A commitment to our community
Vermont Stage has made a commitment, in the words of our mission, to “create theatre that makes our community a better place by showing us what we have in common is more powerful than what separates us.”
Our mission informs all we do both onstage and behind the scenes. To that end, we are committing to the practice of anti-racism, anti-sexism, and to creating an inclusive space for queer, trans, and nonbinary people.
In pursuit of these commitments, below is a living document of our current and evolving efforts towards becoming an anti-racist organization and a better ally to other underrepresented groups. This list will grow and change as we develop additional action steps towards this goal.
We believe that theater is the art of empathy and it is through empathy that we will learn to understand and appreciate people for who they are. We believe profoundly in the power of theatre to heal invisible wounds, broaden our understanding of ourselves, and deepen our connections to each other.
It is our hope that our efforts will help create a more just place for artists to work and to do our part to “be the change” we would like to see in our community.
Our mission informs all we do both onstage and behind the scenes. To that end, we are committing to the practice of anti-racism, anti-sexism, and to creating an inclusive space for queer, trans, and nonbinary people.
In pursuit of these commitments, below is a living document of our current and evolving efforts towards becoming an anti-racist organization and a better ally to other underrepresented groups. This list will grow and change as we develop additional action steps towards this goal.
- Annually evaluating our internal policies and practices. We have revised our employee handbook to include more specific anti-discrimination language to ensure we are creating a more inclusive and equitable space for our staff and artists to do their best work.
- Continuing to produce plays by, about, and with artists from underrepresented groups, including nonwhite artists, non-male artists, and queer, trans, and non-binary artists. Our Arts Innovation Fund, launched in 2013, was created to specifically pursue this goal. Learn more about it here. You can donate towards this fund here.
- Creating and promoting extra-curricular opportunities that foster our understanding of oppression and the artistic contributions of people from underrepresented groups. Our “Talkback Thursdays” program, launched in 2014, was created specifically to pursue this goal. Learn more about it here.
- Annually evaluate our ticketing pricing and policies. We are currently revisioning our accessibility programs to ensure that underrepresented groups have affordable access to our shows.
We believe that theater is the art of empathy and it is through empathy that we will learn to understand and appreciate people for who they are. We believe profoundly in the power of theatre to heal invisible wounds, broaden our understanding of ourselves, and deepen our connections to each other.
It is our hope that our efforts will help create a more just place for artists to work and to do our part to “be the change” we would like to see in our community.
