Antiracism at MST

Statement of solidarity and commitments

October, 2020

We are living in a time of uncertainty, full of stress and difficulty. The pandemic and the economic insecurity it engenders are worrisome to all of us. Mile Square Theatre acknowledges the pain and suffering caused by this global health crisis and the disproportionate impact it has on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities here at home.

The theatre community has been deeply devastated by this crisis. Unemployment among theatre makers is nearly universal, with no end in sight in the near future. We are fighting for survival.

Concurrent with this struggle for economic survival is the pressing imperative for racial justice. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, a mass movement has coalesced—a movement which demands that we acknowledge the persistent and deadly impact of anti-Blackness and systemic racism in American life in general and in our industry in particular.

Professional theatre in the United States exists within a system built on a legacy of white supremacy culture. This culture centers whiteness as “normal,” and provides political and socio-economic advantages to white groups that are not enjoyed by other racial groups. Mile Square Theatre acknowledges that our efforts to change the system have been inadequate thus far. We know we have to do more.

Mile Square Theatre is committed to fighting racism, white supremacy, and injustice within our organization, the community we serve, and our nation at large. We have an imperative to improve our industry as we rebuild. We see this as an opportunity to center anti-racism in our practice and dismantle the insidious forces of systemic racism that plague our industry and our country. It is critical to us that our actions match our values, and that our intent is fully reflected in our impact.

While we have made efforts to increase diversity and inclusion on and off stage, we can do better. Our professional theatrical community, through the We See You White American Theatre open letter, demands we do better. We hear these demands and we commit to creating a safe and equitable space for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

Goals and Commitments

Our goal is to transform Mile Square Theatre into an anti-racist and multicultural organization with the following aims:

To ensure that inclusion is reflected in the board of trustees, artistic and administrative leadership, staff, artists, audience, and students in order to engender a culture of equity for every individual in our community.

To be a regional institution actively committed to pursuing and embracing artistic work that explores topics of racism head on, amplifying historically underrepresented voices and viewpoints, and facilitating discussions that connect, educate, provoke, and heal.

To create an artistic home that feels safe and equitable to BIPOC artists, audiences, staff and students, through constant examination and assessment of the methods we are using and the effects they are having.

To this end, Mile Square Theatre, its board of trustees, and leadership hereby make the following commitments:

1. To form a Board of Trustees that is at least 50% BIPOC to better reflect the racial make-up of Hudson County. With a board turnover rate of 1-2 people a year plus moderate board growth, we anticipate achieving this within 3 years.
2. To adapt and adopt the Not in Our House Chicago Theatre Standards to implement procedural preventions and responses to harassment, bullying and discrimination.
3. To require yearly Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion training for all leadership staff. We will also provide and encourage these trainings for all staff and board members.
4. To develop a strategic hiring and succession plan that deliberately seeks to include BIPOC.
5. To hire BIPOC artists for every single show with a target of 50% of the artists we hire being BIPOC. We value BIPOC directors, actors, stage managers, and designers as artists, not for how they racially and ethnically identify. We strive to make MST an artistic home for our artists of color.
6. To hold quarterly assessments of our methods and progress towards these EDI goals and others.

It is important that this work be done publicly and transparently. We invite you to put our feet to the fire with your feedback and criticism as we strive to be better. This list is by no means exhaustive. It does, however, encapsulate our immediate need to jumpstart our efforts. Together, we will do our small part to fight the scourge of racist systems in this country. Now let’s get to work!

Signed by,