtual International Thespian Festival was hosted by Broadway’s Michael James Scott with a keynote by Nicolette Robinson. EdTA’s National Conference featured keynote Melanie Andrews, who gave a powerful address on diversity and inclusion.
- The Learning Center added more DEI resources for teachers, expanding an ongoing series of webinars on social justice and culturally inclusive teaching.
- EdTA, along with the National Art Education Association, the National Association for Music Education, the National Dance Education Organization, and the New York City School District, was awarded an $8.5 million U.S. Department of Education Assistance for Arts Education grant to promote equity, diversity, inclusion and social and emotional learning leadership in arts education through the formation of focused teacher learning communities nationally across all of the artforms.
- EdTA implemented its $50,000 National Endowment of the Arts grant to pilot a technical theatre curriculum for low-income middle school students in Baltimore. The program paired pre-service theatre and education students from Morgan State University, a historically black college, with teaching artists of color to create and implement the curriculum.
2021 DEI Achievements
Pathway Pilot Schools
0
Presenters of Color
0 %
US DOE Grant
0 Million