Making Strides in Theatre DEIA
As an anti-racist organization, EdTA is committed to making theatre education and every aspect of our operations as inclusive as possible. In addition to our Anti-Racism Statement and internal training, we’ve also focused on building an action plan to accurately track and assess the strides we’re making.
“We have come to learn and embrace the notion that committing to antiracism work is an act of love,” says Dr. Jennifer Katona, EdTA Executive Director and ETF President. “The process forced us to look inward as an organization to name our areas of opportunity and allowed us space to think boldly about how we can continue to push ourselves and the field of educational theatre toward racial equity.”
Our Approach to DEIA Strategy
With goals through 2025, our Racial Equity Plan acts as a road map for our staff, board, and stakeholders to strategize and measure our DEIA achievements. For 2023, some of our work tackled:
- Representation: From our governance to our content, providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives to be represented.
- Awareness: Ensuring that our members, staff, and vendors are aware of our stance, and making our commitment to anti-racism a part of all formal agreements.
- Recognition: Highlighting and celebrating BIPOC contributions to theatre, while also creating new resources educators can use as a foundation for their curriculum.
- Influence: Using advocacy to influence public opinion and raise awareness of BIPOC contributions to our field.
- Community: Providing support and resources to our chapters and members to continue their work independently.
Growth and Success in 2023
What gets measured, gets done, and that’s why at EdTA we make it a point of tracking our wins and growth as a team. Some of the highlights our staff were most proud of included:
- 50% of all public-facing imagery now features students and educators of color.
- EdTA is actively recruiting and hiring BIPOC workshop presenters for the International Thespian Festival and the Theatre Education Conference with a current ratio of 40% BIPOC presenters.
- Anti-racism/racial equity statements are prominently displayed and easily accessible on our website, and on all mass emails.
- EdTA is actively recruiting BIPOC representatives for the Education, Main Stage, Thespy®, and Production Adjudication committees with added resources and training for selected adjudicators.
- Teacher-focused editorial content includes regular articles on how educators can implement DEI practices in their programs and learn to engage a diverse student population.
- Models of culturally responsive teaching have been built and hosted on the Learning Center, with two pathways for DEI and Culturally Responsive Education.
- EdTA is working with the Playwrights Guild of Canada to add indigenous materials to the list of works available for Thespys.
- EdTA contracted playwrights of color to create and publish contemporary monologues for use by students of color for Thespy adjudication.
- EdTA is leading the work of reviewing the national arts standards for diversity, equity and inclusion, which will result in guidelines drafted by artists and teachers of color.
- EdTA is recruiting and training a cohort of educators in a 2024 summer symposium in culturally and historically responsive teaching techniques to build models of curriculum for the Learning Center.
- Chapters are actively working on DEIA, with 63% having completed action plans and 25% building and consulting with EdTA staff for guidance on completing their own.
Building a Diverse Theatre Future
EdTA is committed to supporting and growing our DEIA efforts. While we’ve made significant strides in representation, awareness, recognition, influence, and community, the work is just getting started. Together, we’re shaping a theatre landscape that embraces and uplifts all voices, ensuring a richer and more equitable experience for all.
